Golden opportunity: AU students intern at the State Capitol

One of the most recognizable features of the Atlanta skyline is the Georgia State Capitol. Covered in finely hammered layers of 24-karat gold leaf, the Gold Dome glistens above the city, commanding attention as a symbol of Georgia’s history and civic pride.

For the past three months, four Augusta University interns have diligently worked in the State Capitol, shining brighter than the Gold Dome. 

Three of the students– Anna Carver, Avery Robinson and Lahari Kamabathula – are interns with the Georgia Legislative Internship Program. Living in Atlanta during their paid internships, these students immerse themselves in government by taking on daily responsibilities like legislative tracking, assisting with constituent services, attending committee meetings and drafting bill summaries.

The fourth student, Noah Ceyssens, is interning directly with Augusta University’s Government Relations team in Atlanta, closely monitoring legislation that impacts AU and the University System of Georgia.

“I think this internship is a gateway to everything else. I have never made more connections than I have here,” said Carver, a senior majoring in political science and minoring in Spanish at Augusta University. “Everybody interning is trying to connect with one another so that we can have these relationships moving forward because we all do have similar interests. So, while it gets busy and things get crazy and the hours get long, it is the most rewarding work that anybody who is an undergraduate could possibly do.”

“I love talking to people and love making sure that they understand that their voices are heard. That’s what we’re here for. We are the people’s house. We are here for them.”

Anna Carver, an intern with the Georgia Legislative Internship Program

Carver has been assigned to work with several members of the House of Representatives this session in a House chairmen suite.

“I work for the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee primarily,” Carver said, explaining that committee has jurisdiction over Georgia’s criminal code and procedure, drug enforcement, sentencing, pardons and paroles and immigration. “But I handle communications for six total representatives, five chairmen.”

Working with so many representatives, Carver also closely monitors several committees: Ethics; Creative Arts and Entertainment; and Defense and Veteran Affairs. 

“All of those committees offer something so individualized and so unique and all of them have given me the opportunity to learn things about myself in different ways,” said Carver, who is currently applying to law school. “It’s a lot of multitasking, a lot of handling different topics, different phone calls and different constituent requests. But truly, I love talking to people and love making sure that they understand that their voices are heard. That’s what we’re here for. We are the people’s house. We are here for them.”

“Anna Carver may very well be the best intern we have had the pleasure of working with in our office. Her well-rounded background, education and skill with interacting with constituents, visitors and all those who find their way to our office has brought a level of professionalism we find invaluable.”

State Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, R-Bremen

State Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, R-Bremen, is the chairman of the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. He said Carver has been a tremendous asset during the legislative session. 

“Anna Carver may very well be the best intern we have had the pleasure of working with in our office,” he said. “Her well-rounded background, education and skill with interacting with constituents, visitors and all those who find their way to our office has brought a level of professionalism we find invaluable.”

“The busy work of Judiciary Non-Civil Committee requires intensive and tedious work hours – Anna Carver has met this challenge head on,” Smith added. “We could not accomplish our mission for the great state of Georgia this legislative session without her.”

Carver, a native of Augusta, has lived in other larger cities before such as Nashville, Tennessee and Orlando, Florida. But she believes there is something special about Atlanta. 

“The size of Atlanta can be almost overwhelming, but, honestly, the city adopts you. It inspires you. The people here at the Capitol inspire you and the work inspires you,” she said. “There’s a bigger picture. There’s a bigger plan. So, I definitely would urge anybody who is wanting to develop their professional career – whether that be in political science, government affairs, or even international relations – to apply. Please do the internship. It’s awesome.”

Pamplin power

While these internships are open to all colleges at Augusta University, all four of the interns at the State Capitol this year are students from the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

“The GLIP internship program and our Government Relations placement at Augusta University offer students unparalleled access to the policymaking environment,” said Kim Davies, PhD, dean of Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “Anna, Avery, Lahari and Noah have distinguished themselves through their maturity and commitment, and their success reflects the strength of experiential learning in Pamplin College.”

