Student view: Classmates, colleagues and Capitol Hill — A Spartan summer in Washington
Calvin Wilborn, ’26 and Julian R. Sanders, ’27, are students at MSU College of Law. They served as law clerks for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in Washington, D.C.
Two MSU College of Law students served as law clerks for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, or HSGAC, under U.S. Sen. Gary Peters — a proud Spartan alum. While Julian R. Sanders, ’27, worked as the AI and emerging technology law clerk and Calvin Wilborn, ’26, served as the homeland security law clerk, their roles gave them a front-row seat to the committee’s oversight and legislative work on issues that impact millions of Americans.
Wilborn first came to HSGAC because of his long-standing interest in the U.S. Postal Service, one of the agencies the committee oversees. Although he was assigned to the homeland security portfolio, his colleagues were kind enough to let him “moonlight” on USPS assignments — a return to the Senate that built on his previous work in the chamber. He drew on coursework from administrative law to evaluate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, statutory authority and tapped into constitutional law to analyze due process rights for noncitizens. And yes — he even came close to meeting Benjamin Franklin (or at least someone dressed as him) at the Postal Service’s 250th anniversary celebration.
For Sanders, this clerkship built on years of experience with Senator Peters’ offices. He clerked for the committee’s governmental affairs portfolio in 2024 and previously worked in the senator’s state offices in Grand Rapids and Lansing. His focus on AI policy allowed him to conduct in-depth research and analysis on state-level AI policy frameworks, evaluating how individual states are approaching the governance of AI. Sanders also examined the European Union AI Act to assess its implications for U.S. regulatory impact and legislative approaches and he studied the effect of AI adoption on the federal workforce.
Alongside his policy work, Sanders was invited to high-level gatherings, including the USA AI Summit at the National Press Club, a Relativity/Microsoft workshop on public sector AI adoption and the inaugural AI Honors Awards Reception, hosted by the Washington AI Network, which recognized innovators shaping the future of ethical and impactful AI. Each event provided insight into how emerging technology intersects with national security, governance and public trust.
The summer also gave the law students a chance to expand their professional networks. Wilborn reconnected with his former Senate bosses — Sen. Raphael Warnock and Sen. Doug Jones, a former HSGAC member — making this return to the Senate a full-circle moment. He also connected with his home-state senator, Sen. Katie Britt, chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Senate Appropriations and met with Sen. Angus King. Those conversations, spanning the political spectrum, reminded them that good policy work — and good timing — can bridge any divide.
They experienced firsthand the exceptional reach of the Spartan network — a community that opens doors across every branch and sector. From Reid Nicolosi with the Senate Sergeant at Arms, to Bryan Concepcion at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to Emily Voorheis at Marriott International, Spartans in Washington were quick to share their time, advice and even behind-the-scenes tours with aspiring Spartan lawyers.
Now back in East Lansing, Wilborn is heading into his final year of law school with an eye toward public service and government relations, while Sanders continues his JD/MBA program with two years still ahead.
“We’re both grateful to have had a summer that combined serious policy work, strong mentorship and a reminder that the Spartan network reaches all the way to the U.S. Senate,” they said.