Intern Spotlight Of The Week 2025 - Government and Community Affairs

Interested in Becoming a Legislative Intern?

Come join us at the Capitol for the 2026 Georgia Legislative session! The Georgia Legislative Internship Program is open to currently enrolled juniors and seniors at any Georgia college or university. GLIP interns work full-time at the Georgia General Assembly for the entire session and receive both course credit and a weekly stipend.

We will be hosting information sessions; more details will be forthcoming in the following months.

Questions and requests for information can be sent to Dr. Stephanie D. Kerce at [email protected].

Information is also available at https://ga.gsu.edu/ga-legislative-intern-program/

Intern of the Week 2025

Every week a different Georgia Legislative Intern Program intern will be featured on this page. The purpose of this feature is to introduce them to the campus, highlight their achievements while working at the capitol as well as their future goals.

Victoria Oltean

Q&A with Victoria Oltean

Q: Where is your hometown?
A: I am from Roswell, Georgia.

Q: What is your major?
A: I am currently a junior doing a Political Science major.

Q: Who inspires you most in the world, and why do they inspire you?
A: My grandmother inspires me the most because she is the strongest, hardest working, and most disciplined person that I know. She has taught me how to push through the difficulties of life through her stories of living during the regime of an oppressive government, surviving through years of intense political instability, and building a beautiful life in a new country during the second half of her life. It is her resilience that inspires me to push myself towards achieving successes beyond my imagination.

Q: Which office/committee are you assigned to?
A: I am assigned to the President Pro Tempore’s Office with Senator John F. Kennedy.

Q: What are some of your duties as a legislative intern?
A: My duties consist of keeping up with the administrative needs of my office. Duties range from stocking up the fridge in the office to delivering invitations for events. I also aid with Senator Kennedy’s communication by helping in the creation of social media posts and editing the weekly newsletter. However, my most important obligation is to support Senator Kennedy’s staff in all that they need so that the legislative session runs as smooth as possible.

Q: What do you hope to gain from the Georgia Legislative Intern Program?
A: I hope to gain insight about my skillsets and how my talents can best serve my community. I am
also excited for the opportunity to deeply understand the inner-working of state politics, the legislative branch, and the Georgia community as a whole.

Q: How will this experience help you in your future career plans?
A: I believe that the Georgia Legislative Intern Program will teach me the discipline that I need to succeed in high-pressure and fast paced professional environments. I also believe that this internship will guide me towards a professional path that is the best suited for my talents!

Q: If you could use one word to describe your experience at the Georgia Legislative Internship Program thus far, what would that word be, and why?
A: I would describe this internship as eye-opening. I am learning so much about myself, the legislative process, and how state government operates! I am excited to see what the next couple of months have in store for me.

Victoria Oltean

Bethany Jones

Q&A with Bethany Jones

Q: Where is your hometown?
A: I am from Newnan, Georgia.

Q: What is your major?
A: I am majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law and getting a minor in Marketing. I’m currently a junior with plans to graduate with my bachelor’s in 2026.

Q: Who inspires you most in the world, and why do they inspire you?
A: My mom inspires me the most; she has faced many challenges in her lifetime and has overcome them all—not only exceptionally well but also with such grace. Her drive and ambition to be the best version of herself every day has always inspired me to reach for the stars when it comes to my dreams and career goals.

Q: Which office/committee are you assigned to?
A: I am assigned to the Speaker’s Office with Representative Jon Burns.

Q: What are some of your duties as a legislative intern?
A: I assist in helping Mrs. Dayle, the Speaker’s wife, in various ways, including setting up paperwork for meetings, making phone calls, and sending out emails. I also assist the office’s front desk: answering the phone and questions to members who come in. My office holds more of an administrative position, so we get a lot of questions concerning scheduling and placements.

Q: What do you hope to gain from the Georgia Legislative Intern Program?
A: Overall, I hope to gain experience and create a wide network of people I can keep in touch with as the years go on. Although this is a political environment, and my goal is to attend law school, I believe that this internship will provide me with many resources and experiences that are rare to get as an undergraduate student.

