Olivia Carney ’28 sits quietly in one of the United States Senate Chamber’s third floor galleries and listens to the speeches being made below. The room, with its royal blue carpets accented with golden wreaths, is filled with several semicircles of mahogany desks reserved for the country’s 100 senators; gold-colored walls and decorative molding match the prestige of the debates and deliberations that have taken place in this space.
“It’s like sitting in on history being made,” reflects Carney, an Accounting major who attended Bryant’s Explore D.C. program over spring break. “It’s surreal watching the things you might see on TV play out before you.”
Carney’s curiosity is rooted in international tax and how tax law changes with each presidential administration. Throughout the six-day trip, she searches for how she can insert her expertise into D.C.-based organizations and opportunities. Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences’ Politics, Law, and Society department and the Amica Center for Career Education, Explore D.C. exposes students to new people, new cities, and an overall new environment with fellow students and faculty.
“These experiences force students to get out of their comfort zones to use public transportation, hone community building skills with fellow travelers, and develop their confidence ‘living’ in a new city for a period of time,” says Politics, Law, and Society Lecturer Mary Anne Clarke, who ran the trip alongside Assistant Professor of Political Science Tristan Hightower, Ph.D., and Associate Director of Employer Relations Pat Miernicki.
Epicenter of political life
Touring the U.S. Capitol, Riley McKinley ’27 feels the rush of D.C. as elected officials and public servants scurry by. Inside, students take a tour arranged by Brittney Fernandez ’23 — who works as a congressional staff assistant to U.S. Senator Jack Reed — and travel through the National Statuary Hall, Capitol Rotunda, and the Crypt. McKinley, who’d recently applied for a summer internship with Senator Susan Collins in his home state of Maine, uses his time at the Capitol to interview with Collins’ staff. He’s thinking of pursuing a behind-the-scenes role in politics, whether it be a political strategist or a campaign manager, and a role like this could be a great steppingstone.
“Right now, I'm a legislature intern at the Rhode Island State Capitol, so I got to compare and contrast what I saw at the United States Capitol with the Rhode Island's capitol,” recalls McKinley, who’s double majoring in Management and Politics and Law. Following his trip to D.C., McKinley found out he secured the internship.
After sightings of Senators Bernie Sanders, Mitch McConnell, and Rand Paul, students head over to the Philip A. Hart Senate Office Building where they meet with Senator Reed — the politician who’s been representing Rhode Island in Congress since 1991 and, last year, secured $1.5 million in federal appropriations to expand Bryant’s School of Health and Behavioral Sciences. There, students ask Reed questions about his take on the political climate and his favorite part of representing constituents.
Connecting with D.C.-based alumni
On one brisk evening during the trip, students, faculty, and alumni gather on the rooftop patio at the Crimson. As they enjoy the sunset and each other’s company in the heart of downtown D.C., undergrads learn about fellow Bryant grads’ careers — from a federal enterprise strategy consultant at IBM to a senior program manager of global services at a children’s hospital — and how to adjust to life after college.
“It’s a great opportunity to network,” says Marketing major Louis Cavallerano ’27, who's interested in public service and philanthropy.
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The night results in LinkedIn connections, career tips, and bonding over the campus’s evolution.
“These connections allow students to see firsthand how their education translates into real-world impact, whether in government, advocacy, consulting, or other policy-related fields. Alumni can offer invaluable insights, mentorship, and opportunities that help students navigate their own career paths,” says Hightower.
Looking back to progress forward
Walking through the Historic Congressional Cemetery with Kurt Deion ’16, undergrads listen to the alum talk about his role as an education specialist at the cemetery. He shows them the graves of the first FBI Director John Edgar Hoover and U.S. Attorney General William Wirt, among others — and even includes a peek into a mausoleum. Also visiting Arlington Cemetery along their journey, undergrads who’d been to the nation’s capital in middle school find that returning as an adult holds a new layer of meaning.
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“I can feel the weight of it more,” says Carney of JFK’s memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. “I understand everything that was happening and could give it the respect it deserves.”
With their free time, students enjoy a walking tour of the Supreme Court, Library of Congress, National Mall, and Smithsonian Museums. From observing peaceful protests on Capitol Hill to seeing the original Declaration of Independence in the National Archives, the undergrads approach what they see and hear through an analytical lens.
Furthering their education
From meeting professionals working in think tanks, agencies, and advocacy groups to seeing policy in action, the world of government and public service feels tangible and within reach for undergrads.
Prior to their departure, students gather at The Washington Center where they learn about the full-time internship and seminar program that takes place during the fall, spring, and summer. Previous Bryant students have participated in the program and have interned in a variety of places, including the White House, Environmental Protection Agency, National Opera House, law offices, and lobbying, and consulting firms.
The session piques students’ interest as they learn of another way to broaden their experiences and career possibilities.
“These trips reinforce that students have the power to contribute to something greater than themselves. Whether shaping legislation, advocating for communities, or driving change through research and innovation, students see firsthand how their future careers can impact large numbers of people,” Hightower says.
