Major: Economics

• Internship: Crossroads Campaigns Solutions
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlyn-h-253a0916a

Tell us about your internship – what kind of work did you do? What did you find rewarding?

Political consulting: Conduct political research on the national, state, and local levels to aid political candidates in setting campaign goals within their constituency. Research immigration policies and write communication materials for clients in corporate, electoral, and non-profit fields to distribute to their customers. Manage social media platforms and produce content for both political and non-partisan sectors of the firm. The most rewarding part was seeing my research and content utilized in a professional context for clients, in order to contribute to overall campaign or company goals.

Share an exciting memory from your internship – something unexpected, an accomplishment, someone you met. 

During this internship I was invited to attend a training my company's non-profit was hosting in Houston, Texas. After working on the conference for several weeks, it was incredibly validating and fulfilling to get to fly out and see my preparation come to fruition.

Did your internship lead to any opportunities?

Attending our Political Organizer Training in Houston, Texas, as well as getting an extension on my internship into late summer.

Share a story about something special you did in Washington – an event you attended, a place you went, an exciting talk, etc. 

It was super exciting to attend the 4th of July show on Capitol Hill and spend the holiday in the nation's capital.

How has living in the nation’s capital for a quarter changed you?

Experiencing the nation's capital, especially at a time when so many Supreme Court decisions were being decided, was a unique summer experience that opened the door for significant growth and conversation in the UCDC community. Being in a space where national news is also local news heightened my awareness and understanding of current events and how I act as agent of change within my community.

Do you have any advice for future UCDC students?

While it's important to utilize your internship experience to the best of your ability, don't underscore the experience of living in DC and being part of the UCDC community. The friends I made at the UCDC center was the main highlight to my overall experience.