Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has officially kicked off applications for the 2026 GLO Summer Internship Program, offering college students a chance to gain valuable professional experience while contributing to the state’s oldest agency.
The paid, full-time program will run from June 1 through July 31, 2026, at the General Land Office headquarters in downtown Austin. “As Land Commissioner, a mom, and a steward of Texas’ precious School Fund, I believe to my core that high-quality education is an essential building block of our state’s strong foundation,” Buckingham said in the February 12 announcement. “The GLO’s Summer Internship Program provides students with a critical part of their education—gaining real-life work experience by teaching professional skills that will be critical for their future careers.”
What’s on offer?
The program isn’t just filing papers and fetching coffee. Interns will work five days per week embedded within a specific department, taking on substantive projects and culminating in a capstone presentation to GLO leadership. They’ll also get exclusive tours of GLO archives, records, and the Texas State Capitol, according to the agency’s website.
Opportunities span across the agency’s diverse operations. Students can apply to work in departments including Audit and Compliance, Information Security, Veterans Land Board, Human Resources, Communications, Surveying Services, Energy Resources, Heritage, Financial Management, and Information Technology Services, as detailed on the program’s information page.
The GLO, established in 1836 when Texas was still an independent republic, manages state lands to generate revenue for the Permanent School Fund while preserving Texas history, supporting veterans, safeguarding coastlines, and aiding disaster-impacted communities. It’s one of the state’s most multifaceted agencies, with responsibilities that touch nearly every aspect of Texas public life.
How to apply
Interested students must submit applications through the state’s CAPPS Recruit system. The process is competitive, with positions filling quickly each year. Anyone with questions about eligibility or application details can contact the GLO directly at [email protected], as instructed on the career opportunities page.
These internships have become increasingly sought-after in recent years. Beyond the paycheck, they offer students something perhaps more valuable: direct experience in public service and exposure to potential career paths within state government.
“We are looking forward to an exciting summer of training and educating our future generation!” Commissioner Buckingham added in her statement. For many Texas students navigating today’s competitive job market, that training might be the difference between landing a dream job and being lost in a stack of résumés.
Application deadlines and specific eligibility requirements are available on the GLO’s official recruitment portal, with selections typically finalized by early April.
