Tag: Washington

PRSSA’s annual D.C. Agency Tour returns

Posted on by Sarah Freeman
The following is a first-person reflection written by PRSSA Vice President and Public Affairs Communications Tieger Fellow, Sarah Dorr.

Last month, eight Grady College students traveled from Athens to the Nation’s Capital for the return of PRSSA’s annual D.C. Agency Tour. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, PRSSA members were given the unique opportunity to visit some of Washington, D.C.’s premier public relations agencies, including APCO Worldwide, PLUS Communications, Penta, Weber Shandwick and a U.S. Senate press office.

I was lucky enough to be among the eight students on the tour. As someone who previously participated in a Grady Study Away Trip in New York City, I knew I was in store for an equally enriching and enjoyable week, especially with Professor Joseph Watson, Jr. leading the trip.

“It was a pleasure to renew this trip and introduce a great group of public relations students to what our nation’s capital has to offer,” said Watson. “Hopefully, some of these students will return to D.C. one day and have productive and fulfilling careers there.”

We kicked off our tour with visits to APCO Worldwide and PLUS Communications. Both agencies gave a thorough overview of their services and hosted roundtable discussions, giving us a chance to ask our own questions on topics like daily routines, work-life balance and internship opportunities.

“The APCO and PLUS Communications teams were so welcoming,” said PRSSA internal communications director and program participant Ansley McLendon. “I really appreciated getting to ask specific questions and expanding my network.”

D.C. Agency Tour participants and Joseph Watson, Jr. (far left) meet with Amanda Maddox (ABJ ‘10, fifth from left), managing director at PLUS Communications.

Our trip happened to line up with the Grady D.C. Alumni Mixer, so we concluded the night hearing from Grady grads who have successfully made the transition from the Classic City to the Federal City. The group’s main takeaway: D.C. is smaller than it seems. We were often told that everyone in the city is connected by, at most, two degrees of separation, so take advantage of the professional connections you make, especially within Bulldog Nation.

Day two of the trip began with the highly anticipated tour of the Capitol led by Hannah Payne (AB ’21), a Grady alumna and current digital director for the Office of U.S. Senator Rick Scott. We hit some iconic spots within the building, including the Capitol Rotunda, National Statuary Hall and the not-so-secret underground tunnels. The tour was topped off with a brief visit to the Senate Gallery, where our own Senator Warnock happened to be presiding when we passed through.

“Getting the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Capitol was such a unique experience and definitely a highlight of the trip,” said participant Lauren Kim. “It was almost surreal to walk through such famous buildings and casually brush shoulders with members of Congress.”

We finished off our trip with visits to Penta (formerly Hamilton Place Strategies) and Weber Shandwick, rounding out the diverse lineup of agencies that are leading the pack in the world of public affairs communications.

“Penta and Weber Shandwick provided such valuable insight as someone hoping to pursue a career in public affairs,” said participant and upcoming Grady D.C. Field Study student Gracie Englund. “Hearing from industry leaders created a full picture of what living and working in D.C. is like, and I could not be more excited to experience it this summer!”

As someone who is looking at working in D.C. post-graduation, I couldn’t be more grateful for this trip. It just goes to show that even over 500 miles from campus, PRSSA and Grady are there to provide helpful insights, connections and life experiences (I’m looking at you D.C. Metro!) needed to succeed in our respective career journeys.

#GradyInternDiaries: Madison French

Posted on by Stephanie Moreno

Name: Madison French

Major: Public Relations, Public Affairs Professionals Certificate

Title of Internship: Press Intern

For: Congresswoman Karen Handel and Senator David Perdue

Location: Washington, D.C.—House of Representatives and Senate

Responsibilities: In my role as the press intern, I took photos, made social media graphics and assisted the press team with interviews. I also interacted with constituents and gave capitol tours.

What was the best part about your summer internship?

The best part about interning on the hill was that there was always something exciting happening. My tour groups would always say, “I can’t believe that we’re here when this is going on!” I was thankful to experience twelve weeks of that excitement while living in Delta Hall as part of the Grady DC program.

Madison’s official picture with Congresswoman Karen Handel. Madison was a member of the congresswoman’s first class of interns.

The best part about my summer internship was getting to work for Congresswoman Handel. I have looked up to her for a while now and I really enjoyed working with her and her team this summer to represent my home district. On my last day she thanked for all my hard work. It was a surreal moment to have my role model tell me that she was proud of me.

What is the most memorable experience you had during your internship?

My most memorable experience was getting to be a part of Senator Perdue’s press team. They were so welcoming and they really went out of their way to create opportunities for me. One of my favorite memories was getting to update the senator’s Snapchat account at the United States Marine Corps at a special Sunset Parade where he was being honored.

What was the biggest surprise in your internship?

Madison and her fellow interns meeting with Senator Perdue on their first day in his D.C. office.

I was surprised that there were so many UGA alumni in D.C. I met and worked with so many great alumni who were all excited to mentor me. I would definitely recommend for anyone going up to the hill to reach out to the alumni association because they were such a great resource for me and the other students living in Delta Hall.

What advice would you give to a student looking for an internship?

I would tell students to ask for help when applying to internships. Grady has great connections all over the country and my professors were a great resource for me and the other students in the Grady DC program.

What part of your Grady education did you find most valuable during your internship?

While I was on the hill, I was thankful for everything I had learned in the Public Affairs Professionals classes. Our professors, Brian Robinson and Joseph Watson, really prepared me for my internships and I was glad to know I could always email them when I had questions or needed advice.

 

PR major is an inaugural Chambliss Fellow

Posted on by Don McClain

Eleanor Traynham, a double major in political science and public relations, is one of three University of Georgia students selected as the first Chambliss Fellows.

The fellowship program is part of the Chambliss Leadership Forum, which honors the commitment of public service that has defined the lives of former Sen. Saxby Chambliss and his wife, Julianne, and provides a platform to share his insights and expertise with the next generation of leaders.

Traynham is spending the Spring semester at UGA’s Delta Hall Washington, D.C.  working in Sen. Johnny Isakson’s office.  She hopes the internship is the start of a career in Washington, D.C.

“It’s my dream to work on the Hill,” she said, “so interning is a pretty essential first step.”

Traynham knows she wants to work in politics and plans to take this opportunity to decide on the exact role she’d like to play and where she sees herself in the future.

“It’s very fast paced, and every day is different. So far I really enjoy working in that environment,” she said. “I have learned to never be afraid to ask questions.”

Read the full story in UGA Columns.