Three students selected as Summer Tieger Fellows in Public Affairs Communications

The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication announced the selection of three new Tieger Fellows for the summer of 2019: Maggie Cavalenes, Carter Chapman and Austin Gibbons. The Tieger Fellowship supports the mission of the College’s first-in-the-nation Public Affairs Communications (PAC) Program by providing students the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom to real-world public affairs work promoting the PAC program.

The summer fellows will work to bolster the program’s digital brand, spotlight student success and showcase how the PAC program is contributing to the career pursuits of recent alumni.

Cavalenes is responsible for managing the program’s social and digital media. Chapman is charged with spotlighting students and alumni in Washington, D.C., especially those participating in the Grady@DC summer program. Gibbons is responsible for managing internal and external communications for the PAC program.

The Tieger Fellowship is funded by alumna Carolyn Caudell Tieger, a 1969 Grady graduate, who also funds the Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professorship currently held by Joseph Watson, Jr. Tieger spent a successful 40-year career in public affairs and politics in Washington, D.C. Professor Watson, also a veteran of politics and public affairs, held executive positions in both the public and private sectors before joining Grady.

“We are excited to welcome Maggie, Carter and Austin as our first Tieger Summer Fellows,” said Watson. “This fellowship is made possible by the vision and funding provided by Carolyn Caudell Tieger. This support allows us to provide these exceptional students with the opportunity to promote the PAC program and develop skills that will prepare them for their careers. I have full confidence that these three students will do an outstanding job of showcasing our students and recent alumni this summer.”

Cavalenes, Chapman and Gibbons are putting their PAC training to good use for the program, on UGA’s campus and in their workplaces this summer. They look forward to using these skills in their future careers.

Maggie Cavalenes is a rising senior who came to the University of Georgia from Cumming. During her time in Athens, she has studied public relations with a Public Affairs Professional Certificate. Cavalenes has honed her social and digital communications skills through public relations internships with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Disney College Program and UGA’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations. While spending her summer in New York City, Maggie will work as an intern for Guardian Insurance.

Carter Chapman is studying political science and public relations with a Public Affairs Professional Certificate. Since coming to UGA from Acworth, Chapman has spent time with the UGA Wesley Foundation and the UGA College Republicans, where he now serves as vice chair. Chapman’s summer will be spent in Delta Hall interning for Global Grady and Senator Johnny Isakson. After receiving his undergraduate degree in May 2020, Chapman will continue his studies at UGA by pursuing a master’s in advertising through Grady’s 4+1 program before pursuing a career in public affairs communications.

Austin Gibbons, a senior from Stone Mountain, is majoring in political science and public relations, with a Public Affairs Professional Certificate and a certificate in personal and organizational leadership. Last year, Gibbons held a research fellowship with UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government while being involved in several campus organizations. This summer, he is living in Delta Hall while interning for the American Red Cross and Senator Johnny Isakson’s office. Gibbons hopes to pursue a career in government relations after graduation.