KSU students gain hands-on experience at Georgia State Capitol
KENNESAW, Ga. |
Apr 22, 2026
As lawmakers debated policy and shaped Georgia鈥檚 future during the 2026 legislative session, 91大神 students were working behind the scenes at the state Capitol as legislative interns.
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For Allie Mayfield, a senior journalism major interning with the Georgia House of
Representatives Media Services Office, the experience brought classroom concepts to
life in a high-stakes environment.
鈥淚t is such a different experience to work on projects in a setting like this with names on the paper of people who are highly respected in our state,鈥� said Mayfield. 鈥淪eeing everything I鈥檝e learned in the classroom come to life in this setting has been incredibly rewarding.鈥�
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Junior political science major Owen Hawkins juggled responsibilities across three
House committees: Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Natural Resources and Environment,
and Game, Fish, and Parks. His days included preparing committee materials, managing
constituent services, and analyzing legislation for senior staff.
鈥淔or me, the most surprising aspect of working at the Capitol is the people. Everyone is so kind and welcoming,鈥� Hawkins said. 鈥淚t is such a happy environment to work in, even on the days that feel long or stressful. Everyone here has a genuine desire to see you succeed, and they go above and beyond to help you get the most out of your experience here.鈥�
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Shana Johns also supported multiple chairmen as an intern, serving the Retirement, Appropriations for Higher Education, Health, and Intragovernmental Coordination committees. Her responsibilities included tracking legislation, drafting bill summaries, and managing constituent services. The junior political science major credits the breadth of her role for opening her eyes to the vast network of state agencies, advocacy groups, and stakeholders that shape Georgia鈥檚 legislative process.
鈥淏efore interning in the General Assembly, my awareness of the number of organizations and state agencies that play vital roles in advising legislators and policy making was minuscule,鈥� Johns said. 鈥淎fter meeting a number of lobbyists and seeing different groups represented in the Capitol daily, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people passionate about various issues.鈥�
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Kira Wolfmeier, also a junior majoring in political science, served as a senate aid
to Senator Ed Harbison, Chairman of the State Institutions and Property Committee.
In her role, Wolfmeier researched organizations for resolutions and managed constituent
affairs, deepening her understanding of how research directly influences policymaking.
鈥淚t鈥檚 much more hands-on than I anticipated,鈥� Wolfmeier said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really neat to research organizations and play a role in providing the information that then becomes a resolution that鈥檚 honored in the chamber.鈥�
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Meredith Haydel鈥檚 internship with the office of Representative Jan Jones, the House Speaker Pro Tempore, gave her a front-row seat to democracy in action. At 9 a.m. almost every morning, the junior political science major helped set up binders of legislation for representatives to review for Rules Committee meetings. She also attended committee meetings throughout the day and accompanied the Speaker Pro Tempore to constituent meetings, taking notes.
鈥淢y favorite experience was getting to go on the floor and watch them vote on bills in real time, which is not an experience many interns get to have,鈥� Haydel said. 鈥淗aving a seat to watch them ring the bell as they鈥檙e voting on bills and representatives debating them or asking questions has been an experience I鈥檒l never forget.鈥�
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The students credit their KSU education with preparing them to meet the demands of
the Capitol. Jada Barronton, a junior political science major, interned with Judiciary
Committee Chairman Senator Brian Strickland. Barronton emphasized that her coursework
and experience as a supplemental instructor for American Government helped establish
a strong foundation for legislative work.
鈥淜SU has given me a strong academic background in the inner workings of the legislative process that helped set my expectations and gave me the knowledge I needed to succeed in my role at the Capitol,鈥� Barronton said.
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For these Owls, their time at the Georgia Capitol has made a lifelong impact, giving
them an immersive professional experience that clarified career goals, strengthened
leadership skills, and provided an inside view of state government.
The Georgia Legislative Internship Program (GLIP) is a four-month internship that places undergraduates in key roles within the Georgia
General Assembly. A full-time placement in a variety of offices, GLIP offers juniors
and seniors the opportunity to experience what takes place behind the scenes during
legislative session.
Students interested in applying for the Georgia Legislative Internship Program can learn more by contacting KSU鈥檚 Office of External Affairs at externalaffairs@kennesaw.edu or by visiting go.kennesaw.edu/GLIP.
鈥� Story by Elyssa Reed
Photos by Georgia House of Representatives and State Senate photographers, and Elyssa
Reed
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 91大神 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. 91大神 is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 91大神 is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
