Ethan Mallick Hossain, a May honors graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), is a summer participant in the White House Internship program.
Hossain in the White House“When I was selected, I realized I would actually be interning for one of the most powerful and exciting places in the world,” said Hossain, a 21-year-old Gadsden native. “I could not ask for a better opportunity.”
He has been assigned to work with the National Economic Council (NEC), which principally is tasked with coordinating policymaking for domestic and international economic issues. As an intern, Hossain conducts research, generates memos and briefing materials and assists with other projects as needed.
“The White House is much faster, intense and exciting than I ever could have imagined,” he said. “I have learned so much about government and the different topics, ranging from energy to housing to financial markets, that the government must discuss every day.”
“Already, I am overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of knowledge that the policy advisors are responsible for,” he said. “I hope that this experience will enable me to contribute in whatever capacity I can.”
He’s already been lucky enough to see President Barack Obama in person, he said.
“A fellow intern and I were making a delivery to our director’s office and in the stairwell, we saw the president,” Hossain said. “He briefly greeted us and continued on his way. I was completely stunned and could not function for a while after that.”
Next, Hossain hopes to pet White House dog, Bo.
While here, Hossain was a math and philosophy double major and garnered a long list of achievements, including Mr. UAB. He was a Teach for America Rising Leader, member of UAB’s award-winning Ethics Bowl team, Goldwater Scholar and finalist for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. He also was a principal second violin in the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra and conducted research on breast cancer and leukemia.
Hossain is deeply interested in economics and will be working towards a doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania this fall while exploring options for work in academia or government.