Amanda Maddox (ABJ ’10) brought Grady DC students an insider’s view of Washington as practitioner-in-residence for summer 2022

Grady alumna Amanda Maddox’s (ABJ ’10) selection to serve as the first practitioner-in-residence for the summer 2022 Grady DC Field Study program by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication brought students an insider’s view of Washington from one of its leading practitioners. Maddox taught 11 students participating in the program a course entitled Public Affairs Communications in a Federal Context.  

Grady DC students, who also completed full-time internships in organizations around Washington, completed practical, weekly assignments, heard from guest speakers, and learned from Maddox firsthand, as she covers a variety of topics related to public affairs communications. Students also visited Capitol Hill to hear from Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s press secretary Doug Andres, as well as leading agencies in Washington including PLUS Communications and Hamilton Place Strategies, among others. 

Maddox’s role this summer was an extension of her dedication to the University of Georgia and the College. She has mentored many UGA students and helped them navigate the competitive job market in our nation’s capital for years.   

“The Practitioner-in-Residence brought much needed real-world experience to our Grady DC students in their program course and augmented the experiences they received in their internships,” said professor Joseph Watson, Jr., Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professor of Public Affairs Communications. “Amanda’s extensive experience in both the public and private sector in our nation’s capital made her especially well-suited to instructing our students and complementing what they are learning at the University of Georgia. Her instruction of our students has been an unmitigated success.” 

“My goal for this semester was to complement the experiential education students received through their internships with a fun, interesting, and applicable learning experience to help develop public affairs communications skills and strategic thinking that will benefit them in their future careers,” said Maddox. “It’s an honor to be able to contribute to the education of University of Georgia students and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to give back to my alma mater.” 

Maddox began her communications career in Washington on Capitol Hill where she worked for two members of Congress, culminating in her role as communications director for the late U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson. She presently serves as a managing director for DC-based public affairs firm PLUS Communications. During her time on The Hill and in the private sector, Maddox has gained extensive experience in the development and implementation of strategic communications plans.  

Maddox has also been a visiting practitioner for the college’s Public Affairs Communications program, as well as the School of Public and International Affair’s Applied Politics program since 2016 and has maintained a strong connection with the UGA community throughout her career. 

Author: Jenna Monnin