For Randolph-Macon College students Elizabeth Blanco ’16 and Emily Moore ’16, January was a month filled with discovery. Blanco, a political science major and international studies minor, and Moore, a communication studies major, participated in internships with U.S. Congressman Dave Brat (Rep. VA-7). Working under the guidance of Nancy Tynes, Brat’s district scheduler, Blanco and Moore split their time between Brat’s district office in Glen Allen, Virginia and his office in Washington, D.C.

No “Typical” Day
Tynes, who served as a mentor for Blanco and Moore, says, both interns were involved in a wide variety of assignments.

“The work for both women included a lot of constituent services: answering phones, correspondence, entering data and tracking Congressman Brat’s busy schedule,” says Tynes. “They both learned the importance of dealing with the public, and how challenging—and rewarding—that can be. They also learned the finer points of professionalism, and they adapted well to a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.” Blanco and Moore, who shadowed Brat in D.C. and in the District, were also responsible for individual projects.

“In an official capacity, Elizabeth was most helpful is creating a PowerPoint presentation for one of our district representatives in the local office,” says Tynes. “And Emily was responsible for promoting the 2016 Congressional Art Contest to high schools throughout the District.” Tynes says internships are valuable in more ways than one.

“In addition to learning what you like about the field of interest, what’s perhaps even more important is learning what you don’t like. Based upon this brief but meaningful J-term experience, I believe Emily and Elizabeth came away with a greater understanding of their strengths and will channel their energies into meaningful work in the future. Without a doubt, they both have bright careers ahead.”

Elizabeth Blanco ’16
“An internship is all about growing both professionally and personally,” says Blanco. “Interning for Congressman Brat prepared me for post-college life by helping me see which government policies I am interested in.” Blanco says the most challenging part of her internship was working in different locations.

“I started out in D.C., then moved to the district office, and finished by doing campaign work,” she explains. “It wasn’t always easy, but it was rewarding. One of the most important things I learned from campaigning is that social media plays a huge role in politics. As college students, we tend to think of social media as a way to stay in touch with our peers, but it is vital to a campaign’s success.” Blanco, who enjoyed working on the Hill, plans to focus her career on foreign policy.

“I have decided to take my Foreign Service exam in the spring,” she says. “From there, I’m just going to see where the world takes me.”

Emily Moore ’16
Moore says her internship helped solidify her decision to work in politics.

“I was able to test out a career path, and I realized how much I love politics,” she says. “I had the opportunity to experience what living and working in D.C. is like, and how political careers work. I want to pursue a career on Capitol Hill managing Congressional and Senate Offices and eventually become a campaign manager or chief of staff.”

Gratitude
“I am very grateful to Nancy Tynes and Congressman Brat for continuing to provide excellent opportunities for our students,” says RMC Political Science Professor Elliott Fullmer, who served as an internship mentor for Blanco and Moore. “I think it’s fantastic that Elizabeth and Emily were able to experience both the Capitol Hill and district office settings during their internships.”

Brat, who joined the Randolph-Macon College faculty in 1996, says, “Although I am no longer on campus, it’s been especially nice to see so many of my students attending community functions in the 7th District and volunteering at my District Office and in D.C. Over the summer, and during J-term, we have been fortunate to have so many bright, hard-working students at my offices. It’s a volunteer assignment, but one that’s taken seriously by each and every one of them. I’m thankful to Professor Fullmer for providing the leadership to help make these internships happen. We look forward to seeing more students from RMC in the coming year.”

RMC Internships
J-term internships offer a real-world setting for connecting academic learning with the workplace. RMC’s Edge Career Center and dedicated faculty assist students in finding the perfect internship opportunity.

The Edge is an intensive four-year program that prepares students for life after college. Located within The Edge Career Center, it gives students a competitive advantage in the job market or graduate-school admissions process. Workshops, internships, one-on one advising, a career and networking Boot Camp, and a host of other resources ensure that students who graduate from RMC are lifelong learners who can think critically and adapt to new situations.

More than 130 students participated in J-term 2016 internships, shadowing professionals and gaining experience at a wide variety of businesses and non-profits, including: Genworth Financial, Bon Secours Richmond Health Systems, Goodwill of Central Virginia, and McGuireWoods. RMC’s Bassett Internship program offers academic credit and connects students with tailor-made internships to explore a wide range of career fields in various locations. Students can also choose from a variety of paid or volunteer internship opportunities.