William Hatcher, PhD, chair of the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University, also points out that all three of the GLIP interns are students in his department. 

“In the Department of Social Sciences, we seek to teach our students the concepts associated with public service and then help them have opportunities to apply that knowledge,” Hatcher said. “The GLIP internship is the ideal experiential learning opportunity, where our students get to be directly involved in public policy and helping our communities. We are so proud of Anna, Avery, and Lahari for being selected for this prestigious opportunity and for the work that they’re doing under the Gold Dome.”

“Sen. (Harold V.) Jones is a senator for District 22, and that’s Richmond County. He really cares about his constituents, and he really cares about what legislation does for his constituents and for the people of Georgia.”

Georgia Legislative Internship Program intern Avery Robinson

Robinson, a junior who is majoring in political science and a GLIP intern, was assigned to work in the office of Senate Minority Leader Harold V. Jones II, D-Augusta.

“Sen. Jones is a senator for District 22, and that’s Richmond County,” said Robinson, who is also a part of Augusta University’s Honors Program. “He really cares about his constituents, and he really cares about what legislation does for his constituents and for the people of Georgia.”

Robinson said he has been fascinated to watch if bills that cross the senator’s desk will eventually become laws. 

“You get to see the legislation in action,” he said. “The bills that go through the Senate and get transmitted to the House and back and forth actually come from all across Georgia, everywhere from Augusta to places like Hall and Bartow counties.”

One of his favorite experiences during this session was Crossover Day, which is Day 28 of the 40-day legislative session. This day is the crucial deadline for bills to pass out of their chamber of origin, either the House or the Senate, and swap chambers to remain viable for the year. Bills not passing by this deadline typically die, making it a critical, high-stakes day for tracking legislation.

“We stayed up very late trying to make sure that the bills passed,” Robinson said. “It was very fun just to see the process and be there late until midnight just while watching the legislative process go through. Every day you see something new or you get to meet a new person.”

Robinson also had the chance to speak with Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp on three separate occasions. 

“He’s a good guy. Very humble, which was very good to see,” Robinson said. “It was great to meet him, and I look forward to seeing him again.”

“Avery is doing an outstanding job. He’s really serving AU well, no doubt about that. He’s a hard worker. In fact, sometimes I have to tell him to go home. So, he’s really doing a great job. I’m really pleased I got him. Couldn’t be happier, quite frankly.”

Senate Minority Leader Harold V. Jones II, D-Augusta

Having Robinson interning in this legislative session in his office has been a pleasure, said the Senate Minority Leader.

“Avery is doing an outstanding job. He’s really serving AU well, no doubt about that,” Jones said. “He’s a hard worker. In fact, sometimes I have to tell him to go home. He’s really doing a great job. I’m really pleased I got him. Couldn’t be happier, quite frankly.”

Robinson, who plans to go to law school, said it has been nice working with Jones, who is an attorney. Prior to serving the Georgia Senate, Jones was formerly the solicitor general for Augusta.

“I feel like I’m getting better at practicing the LSAT just by being around him,” Robinson said. “A lot of the elected officials here are lawyers and a lot of the stuff we do is very lawyer-like. So, reading the bills and being around them, it kind of rubs off on you. I know it’s having a positive effect.”

Augusta University prepared him well for this GLIP internship, Robinson said. 

“The political science department prepared me with the courses and material. I already had a base knowledge about Senate bills and how the bill process worked,” he said. “So that gave me a leg up with regard to the process of how legislation moves through the House and the Senate.”

Preparing for the future

Kamabathula, a native of Cumming, Georgia, is a junior majoring in criminal justice. For her GLIP internship this session, she has been assigned to the governor’s floor leaders’ office.

“This office is slightly different than the rest of the offices because it’s got both senators and representatives in the office,” Kamabathula said. “Basically, their duty is to help the governor pass his bills. They help take on his tasks and his ideas and make them their own and they pass them on.”

