Also … The Trinity Reporter checked in with three other alumni serving in the “ She [Julie] not Biden administration: Sarah Despres ’88, B.A., history; J.D., 1996, only knows the Northeastern University School of Law; Counselor for Public Health and Science nuances of this at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: “Atfer Trinity, my ifrst full-time job was working in the Soviet Union for the United administration but States Information Agency (USIA). Having that solid education from Trinity meant that I could also how to get pivot from working for USIA to entering law school. Atfer law school, I came back to D.C. things done—and with no preconceived notion of what I would do and just started seizing opportunities as she does it with a they arose. Having a well-rounded humanities Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and Julie Mason ’93 education was critical for that.” steady leadership Kendall Mitchell ’17, B.A. English Committee, Joe Biden. Within six months, (concentration in creative writing), minor in style, positive she landed a position assisting Mike Hispanic studies; Public Affairs Specialist/ McCurry, press secretary to President Bill Press Assistant, U.S. Department of Justice: outlook, and great Clinton, and learned the ropes of White “The English Department is one of the best House media relations. Next, she served as departments at Trinity. It opened my mind to sense of humor.” hearing other people’s stories without bias. deputy press secretary to ifrst lady Hillary As a political communications professional, I Clinton. A highlight came in 1998, when have to know how to communicate an issue in DOUGLAS EMHOFF , Mason accompanied the ifrst lady on a a meeting with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer SECOND GENTLEMAN trip to Trinity, where Clinton conducted a but also how I should communicate this issue OF THE UNITED STATES forum on child care and toured the Trinity to your grandma, who might not be lfuent in College Community Child Center (TC4). English. The skills I learned from the major Between 1999 and 2009, Mason helped me to be a good communicator and a was uncertain where her career path employed her strong communications and strong writer.” would lead. “I’m so impressed when peo- marketing skills at AOL Time Warner, the Maggie Thomas ’10, B.S., environmental ple know exactly what they want to do,” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the Arizona science and biology, minor in legal studies; she says. “I did not, but that’s the beauty Department of Homeland Security, and master’s in environmental management, of a liberal arts education. For people like the Oiffce of Arizona Governor Janet 2015, Yale University; Chief of Staff in the me, who are on a less-deifned journey, Napolitano. Mason took time off to raise Oiffce of Domestic Climate Policy: “The Trinity being exposed to Shakespeare, econom- her children before returning to D.C. to Environmental Science Program is inherently ics, philosophy, gender studies—it all lead communications for Jill Biden during interdisciplinary and nothing prepared me sets the stage for whatever you do.” She the 2012 presidential election campaign. more for the role that I have today. If we’re remembers volunteering for Big Brothers From 2013 through 2015, Mason was going to tackle the climate crisis, it needs to Big Sisters (BBBS) and serving as presi- director of special projects in the Oiffce of be a completely interdisciplinary approach. I dent of the campus BBBS club. “All of us Vice President Joe Biden before spend- was exposed to so much at Trinity, including in the program got to know people in the ing 5½ years in leadership positions with the Interdisciplinary Science Program and community and kind of break down barri- international consulting ifrm Albright research studying red-tailed hawks. Over time, ers, which was terriifc.” Stonebridge Group. I realized that what I really wanted to do was Mason’s ifrst job atfer college was as In her latest White House role, Mason to make change in the world, and to do that an assistant teacher at a private school has been struck by how much her daugh- you need to be engaged at the intersection of science and policy.” in McLean, Virginia. But atfer a year ter, Adele, 14, and son, Sam, 12, are observing so many people lfocking to interested to hear about her day at work. These members of the Biden administration HOUSE D.C. to get involved in politics, she “The ifrst time I was in the White House, follow in the footsteps of many other Trinity decided she wanted to give it a try, too. I didn’t have kids. The second time, they alumni who, according to the college’s WHITE “I put on my red Ann Taylor suit, printed were young and would participate in kid- records, have served in previous presidential THE off hard copies of my résumé, and began focused activities like the annual Easter administrations, including Victoria Coates OF ’90, National Security Council (Donald Y knocking on doors.” Egg Roll. But now, at their schools, they’re Trump); Jonathan Asen ’09, Oiffce of TES An Illinois native, she secured an talking about world issues and national OUR Legislative Affairs (Barack Obama); Neil Patel C unpaid internship with her hometown issues, topics like equity and gender, ) ’91, Oiffce of the Vice President (George W. GHT congressman, which led to a job answer - and we have conversations about civics— Bush); and Charles S. Ingersoll, Jr. ’83, Oiffce RI ( : ing phones in the oiffce of the then- which is great! It’s fun for me to see what O of Presidential Personnel (Ronald Reagan). T chairman of the Senate Judiciary I’m doing through their eyes.” PHO FALL 2021 19