Virginia State University’s Mass
Communications Department
In a world of lean budgets and doing more with less, the real world
experience that internships provide is arguably one of the most
important times in a student’s educational career. The goal of the
internship experience is to assist graduates in advancing their skills
through competitive hands on learning experiences to ultimately
secure gainful employment. In Virginia State University’s Mass
Communications Department we recognize the power of networking
by taking an interdisciplinary approach and developing partnerships
for our internship program. In acknowledgment of the synergetic and
networking opportunities between disciplines, an interdisciplinary
approach and partnerships provide more networking and competitive
opportunities for our students.
Bridgett Robertson
Virginia State University
Mass Communications Internship Coordinator
demonstrating dependable work ethics.”
This is Trundle’s second experience as an intern. In 2012 she
interned with Congressman Frank Wolf. She ran errands throughout
Capitol Hill and the greater D.C. area; attended meetings for
legislative correspondents; and worked closely with the scheduler
and chief-of-staff.
“CongressmanWolf’s Chief of Staff is Daniel Scandling ’86, and
the two of us often talked about R-MC,” she said. “It was great to be
able to connect with a fellowYellow Jacket!”
As for her post-R-MC plans, Trundle is considering a couple of
options.
“I will be applying to law school in the fall,” she says. “I will also
apply for a position as a legislative assistant to a state-level Delegate
or Senator.” Whatever the future brings, Trundle feels ready.
“R-MC taught me that you have to follow your passion and strive
for the best,” she says. “If you want to succeed, only you can make
it happen.”
Internships are just one of the opportunities offered by The
Randolph-Macon EDGE. Within the Center for Personal and Career
Development, The EDGE is a four-year program designed to help
students identify their career passions, compete for meaningful
employment and apply to graduate schools.
For 30 years, R-MC’s Bassett Internship Program has been
successfully placing students in internships both in the U.S. and
around the globe. Coordinated with the Center for Personal and
Career Development, the Bassett Internship Program works closely
with students to help identify their interests and match them with
an appropriate internship opportunity. Randolph-Macon’s alumni
provide a strong network of support for students throughout their
time at the college or in assisting them after graduation with career
direction and opportunities.
Students may choose to pursue academic, paid, or volunteer
internships in a wide variety of settings; recent internships have
seen R-MC students gaining valuable knowledge and experience in
fields including health care, finance, non-profit, communications and
media, education, politics and law, and the arts.
Reprinted with permission from Randolph Macon College.
“I like to think that R-MC chose
me,” said Kelsey Trundle, a senior at
Randolph Macon University. “My mom
and I were touring the campus when a car
pulled up and the passenger—dressed in
R-MC clothing—yelled out the window,
‘Come to R-MC!’ It was like a breath of
fresh air to see that kind of enthusiasm.” The Annapolis, Maryland
native, who is majoring in political science and minoring in religious
studies, is just as enthusiastic about her 2013 January Term (J-term)
internship.
Trundle interned at David Bailey Associates, a public relations,
government affairs, and lobbying firm in Richmond, Virginia. Under
the guidance of founder, David Bailey, Trundle tracked House and
Senate bills presented in the 2013 session; delivered vital bills
and resolutions to Delegates and Senators throughout the Virginia
Capitol; and attended caucus meetings.
The internship was coordinated through Trundle’s advisor,
Political Science Professor Richard Meagher, and Cathy Rollman, the
director of professional development in R-MC’s Center for Personal
and Career Development.
“It sounded like a wonderful opportunity,” says Trundle. “Aside
from being a great networking tool, internships allow students to
narrow down what careers they want to pursue. For the longest time I
thought that I wanted to be a lawyer, but now I am really interesting
in lobbying.”
Bailey says that serving an internship in and around state
government provides a unique opportunity.
“Students experience firsthand the significant differences in
state and federal government,” said Bailey, who has worked with
numerous R-MC interns. “The internship serves as a gateway to the
world after college. It’s not casual volunteering; it’s stepping up and
A Randolph Macon student
gains first hand government experience
C
a
p
i
t
o
l
S
q
u
a
r
e
I
n
t
e
r
n
s
h
i
p
s
V
irginia
C
apitol
C
onnections
, S
pring
2013
14