In her internship role, Kamabathula runs bills and resolutions through the proper channels. She also talks to constituents about their opinions on the proposed legislation.

“Anytime constituents voice their opinions or thoughts about bills that they would like to support or not support, I jot those down and I let the senators and representatives know,” she said. “I help resolve the constituents’ issues or I send them to a legislative assistant to help them.”

Augusta University prepared her well for this GLIP internship, Kamabathula said.

“Anytime constituents voice their opinions or thoughts about bills that they would like to support or not support, I jot those down and I let the senators and representatives know,” she said. “I help resolve the constituents’ issues or I send them to a legislative assistant to help them.”

Georgia Legislative Internship Program intern Lahari Kamabathula

“In my government classes, we would do simulations where we played different roles of the government,” she said. “So, anytime I have a question here at the Capitol, I open up my D2L (Desire2Learn program) and I go to that government class and I read back over the lesson.”

“In my government classes, we would do simulations where we played different roles of the government. So, anytime I have a question here at the Capitol, I open up my D2L (Desire2Learn program) and I go to that government class and I read back over the lesson.”

Georgia Legislative Internship Program intern Lahari Kamabathula

Kamabathula, who also plans to become an attorney, said the GLIP internship has been invaluable for her future career. 

“Through this internship, I learned how to interpret bills, so when I go to law school and I become an attorney, I’ll know how to decipher those bills and the coding and that language,” she said. “It’s a specific type of verbiage that is hard to understand, but as you pick up on it, it becomes easier and easier.”

The art behind Government Relations

Ceyssens, a junior studying history in Pamplin College, began interning with Augusta University’s Office of Government Relations in the beginning of the year and has found his own voice within this enthusiastic and extroverted team. 

“It’s been crazy and wild and awesome and exhausting,” Ceyssens said, laughing. “But I would say overall very, very positive. I had actually never been to the Capitol prior to this experience. It’s awesome. There’s an amazing amount of things that are happening here that are super important to the university itself, but also just citizens of Georgia at large. I feel so much more informed now that I’ve been here.”

Ceyssens said he was also pleasantly surprised to see how approachable most legislators are at the Capitol. 

“I went to the dinner on Capitol Day with the AU Foundation and I was able to sit at a table with two legislators and talk to them,” Ceyssens said. “They are normal people, but in this environment sometimes it can be hard to think that way. And so, that was really great to get to interact with them.”

“It’s been crazy and wild and awesome and exhausting. But I would say overall very, very positive. I had actually never been to the State Capitol prior to this experience. It’s awesome.”

Government Relations intern Noah Ceyssens

He also participated in the annual House vs. Senate Kickball Game in March and received a lot of praise from his Senate teammates.

“I’m a big sports guy, and so to be in my element with the senators during the game was a great experience,” Ceyssens said. “I got a couple of the House members out and the senators and I would high-five when we made a good play. Sports is always a bonding experience, regardless of who you are. It was a good time.”

“Noah has been a fantastic addition to our Government Relations team during the state legislative session. He is bright, a quick study and exceeded expectations by consistently demonstrating initiative and professionalism.”

Margie Miller, vice president of Government Relations at Augusta University

Margie Miller, vice president of Government Relations at Augusta University, said Ceyssens has done an outstanding job during the session and will be sorely missed.

“Noah has been a fantastic addition to our Government Relations team during the state legislative session. He is bright, a quick study and exceeded expectations by consistently demonstrating initiative and professionalism,” Miller said. “His experience has been further strengthened by the exceptional mentorship of Assistant Director of State Government Relations Luke Ray, whose guidance has helped Noah thrive in a fast-paced environment.”

This internship at the Capitol is an experience that Ceyssens says he will never forget.

“I would relate it to the Masters (Tournament),” he said, smiling. “It’s like all these kids who come from all these different schools, and some of them aren’t even in Georgia, to intern at the Capitol. It’s formative. I would say this internship really helped me understand who I am.”