When envisioning a dream career, most college students have one thing in common: they want their work to matter.
They want to have an impact, speak up about causes that are important to them, and stand for something meaningful—no matter if it helps one person or one million.
So imagine being fresh out of College and having the ability to impact millions, if not billions, of people through a cause that is important to you.
For three Gettysburgians, that is exactly what they are doing. Harry Fones ’15, Liz Oberg ’15, and Mia Phillips ’16 are currently working for the Republican National Committee (RNC), creating media strategy and analyzing data for political races at the national level.
Working in the field
Both Oberg and Fones work in the same department as research analysts. It was Oberg who connected Fones with his position after bumping into him on the Metro.
“So much of D.C. is being in the right place at the right time,” Fones said.
No two days are the same, he explained, as breaking news and developing events can shift their priorities in an instant.
The excitement of working at the RNC during a presidential election year is contagious, too.
“The Convention in Cleveland was hands down the thing I enjoyed the most,” Oberg said. “Not only was it a remarkable experience to be part of, it was also a total blast.”
Phillips works as a data analyst, and while she loves her day to day routine, the aspect of her work that appeals to her the most is the organization she is a part of and the values it represents.
“Everyone at the RNC is working towards the same goal, and everyday, I am surrounded by passionate, intelligent, and very hard working people,” said Phillips, who works as a data analyst. “It’s such an awesome environment to work in, and it’s what really drew me to working for the RNC after my internship.”
Personalizing politics
While their studies varied, they all cite the political science department as being instrumental in expanding their civic activism.
“I always had an interest in politics, and had volunteered on campaigns in high school, so I jumped at the opportunity to take Dr. Shirley Anne Warshaw’s American Government course my freshman year,” said Oberg.
“From there, I was hooked.”
The political science major and Spanish minor took every course she could, avidly supplementing her classroom learning with programming offered by the Eisenhower Institute.
“The caliber of the professors that students are fortunate enough to interact with on an “open door” daily basis is incredible,” Oberg said. “They are dedicated to connecting students with alumni who work in DC to be sure that they leave the College ready to understand their options after school.”
In addition to holding a leadership position with a Greek organization, Mia Phillips ’16 (right) participated in the Institute’s Inside Politics program, was an active member of College Republicans, and was a political science Peer Learning Associate.
Phillips agrees, citing the commitment of her professors to her educational and professional success as nothing short of transformational. Her advisor, Prof. Bruce Larson, was particularly influential, helping her to pursue new opportunities and tackle new challenges.
“Dr. Larson really encouraged me to go after what I wanted,” the history and public policy double major and political science minor said. “I would talk to him about the opportunities I would find online or through the Gettysburg network, and he would share ideas for how we could turn that work into research for my classes. It really shaped how I ended up at the RNC.”
For Fones, his professors became his greatest mentors—not because they shared similar political beliefs, but because they disagreed—respectfully—more than they agreed. In fact, his greatest mentors at Gettysburg—Profs. Don Tannenbaum and Ken Mott, to name a few—all fell on different ends of the political spectrum. Some of his favorite moments were the debates they would get into.
“No one cared what I thought as long as I could explain why,” Fones said.
It’s that foundation that Fones has found the most useful when speaking with voters, political field organizers, and more. A history and political science double major, Fones is not only familiar with the issues, but he also knows their historical roots, can look at them from multiple perspectives, and can explain why they are important, too.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Fones explained. “I’ve been able to put the knowledge and the skills I’ve learned to practical use.”
Enhancing their experience
Of course, there is so much more to a Gettysburg education than what takes place in the classroom.
Both Phillips and Oberg participated in the Eisenhower Institute’s Inside Politics program with renowned political expert and Bush speechwriter Kasey Pipes. Oberg calls her involvement with the Institute the “best decision I’ve ever made.”
“For me, it was more than just panel discussions, experts in residence, fellowship opportunities and networking,” said Oberg, who later became one of the Undergraduate Fellows and headed up the Campus Communications team at the Institute. “Having the opportunity as an undergraduate to see projects through with a team of motivated peers under the leadership and guidance of the Institute’s Executive Director Jeffrey Blavatt ’88 makes it a treasure for students.”
The Institute’s unparalleled networking opportunities did more than just provide Phillips with an insider’s look at the complexities of policy making. It was also how she first learned of the internships that would propel her political career.
“I had connected with Matt Kirincic ’13 and Jim Fellinger ’14 at an event held by the Institute,” the Tri Sigma sister and active College Choir member explained. “After my first internship with the Republican Party of Pennsylvania during the midterm elections, I wanted to expand my experience working with campaigns. They were able to connect me with the program at the RNC.”
Phillips’s connections to the Republican party extended beyond her state- and national-level internships, though. She also served as the Gettysburg College Republicans secretary her junior year—an organization that Fones was deeply committed to during his collegiate years as well.
“College Republicans was one of the biggest things that I was involved in at Gettysburg. It really meant a lot to me,” the Lambda Chi Alpha brother said.
Harry Fones ’15 (center) with fellow Gettysburgians at CPAC.
Through the College’s support of College Republicans, he was able to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)—the “birthplace of modern conservatism” and one of Fones’s more formative experiences as a student.
“That’s where I really started to dip my toe into the political arena,” Fones said. “I got to meet all of the big names—Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, FOX News personalities and presidential candidates—and that’s when I really started to get involved.”
Just a few short years later, Fones is doing more than rubbing elbows with the “big names.” Instead, he is working on the strategy that advances their party.
“If you had told me when I first got to Gettysburg that I would end up working for the RNC, I never would have believed you,” Fones said. “Now, I get to do what I love. And that’s a really neat feeling—to be 23 and to be doing something I love.”