Panthers in Politics

Mary Christina Riley

Bachelor of Arts ’11

College of Arts & Sciences

House Committee on Education & the Workforce at the U.S. House of Representatives for Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05)

Mary Christina Riley (B.A. ’11) advises U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and other members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor on issues in higher education, meets with constituents and higher education stakeholders, drafts legislation and helps prepare committee members for congressional hearings. Riley has more than eight years of experience working for members of Congress or in congressional offices. She previously served as legislative director for Congressman Rick W. Allen (R-GA), a member of the House Education and Labor Committee and held roles handling education and workforce issues as professional policy staff member for Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA) and former Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA).

Riley also served as senior advisor in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education, where she led legislative efforts to streamline the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), provide funding for Minority Serving Institutions, reinstate Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals and worked with Congress on crafting COVID-19 relief provisions in the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

Currently the vice president of membership for the Georgia State Society in Washington, Riley is also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and Pi Sigma Alpha political science honors society.

Macy McFall

Juris Doctor ’20

College of Law

Lobbyist and Attorney, the Robbins Firm

Macy McFall’s (J.D. ’20) extensive government experience provides her with critical insights necessary to understand legislative, regulatory and administrative issues for the Robbins Firm’s clients. McFall spent eight years working in Georgia politics, most recently as chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan. In this role, she oversaw all day-to-day operations and was the top strategist for public policy decisions, legislative initiatives, media outreach and constituent relations for the Lt. Governor’s Office.

Before rising to become the first female chief of staff for a lieutenant governor in Georgia, McFall spent eight years working in state politics, holding key roles in which she provided strategic advice to policymakers and cultivated relationships with state, local and corporate partners. While obtaining her law degree, McFall was legislative policy analyst in the Senate Research Office, advising legislators on ethics and elections policy. McFall is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers.