Congressional internships in Washington, D.C. inspire AU students

For Mary Janet Walker, a political science major in Augusta University’s Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, a spring internship in Washington, D.C., was more than just professional experience — it was a true eye-opener.

Supported by AU’s Office of Government Relations, which has matched outstanding students with congressional internships for over a decade, Walker joined the office of U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga., for a firsthand experience in public service. A native of Evans, Georgia, she admitted the nation’s capital was daunting at first.

“I’d never even stepped foot in D.C.,” she said. “At that point, I’d never been inside the Capitol Building.”

Her first few days in Washington gave her time to take it all in. As she toured the Capitol for the first time, Walker was struck by its beauty and scale.

“The Rotunda was enormous and beautiful,” she said.

One moment left a lasting impression: witnessing former President Jimmy Carter lying in state.

“It’s a day I will never forget,” Walker said.

That powerful moment was just one of many during her time in D.C. Internships like the one Walker took part in offer far more than a glimpse of Capitol landmarks — they give students like Walker a front-row seat to how our government works and the chance to engage directly with the legislative process.

“For over a decade, Augusta University’s federal internship program has helped students gain meaningful experience in Washington, D.C.,” Augusta University President Russell T. Keen said. “It pushes students beyond their comfort zones, helping them grow and become stronger job candidates. I look forward to strengthening the program for future students and alumni.”

The Government Relations team will hold an information session about government internships at noon on Thursday, Sept. 4, at University Hall, room UH 248, on the Summerville Campus.

“I am honored to provide internship opportunities for Augusta University students to help sharpen their skill sets and gain the valuable experience needed to obtain employment post-graduation. It is my hope that they apply the lessons learned to build long and prosperous careers.”

U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga.

Allen, who was first elected to represent Georgia’s 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014, said Augusta University has continued to provide impressive candidates for internships with his office over the past several years.

“I am honored to provide internship opportunities for Augusta University students to help sharpen their skill sets and gain the valuable experience needed to obtain employment post-graduation,” Allen said. “It is my hope that they apply the lessons learned to build long and prosperous careers.”

“For over a decade, Augusta University’s federal internship program has helped students gain meaningful experience in Washington, D.C. It pushes students beyond their comfort zones, helping them grow and become stronger job candidates.

Augusta University President Russell T. Keen

Walker, the third of six children, said she chose Augusta University because she wanted to study locally and concentrate on political science in the hopes of pursuing a law degree.

“I love giving a voice to people who don’t have one, and I now have the privilege to be able to pursue this degree,” Walker said. “I would love to do something with international relations, and I think this internship will help me get there.”

During her internship with Allen in Washington, D.C., Walker said her favorite aspect of the job was talking to constituents back home in Georgia.

“As an intern with Congressman Allen, we prepare more than 400 letters that we send out to his constituents to let them know what he is working on and what is going on here in Washington,” she said. “These are people who are miles and miles away from the nearest library or have very little access to a computer, so they can still be updated and informed.”

Returning to the Hill

Martre Lind knows exactly how Walker feels. About six years ago, he began an internship with then-U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., through Augusta University’s federal internship program.

Isakson, who passed away in 2021, was known as an effective, behind-the-scenes consensus builder, Lind said.

“Sen. Isakson was so well-respected on both sides of the aisle, both Democrats and Republicans,” Lind said. “He just believed in actually making change and helping out the people that he represented.”

Following his internship with Isakson and graduating from Augusta University with a political science degree in 2019, Lind worked in the private sector in a health care role for about four years.

“But I always said I wanted to come back to the Hill and get a full-time position,” Lind said. “And it just so happened that an opportunity in Rick Allen’s office opened up. His health care legislative assistant was going to take another position.”

“When I’m able to come back to the district and hear people’s personal stories, especially regarding rural health and the need to fight for those hospitals or health centers out in the rural district, it means a lot.”

Augusta University alumnus Martre Lind

Lind, who grew up in the Augusta area and graduated from Grovetown High School, was familiar with Allen’s 12th Congressional District.

“It was perfect because I knew his district, and I already had experience in health care, so the stars aligned perfectly,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity because Rick sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Education and Workforce Committee. So, I really get to be involved in a lot of those important conversations surrounding our health care policies.”

Lind said he feels like his internship in Washington, D.C., helped prepare him to serve Allen’s district well.

“When I’m able to come back to the district and hear people’s personal stories, especially regarding rural health and the need to fight for those hospitals or health centers out in the rural district, it means a lot,” Lind said. “We were able to bring that information back to Capitol Hill and try to find ways to support more of those programs and support rural hospitals, not just in our district, but across America.”

‘A once-in-a-lifetime experience’

After serving several years in the U.S. Navy, Victoria Volpe began working on her undergraduate degree in California. Her life took an unexpected turn when her now husband learned he was to be stationed at Fort Gordon.

With two years remaining in her degree, Volpe seized the opportunity to relocate to Augusta and continue her studies at AU.

