Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight: Charlie Liebschutz
Semester In Washington, Summer 2005

SIW: What are you doing now? What is your title?

Iowa State Director for John McCain's presidential campaign.

SIW: What is the best part of your job now?

The best part of my job is the ability to meet and work with so many new and different people that bring their own skills and experiences to the table.

SIW: Why did you decide to go to Semester In Washington?

I had decided that I wanted to pursue politics as a potential career path.  I figured what better way to get my foot in the door than to go to Washington, take some political science courses, and meet as many new people as possible.  Semester in Washington presented the best opportunity for me to do all of these things while gaining valuable intern experience at the same time.

SIW: What did you want to get out of Semester In Washington?

I wanted to gain a better understanding of our political system through the course work.  But just as importantly, I wanted to gain some hands-on experience that cannot be learned from a lecture or text book.  SIW was a perfect balance of both.

SIW: How has that experience helped you as you've moved along your career path?

I am still in touch with many of the people I met during SIW, both classmates and professionals.  They have been invaluable contacts in terms of helping me to get my foot in the door of the political world.  Much of what I learned during SIW has given me the confidence that is so necessary for one to succeed in the real world.

SIW: What was the single most important thing the program gave you?

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SIW: Can you describe one of your best experiences while at Semester In Washington?

My favorite experience was our final group presentation.  My group worked incredibly hard to prepare and despite everyone being pretty nervous, every single one of us nailed our portions of the presentation.  Even the follow-up grilling from the judges was no problem for us.  We had thought of pretty much any question that could be asked of us and were prepared as we possibly could have been.  We all felt great once we were finished.

SIW: Did the program meet or exceed your expectations? If so, how?

Absolutely.  Professor Lebel's real-world experiences made classes interesting and informative at the same time.  We met lots of established politicos who answered our questions and gave advice.  There were plenty of networking opportunities that still benefit me to this day.  I would highly recommend this program for anyone hoping to get their foot in the door of the political scene.

Alumni Spotlight: Randall Reed
Semester In Washington, NAPLP Scholarship Recipient, Spring 2006

1. Why did you decide to go to Semester In Washington?

In 2005, I completed my first internship in Washington, DC, and immediately I knew I wanted to return.  Before leaving DC that summer, I heard about the newly funded Native American Political Leadership Program (NAPLP) at GWU and began looking more at the possibility of participating with Semester In Washington and the program.  As a political science major, taking classes at one of the most prominent schools on government and politics seemed like dream come true because you actually get to experience the political world at its very epicenter – the nation’s capital.  Ultimately, I guess you can say I caught “Potomac Fever.”

2. What did you want to get out of Semester In Washington?

The EXPERIENCE!  Not many poli sci majors can say they attended a semester at GWU to study electoral and legislative politics, especially if that student is from a rural Alabama Indian tribe.  Initially, I wanted to represent my tribe, the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, in a positive way because they rarely get such recognition at that level.  Furthermore, I knew that the NAPLP/SIW experience would offer tremendous opportunities for my educational and professional careers.  My desire was to learn as much as possible, see as much as possible, and network as much as possible.  NAPLP and SIW gave me that “hands on” experience.

3. How has that experience helped you as you've moved along your career path?

Wow!  Where do I even begin?  Immediately after SIW I graduated from Troy University and went straight to the campaign trail by putting my experiences to work as a real life campaign manager.  A candidate for Alabama’s House District 102 signed me on to his campaign to lead his fundraising, grassroots and get out the vote efforts.  My candidate went on to win the primary and runoff elections.  After it was evident that he’d win the general as well, I went to work for a much bigger campaign race.  Jo Bonner, my U.S. Representative, invited me to join his re-election campaign as a full-time staffer to assist with everyday operations and logistics.  Needless to say both candidates won in November despite major conservative losses throughout the nation.  Without SIW’s training and tools I doubt I would have been as effective in these two campaign roles.

4. What was the single most important thing the program gave you?

Exposure.  Everywhere we went and everything we did gave our group, especially those representing Native and Alaskan tribes, the best exposure possible.  We were presented as successful, bright, and talented young Native Americans who aspired for careers in the government and/or law.  People not only saw our professionalism, but they were also able to see where we came from and learn more about our customs, traditions and beliefs.  From the halls of Congress to Pennsylvania Avenue to the offices of political organization, we were exposed to a world of opportunities inside and outside of the Beltway!

5. Can you describe one of your best experiences while at Semester In Washington?

I could say that it was getting to shake hands with the President or attending a special event on the White House lawn, but those experiences, while great, were not quite the best.  One day the Native American Political Leadership Program (NAPLP) group was given an exclusive, behind the scenes tour of the Native American Museum’s archives.  We were amazed at the amount of artifacts and history the place contained.  Every student had the opportunity to see specific items relevant to his or her tribe from generations past.  The experience to see these unique objects first hand was incredible!

6. Did the program meet or exceed your expectations? If so, how?

The NAPLP/SIW program went above and beyond my expectations.  Not only did I get the classroom experience but I also received the tools of how to apply that knowledge to a real campaign.  I got to meet other Native American students from different tribes and share my tribal heritage with the whole SIW group.  The experience that SIW allowed me to have is something that I will cherish forever and utilize everyday!  Moreover, participating in the first class of NAPLP was amazing in itself and I hope the program continues to offer Native American students in Indian country this great opportunity for years to come!