I've learned to have a thick skin and manage the most-disrespectful callers with what Barbara Boxer would call the 'Art of Tough,' that is, responding to constituent concerns with both politeness and fearlessness.
Friends and fellow citizens,
In a world that remains politically polarized, there is one group of individuals that puts differences aside to initiate change for the greater good -Capitol Hill Staffers. Thousands of Democratic and Republican staffers work together day in and day out to get things done in Washington, DC. Because this bipartisan collaboration runs counter to the usual political narrative, the Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy is exploring the often unseen, and incredibly important, collaborations of Capitol Hill Staffers.
On September 30th, 2021, at 12:30pm CT, The Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy will host a virtual event that brings together a panel of Staffers to examine what it really is like to work on Capitol Hill and how to get there. Our purpose is two-fold: 1) demystify how work really gets done in Washington, and 2) provide current Vanderbilt University students with a sense for what it takes to land a position on Capitol Hill.
This discussion with a bipartisan group of Capitol Hill Staffers will center on how they've worked across the aisle to get things done; the differences between working in the House vs. Senate and personal office of a Member vs. committee staff; how to landa job on the Hill and how to make the most of your experience once you're there.
Event panelists include:
- Ivelisse Porroa-Garcia: Policy Director, U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus | President, Congressional Hispanic Staff Association
- Nic Adams: Professional Staff Member & Advisor to Senator Cornyn, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
- Hsin-Yi Sherri Pan: J.D. Candidate at Fordham University School of Law
- Ian Bryan: legislative assistant, the office of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)