Penn State student puts policy, communications skills to work in Washington

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When Penn State student Alivia Reid-Pitta arrived in Washington, D.C., this summer, she knew she wanted to learn more about governmental affairs. What she did not expect, however, was just how much the experience would expand her confidence, strengthen her professional network, and reinforce that she is on the right career path.

A fourth-year Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar double majoring in political science and marketing, Reid-Pitta spent the summer interning with Comcast’s federal government affairs department through the College of the Liberal Arts’ Semester in Washington Program. Reid-Pitta also was selected for the college’s Chapel Executive Internship Program.

Housed in the Department of Political Science, the Semester in Washington Program allows undergraduate students pursuing degrees offered by the college to spend a semester living and interning in Washington, where they gain professional experience, complete academic coursework and build connections with alumni and professionals across governmental and non-governmental organizations.

“I’ve always been interested in lobbying and government relations,” Reid-Pitta said. “This experience has shown me what that work actually looks like every day. It’s made me even more excited about pursuing it after graduation.”

Reid-Pitta’s days in Washington rarely looked the same. Some mornings she spent following congressional hearings or researching policy updates, while other mornings she attended meetings, networking events or industry panels.

Working alongside Comcast’s legislative team introduced her to an entirely new side of the communications industry, she said.

“I knew nothing about Wi-Fi policy when I started,” she said. “There were so many acronyms flying around that I had to become a quick learner. Now I feel much more confident because I know what questions to ask.”

One project stood out more than the rest. Reid-Pitta helped plan a Comcast sponsored panel for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, assisting with everything from identifying speakers to drafting discussion questions.

“It has been really hands on,” she said. “I’ve been able to combine my political science background with my marketing experience. It’s exciting to see how policy, communications and event planning all work together.”

Reid-Pitta’s interest in advocacy started long before this summer. As director of communications for Lion Caucus at Penn State, she has traveled to the Pennsylvania State Capitol to meet with lawmakers and advocate for increased state appropriations for Penn State. Those experiences helped shift her perspective on what a career in politics could look like.

“When I first got to Penn State, I thought becoming a lawyer was my only option,” she said. “Lion Caucus showed me there are so many different ways to make an impact. You can advocate for issues you care about without necessarily being in a courtroom.”

That curiosity led her to apply for the Semester in Washington Program. She had heard professors talk about the opportunity and liked the idea of spending the summer in Washington alongside other Penn State students while gaining professional experience.

“I thought it would be the perfect way to figure out if this was where I wanted to be,” Reid-Pitta said. “Having other Penn State students here with me has made the transition so much easier.”

Reid-Pitta received enrichment funding through the Chapel Executive Internship Program, which helped cover the cost of living in Washington and allowed her to focus more fully on her internship and other experiences in the city.

“Before I received the news I was selected for the Chapel Executive Internship Program, I was unsure how I would be able to cover rent in Washington,” she said. “The enrichment funding gave me peace of mind and allowed me to explore many different experiences around the city this summer.”

Reid-Pitta also received support from the Department of Political Science and the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network as she prepared for the summer. She credited Marie Hojnacki, associate professor of political science and director of the Semester in Washington Program, and Katie Wysocki, director of the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network, with helping to prepare the inaugural cohort for their experience.

“In our cohort meetings leading up to this summer, we learned about professional development and how to establish professional connections and maintain our network,” she said.

Reid-Pitta embraced everything Washington had to offer outside of work as well. Whether attending a Nationals baseball game, taking a nighttime tour of the capital’s monuments or trying new restaurants, she said the various experiences helped her picture what life after graduation could look like.

“It’s different when you’re actually living somewhere instead of just visiting,” she said. “I’ve loved exploring different neighborhoods and getting to experience the city outside of work.”

The program’s emphasis on networking also gave Reid-Pitta opportunities to meet Penn State alumni and other professionals to learn how they built their careers.

“It’s nice talking to people who were in your shoes just a few years ago,” she said. “You hear different perspectives, see different career paths and receive different advice. Every conversation teaches you something.”

Those conversations reinforced for Reid-Pitta the importance of building genuine professional relationships.

“Your reputation enters a room before you do,” Reid-Pitta said. “Washington is a big city, but it feels like a small town. Being kind, treating people with respect and building genuine relationships is so important.”

Reid-Pitta said her experiences as a Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar also helped prepare her for the internship. Honors coursework strengthened the writing and critical thinking skills she drew on at Comcast, while her experiences at Penn State helped give her the confidence to take initiative, ask questions and build professional relationships.

“Penn State is such a big place, so you have to be willing to seek out opportunities,” she said. “Meeting with academic advisers, joining organizations, and putting myself out there is how I’ve gotten where I am today.”

Looking back, Reid-Pitta said she is most proud of how much she has grown personally.

“I was really shy in high school,” she said. “Now I push myself to introduce myself to people, ask someone to grab coffee or send an email. The worst they can say is no. At the end of the day, people are just people.”

As she enters her final year at Penn State, Reid-Pitta still hopes to build a career in government relations; however, her experience this summer has also encouraged her to keep an open mind about the many opportunities within public policy and communications.

“I’ve realized it’s important to say yes to opportunities, even if they aren’t exactly what you pictured,” she said. “You learn something from every experience.”

“My biggest takeaway is to keep exploring. Every opportunity leads to another one, and you never know where one conversation might take you.”

This is the second in a series of stories featuring students participating in the inaugural Liberal Arts Semester in Washington Program.