Jackson Arnold and Jordan Jarrett are the two exceptional students who have been named as the recipients of this year’s Dotty Lynch Scholarship.

Lynch served as the first director of American University's MA Political Communication program, which is a joint program administered by the School of Communication and School of Public Affairs. A trailblazer in her field, she was a member of the CBS News and New York Times polling consortium and served as senior political editor at CBS News for 20 years.

Jordan Jarrett comes to AU from Howard University, where she received a B.A. in Media, Film, and Journalism with a Journalism concentration and a minor in English. She established herself as a political journalist during her undergraduate studies by working as an intern for Her Campus Magazine and contributing to the HU News Service, where she reported on stories that highlighted the experiences of local communities and younger generations. At AU, Jordan is eager to dive into political discourse, opinion writing, and the legislative process, with a clear goal of highlighting how policies shape the lives of marginalized communities.

Having completed his undergraduate studies at Emory & Henry College with a B.A. in Media & Communications, Jackson Arnold brings a solid background in media and public engagement. In addition to his academic achievements, he served as the Office of International Education's Executive Global Ambassador and Assistant Coordinator, fostering relationships between students and international communities. Jackson is interested in public information and community outreach that improves the relationship between the government and the people it serves, and he is committed to investigating the various avenues of political communication at AU.

Jordan and Jackson together exemplify the Dotty Lynch Scholarship's core values: a commitment to politics, journalism, and ethics, as well as a love of using communication to uplift marginalized voices and advance democracy.

Q: What led you to study Political Communication at AU?
Jordan: “While finding my beat as a journalist during my undergrad years at Howard University, I always gravitated toward political reporting—whether local or national—and how people are directly impacted by policies. AU’s Political Communication program provides me with an amazing opportunity to gain more knowledge on the media’s role in political discourse. I’m especially excited to deepen my understanding of opinion writing, the legislative process, and voting behavior through the program’s rigorous courses.”

Q: What do you think some political communicators get wrong?
Jackson: “Many communicators fall into a cookie-cutter mentality, feeling like they have to follow the same career path as others before them. But the beauty of politics and communications is that there’s no single way to reach your goals. Everyone brings their own style and energy, and that’s what truly makes an impact.”

Q: Where were you working or what were you doing prior to coming to AU?
Jordan: “After graduating from Howard in May 2025, I immediately enrolled at AU. At Howard, I interned with Her Campus Magazine, focusing on in-depth stories about politics and culture, and I also worked at G&S Business Communications in Raleigh as their inaugural Integrated Marketing Communications Intern. Additionally, I covered local politics for the HU News Service during my senior capstone.”

Q: Are you currently working?
Jackson: “I’m a Press Intern for Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. I compile press clips, staff events, conduct research, and support day-to-day operations.”

Q: What are your aspirations post-MA?
Jordan: “I envision myself working in media, covering both national and local politics while highlighting marginalized communities’ voices. I hope to research how policies shape the economy and social dynamics within Black communities, and through storytelling, provide nuanced perspectives on lived experiences.”

Q: What is one “fun fact” about you?
Jackson: “Even though I’m a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan (Go Birds!), I actually starred in a commercial for the Washington Nationals when I was just three years old.”