Hello! My name is Courtney Navarro and I am a Communications Fellow within the Frye Fellowship program. There are many posts on the SPIA blog about the Legislative side of the Fellowship, and I would love to add my experience about the other half, which deals with the world of communications. While I don’t deal directly with some of the policy building, I am still able to gain many of the research skills necessary for my future career, and have written my own press releases about some of the bills being introduced in session at this minute!
As a communications fellow, it may seem like our job is simple, by just editing videos or writing blog posts. However, it is much more complex. We handle a wide range of responsibilities, which include curating press releases for newly introduced legislation, filming/editing many of the interview-like videos featuring other fellows, writing bill memos during sessions (and researching the background of said policy!), and weekly research on current events. It requires us to be adaptable and on our toes for the next story, so that we can accurately deliver news to the public.
Throughout the first half of this year-long program, I was tasked with putting together stories from the news on a local, state, and national/international level, which exposed me to methods of research I did not know were possible. I was up for hours reading articles that would be released on the specific day I was assigned, and it showed me just how much we have to truly interpret our sources and fact-check them as much as possible. I was encouraged to think critically about every story that was being written in the hour, but it showed me why these stories truly matter. Local news of UGA students building programs to detect AI deserve just as much exposure as the newest bills introduced in session. This one insight really helped to shape how I value servitude and honesty.
Recently, I was granted the opportunity to write a press release on bill HB 1050, which protects Georgia students from immigration enforcement, prioritizing their safety from unauthorized harm. On January 27th, 2026, this bill was introduced into the Georgia House of Representatives, with one of its sponsors being Spencer Frye himself. This bill is particularly special because it was created and written by one of our very own Legislative fellows, Addison Denney, who is a part of the Civil Rights policy group. If passed, this bill has the opportunity to add an additional layer of protection to Georgia students when their schools have to interact with immigration officials, and adequately prepares them for those encounters.
While my journey at the University of Georgia is certainly an interesting one, the Frye Fellowship is one experience that I cannot recommend enough. It has not only shaped so many of my current professional skills, but it has truly helped me narrow down what inspires me in the world of public service. I am not only grateful for the opportunity to participate in this program, but I am all the more eager to introduce as many people as I can to it!
Courtney Kayla Navarro
A.B. Political Science, M.P.A. Public Administration
Minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State
Certificate in Global Studies & Legal Disparity and Equity
University of Georgia | Class of 2026
Morehead Honors College
