AU on Capitol Hill: Where Washington Connections Become Careers
Photo by Jeff Watts
For generations, American University students have looked to Capitol Hill to gain real-world experience in government—and, often, to launch lifelong careers in public service.
That longstanding connection was on display on May 20 at the inaugural AU on the Hill Day at the Rayburn House Office Building. Alumni working on the Hill as congressional staffers and lawmakers, along with student interns, gathered over pastries and coffee to celebrate the university’s deep roots in public service and its expanding network across Congress.
The event—hosted by AU’s Office of Community and Government Relations—featured remarks from Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI at large), WCL/JD ’94, and Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), CAS/BA ’81, SPA/MPA ’84, both of whom reflected on how the university shaped their paths to leadership. More than 30,000 AU alumni currently work in the federal government, including more than 300 on Capitol Hill and six current members of the House.
Along with Plaskett and McGovern, the congress of Eagles in the lower chamber includes: Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA), Kogod/MBA ’79; Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), SPA/BA ’13; Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), HON ’21, ’25, WCL professor emeritus; and Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), SPA/BA ’05, CAS/MA ’07.
This strong presence is a testament to both AU’s physical proximity to Capitol Hill—just a Metro ride away from Congress—and its enduring appeal to students eager to immerse themselves in politics, policymaking, and public service from the moment they arrive on campus.
Creating Pathways to Public Service and Policy
Photo by Jeff Watts
My senior year internship is what got me my first job out of college, and that first job is what got me my current job.
In his opening remarks, AU President Jonathan R. Alger spoke about the vital role that higher education plays in preserving democracy and shaping future civic leaders. He emphasized that AU is committed to ensuring students graduate not only with a strong academic foundation, but also with practical skills, hands-on experience, and professional networks requiredto succeed.
As part of this commitment, AU has pledged to provide students the opportunity for a university-funded internship or research experience beginning sophomore year.
“Already, 87 percent of our students do internships . . . but I’m a perfectionist,” Alger said. “I’d like it to be 100 percent, so all students across the board will have the opportunity to participate.”
Alger explained that this initiative is designed to level the playing field, ensuring hands-on learning experiences are accessible to all students, regardless of their financial ability to accept unpaid internships.
He also highlighted plans to expand alumni mentorship through a new program launching next year that will pair alumni with participating students, initially focusing on sophomores and transfer students.
That emphasis on experiential learning deeply resonated with many of the 100 alumni in attendance, including those who started on the Hill as AU interns themselves.
Shannon “Shan” McDermott, SPA/BA ’18, director of operations and scheduling for Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), credited AU’s focus on internships with helping to launch her career. “My senior-year internship is what got me my first job out of college,” she said, “and that first job is what got me my current job.”
Throughout the morning reception, students and alumni, including many recent graduates, traded business cards, stories, and career advice with lawmakers and senior staffers—offering a vibrant snapshot of AU’s pipeline into government and public life.
For many alumni, those initial campus connections evolve into lifelong friendships and professional networks. McDermott said that many of her closest friends chose to stay in Washington after graduation. In fact, about 40 percent of Eagles remain in DC area after collecting their diplomas.
“Everywhere I walk in DC, I’m saying hi to people I met as an orientation leader, or who had a radio show before me at WVAU,” McDermott said. “Those smiles, quick hellos . . .can lead to strong, genuine professional connections later on.”
Stacey Plaskett: Public Service, Not Politics
I don’t see myself as a politician. My life—my professional life—has been in public service, and I just happen to have a job in public service that requires people to elect me.
Now in her sixth term representing the at-large congressional district of the US Virgin Islands, Plaskett reflected on her time as a night student at the American University Washington College of Law, where she balanced a full-time job and raised three young children while earning her degree.
She recalled AU’s collaborative culture as one of its defining features, recalling how classmates created briefing books to help her keep up with coursework after the birth of her third child. That sense of community extended to the faculty, as well. Plaskett pointed to Raskin, her former constitutional law professor—now her colleague in Congress—as part of the broader AU network that shaped her approach to leadership.
Plaskett said that spirit of mutual support continues to inform her work today, crediting AU with reinforcing the core values of adaptability, negotiation, and service.
“I don’t see myself as a politician,” Plaskett said. “My life—my professional life—has been in public service, and I just happen to have a job in public service that requires people to elect me.”
Plaskett closed by noting that her congressional office is a frequent destination for interns, and she encouraged current AU students to apply.
James McGovern: When Like-Minded People Come Together
The world will not get better on its own.
McGovern, a double Eagle, said that his interest in politics crystallized soon after arriving at AU, when he landed a paid, three-year internship in the office of Senator George McGovern (D-SD).
“It was an incredible experience for me, and it instilled in me a sense of purpose with regard to public service,” he said, adding that he was inspired by colleagues who viewed government service as “an honorable profession.”
As an undergraduate, McGovern chose to study history—a decision he still considers one of the best he ever made.
“I still remember with great affection the history professors who taught me about history in every part of the world,” he said. “But one of the things they instilled in me is that if you want to be a good leader, you have to have a sense of history, so you don’t make the same stupid mistakes over and over and over again.”
In fact, it was McGovern’s AU professors who ultimately urged him to run for Congress, reminding him that “there are worse things in life than losing. Not trying, not giving it your best, is worse than that.”
He also recalled a history professor who ended every class with the same reminder: “The world will not get better on its own.”
“At the time, I didn’t know what he meant,” McGovern admitted. “I do now.”
Reflecting on his nearly 30 years in Washington, he emphasized that lasting change only happens when “like-minded people come together and make things happen, make the change for the better.”
Looking out on the crowd, McGovern noted that the AU students now interning on Capitol Hill today are following the exact same pipeline that brought him to Congress decades ago. It is a path defined just as much by shared mission as by career opportunity.
“DC—and AU—is a place full of passionate people that all care about something,” McDermott added. “I bring that passion and care for serving constituents every day.”
Photo by Jeff Watts