Q: How will this experience help you in your future career plans?
A: Being able to experience a professional and legal environment, such as interning with GLIP, will set me up for success in my endeavors to attend law school; being able to not only understand the legislative system but also speak from experience about it creates opportunities that open many doors when it comes to networking and growing as a professional.

Q: If you could use one word to describe your experience at the Georgia Legislative Internship Program thus far, what would that word be, and why?
A: Invaluable. This internship is so unique, and as an intern, I gain hands-on experience working with professionals and assisting them in numerous ways. No task is too big or small at the Capitol and the relationships and experiences that can be made throughout this process are ones that you cannot get in other settings.

Bethany Jones

Jaeda Ray

Q&A with Jaeda Ray

Q: Where is your hometown?
A: I am from Peachtree Corner, Georgia.

Q: What is your major?
A: I am currently a senior, majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-law.

Q: Who inspires you most in the world, and why do they inspire you?
A: My sister is my biggest inspiration. Growing up, I watched her create opportunities for herself and succeed in every way. As a Georgia State and University of Georgia graduate who studied neuropsychology, she worked hard to build her own path and showed an independence and determination I’ve always admired. After graduating in 2020, she quickly started her career, showing me what it means to take control of your future. Her journey has inspired me to dream bigger and seize every opportunity that comes my way. She has also been my biggest supporter, helping me with resumes, school applications, interviews, and essays. Her guidance has meant everything to me, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.

Q: Which office/committee are you assigned to?
A: I am assigned to House Media Services.

Q: What are some of your duties as a legislative intern?
A: As a legislative intern for the House of Representatives Media Services, my duties include drafting informational documents about representatives and highlighting key facts about them. I also listen to and take detailed notes on sessions, committee meetings, and press releases. Additionally, I review committee agendas, upload them to the archives, and assist in coordinating room reservations for committee meetings.

Q: What do you hope to gain from the Georgia Legislative Intern Program?
A: I hope to gain hands-on experience with the legislative process and a deeper understanding of how state government works. This program gives me the opportunity to explore a field I’ve been interested in but haven’t had much direct experience with. By participating in the daily operations of the Georgia legislature, I aim to build practical skills in research, constituent services, and policy work. I’m also excited to connect with professionals and mentors who can guide me as I explore new career paths and shape my goals in public service.

Q: How will this experience help you in your future career plans?
A: The Georgia Legislative Intern Program will build on my past experience and help me grow in new ways. I will gain hands-on experience in legislative tracking, communication, and collaboration with various groups, which will be invaluable as I pursue a career in government or diplomacy. This program will also deepen my understanding of how state policies impact communities, aligning with my passion for supporting marginalized groups and advocating for positive change. Additionally, the connections I make could lead to mentorship opportunities and career paths that support my goal of serving my community in the future.

Q: If you could use one word to describe your experience at the Georgia Legislative Internship Program thus far, what would that word be, and why?
A: I would describe my experience as exhilarating. It’s a perfect mix of excitement and eagerness as I learn so much and take on new responsibilities. At the same time, there’s a sense of nervousness about wanting to meet expectations and perform well, which keeps me motivated to grow and improve every day.

Jaeda Ray

Contact Us

Brian Harris
Director, Government & Community Affairs
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 404-413-2030

Jason Thomas
Assistant Director for State Relations
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 404-413-1405

Debbie Jones
Associate to the Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 404-413-2030

Vinesh Sahadeo Singh
Data Analyst
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 404-413-1405

Address

Government and Community Affairs
Centennial Hall
100 Auburn Avenue, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30303

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Interested in Becoming a Legislative Intern?

Intern of the Week 2025

Victoria Oltean

Victoria Oltean

Bethany Jones

Bethany Jones

Jaeda Ray

Jaeda Ray

Contact Us

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