“As a political science major, I had always thought about going to Washington, D.C., to intern if the opportunity presented itself,” Volpe said. “Fortunately, I met Monty Philpot from the Office of Government Relations at Augusta University and learned about the federal internships.”

Volpe accepted an internship with U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., a prominent figure in the intelligence and defense communities who served until his retirement in 2015.

“During my time in the U.S. House and Senate, I had the privilege of providing internship opportunities to hundreds of Georgia students,” Chambliss said. “I understand the extraordinary value that these experiences can impart. Internships have the power to shape the career paths, decisions and futures of young individuals who represent the future of our great country.”

While interning with Chambliss, Volpe had the opportunity to spend time with the Senate Intelligence Committee staff.

“At the time, I was thinking about applying to one of the intelligence agencies, such as the CIA, and decided that this was a great opportunity for me to talk to people who are actually involved and working in the intelligence community,” she said.

“The conversations and opportunities that you might be given, if you’re willing to put yourself out there, are amazing. I still have such wonderful memories now 11 years later.”

Augusta University graduate Victoria Volpe

Volpe said she was able to discuss her future career options with people who worked for various intelligence agencies around the world.

After interning with Chambliss, Volpe accepted an internship with U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., who now serves in President Donald Trump’s cabinet as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

One particularly outstanding experience she remembers while interning with Collins was when his chief of staff approached her and asked if she would like to draft a short floor speech.

“It was a huge moment for me,” Volpe said, adding that having the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way opened her eyes to future career options.

Congressional internships provide students with such incredible opportunities each day, Volpe said.

“The conversations and opportunities that you might be given, if you’re willing to put yourself out there, are amazing,” she said. “I still have such wonderful memories now 11 years later.”

Volpe now serves as program director at the Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta, in charge of a Department of Defense contract, primarily working in cybersecurity.

She believes that both of her internship experiences helped lead her down the path to this career.

“I wanted to do something in the intelligence world, but I didn’t want to just be behind a desk as an analyst,” she said. “So, all of it worked out perfectly, thanks to the guidance and experience that I received during my internship. It truly changed my life.”

Paving the way

Growing up in the small town of Clermont, Georgia, Jessie Edge would never have guessed that one day she would be living in Washington, D.C.

“I actually graduated from a high school with a senior class of 200 people,” Edge said. “I found out about Augusta University when a campus recruiter came and visited our school. I also was potentially going to play athletics for the university and, at the time, was very focused on going to med school.”

But, after taking a few political science classes and getting involved in the National Model United Nations program at Augusta University, Edge found a new career direction.

By her junior year in 2016, Edge had applied and received a summer internship in Isakson’s office.

“I wanted to move to D.C. and work for a congressional office and figure out how our government works,” she said. “This kid from a small town got the opportunity to come live in the heart of American politics and intern on Capitol Hill.”

During her internship, Edge was assigned to Isakson’s legislative team on Department of Defense issues, helping track more than 570 amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act.

It was a life-changing experience.

“Johnny Isakson is one of the best individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” she said. “He was such a bipartisan guy and really solution-based.”

In her role working on the Department of Defense’s legislative issues, helping veterans was always a top priority, she said.

“Georgia is one of the only states that has four veterans hospitals,” she said. “And at the time, Johnny (Isakson) sat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. I got to see him take that role very personally. He had a great heart in the job. He truly wanted to help anyone have a better situation.”

Edge loved the experience with Isakson’s office so much that she applied and received another internship in Allen’s office the following semester.

“Interning on the House of Representatives side with Congressman Rick Allen was incredible because it dealt with more granular issues that hit very close to home since he’s a congressman representing Richmond and Columbia counties,” Edge said.

“The opportunity Augusta University gave me to travel to D.C. honestly paved the way for where I am now. It gave me the confidence to, of course, come back to Washington, but also know that I can have an influence in the policy world.”

Augusta University alumna Jessie Edge

After graduating from Augusta University with a political science degree in 2017, Edge worked on a number of political campaigns in Washington, D.C., and in Georgia and eventually decided to pursue a master’s degree in public administration and policy at American University.

Edge is currently the managing director for a private company called Red Oak Strategic in Alexandria, Virginia, providing high-quality data analytics and consulting services to more than 100 political campaigns, as well as non-political and commercial clients.

Earlier this year, Edge moved to Atlanta with Red Oak Strategic, but she still regularly returns to the Washington, D.C., area.

“The opportunity Augusta University gave me to travel to D.C. honestly paved the way for where I am now,” Edge said. “It gave me the confidence to, of course, come back to Washington, but also know that I can have an influence in the policy world.”

Over the past 12 years, the Office of Government Relations has recruited more than 20 outstanding students to participate in these competitive internships. The Government Relations team will be holding an information session on government internships at noon on Thursday, Sept. 4, at University Hall, room UH 248, on the Summerville Campus. For more information, contact Assistant Director of State Government Relations Luke Ray at luray@augusta.edu.