Fall Semester (9 hours)
POLS 5030 Introduction to Applied Politics (3 hours) – This “Launchpad” course will introduce students to substantive issues and knowledge needed to pursue a career in politics and politically-oriented advertising and public relations. Course material will be integrated with guest lectures by a variety of practitioners from politics and public affairs.
ADPR 3860 Introduction to Public Affairs Communications (3 hours) – This course describes the field and the role of public affairs and advocacy in shaping public policy, legislation, and politics. Relevant topics include politics and media, ethics, advocacy advertising, and elements of historical campaigns.
POLS 4150 Research Methods for Political Science (3 hours) – This course will be taught with a dedicated Applied Politics section and will focus on helping students develop the tools necessary to engage in applied politics and applied politics research.
Spring, Summer, or next Fall Semester (4-12 hours)
Internship courses may generate anywhere from 4 to 12 hours of course credit depending on the combination of requirements utilized by the professor and student. Internships must be sponsored by the Director of the Applied Politics program and developed with the specific career interests of the student in mind. Students may engage in an internship program affiliated with another body, however, students must register for POLS internship hours (at least 4) in order to meet the curriculum requirements for the Applied Politics track of the Public Affairs Professional Certificate. The core courses in the Applied Politics Program should be completed before the internship portion begins, however, some exceptions may occur and will be determined by the Director of the Applied Politics. Students must meet with the Applied Politics Director in person regarding their internship and assignments prior to registering for internship hours.
Thank you to the practitioners who have shared their stories, tips and tricks for working in politics and public affairs communications.
Alexa Bankert, Assistant Professor of Political Science, UGA School of Public and International Affairs
Mallory Blount, Director of Specialty Media at the White House, Communications Director, Walker for Senate
Greg Bluestein, Political Reporter, Atlanta Journal Constitution
Ryan Bowersox, Senior Policy Analyst, Senate Research Office, Georgia State Senate
Kaitlyn Branson, Vice President of Operations, War Room Strategies
Charles S. Bullock, III, Richard B. Russell Professor, University Professor of Political Science, UGA School of Public and International Affairs
Mary Carol Butterfield, Associate Producer, Fox & Friends
Keisha Carter Brown, Public Service Partner, RaZor Solutions Group, LLC
Ananda Costa, Integrated Communications Representative, Skunkworks, Lockheed Martin
Jordan Chinouth, President/Chief Executive Officer, War Room Strategies
Shelbi Dantic, Campaign Manager, Boudreaux for Congress
Rebecca DeHart, Executive Director, Democratic Party of Georgia, and CEO of Fair Count
Geoff Duncan, Lt. Governor, State of Georgia
Earl Ehrhart, State Representative of Georgia
Wells Ellenberg, Government Affairs Manager, Southern Company
Terry England, Georgia State House Representative, Chair, Appropriations
Bill Evelyn, Broadcast/Video Specialist, UGA Marketing & Communications
Carmen Foskey, Executive Director, Georgia Republican Party
Spencer Frye, GA State House
Jordan Fuchs, Vice President, Landmark Communications
Houston Gaines, GA State House Representative, Applied Politics First Cohort
Jim Galloway, Senior Political Reporter, Atlanta Journal Constitution
Kristin Garrett, Assistant Professor of Political Science, UGA School of Public and International Affairs
Ben George, Catapult Consulting, former Chief of Staff for State Democratic Leader, Georgia State House
Patrick Guthrie, Political Director, Clyde for Congress, State Field Director, Kemp Campaign, Applied Politics Fourth Cohort
Cody Hall, Press Secretary, Governor Kemp
Jessica Hayes, Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. House Member, Jody Hice
Neill Herring, Lobbyist, GA Sierra Club, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Flint Riverkeeper, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, GA Forest Watch
Robin Hubier, Jackson Spalding, Corporate Social Responsibility
Melissa Jackson, Broadcast Media Relations Coordinator, UGA Marketing & Communications
Robert Jimison, NYT Associate Producer, The Daily
Bree Johnson, Digital Strategist, currently with Tomlinson for Senate
Josh Jones, President/CEO Red Clay Communications
Ronny Just, Governmental Relations Manager, Georgia Power
Paul Kilgore, PDS Compliance
David Lakly, Vinson Institute, Expert, Georgia Legislative Process
Dominique Leon-Davis, Move-On, Digital Mobilization
Bryan Long, CEO Southern Majority, Jackson Spalding
Josh Mackey, Vice President of Government Relations, FrogueClark
Anthony Madonna, Associate Professor, Russell Teaching Professor, Political Science Department, UGA School of Public and International Affairs
Amanda Maddox, Communications Director, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson
Sam Marticke, Government Affairs Assistant, Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough, GA State Law, Applied Politics First Cohort
Larissa Martinez, Director of Operations, Carly for America
Abit Massey, Georgia Poultry Federation President Emeritus
Lewis Massey, Partner at Massey, Watson & Hembree, LLC
Joel McElhannon, Managing Partner of Parlay Marketing Partners, LLC
Jim McVaney, Senior Director, Federal Relations and Policy (Energy, Environment & Agriculture) at Bayer
Chris Meredith, Counsel, Homeland Security
Carey Miller, Legal Counselor to Governor Deal
Tate Mitchell, Kemp Campaign Press Secretary and Applied Politics First Cohort
Powell Moore, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense
Bill Nigut, Senior Executive Producer at WGPB; WSB Political Reporter
Kristin E. Oblander, President, Oblander Group Fundraising
Eric Paulk, Deputy Director, Georgia Equality
Hadas Peles, Project Manager, American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Andrew Peoples, Intergovernmental Affairs and NGO Liaison at National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
William Perry, Executive Director of Georgia Ethics Watchdogs
Xeron Pledger, Constituent Liaison and Special Projects, U.S. House Representative Johnson
Trey Pollard, National Press Secretary, Sierra Club
Speaker David Ralston, Speaker of the House, Georgia House of Representatives
Matt Ralston, Manager of State Affairs, Troutman Sanders Strategies
Ralph Reed, President, Century Strategies
Lori Ringhand, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & J. Alton Hosch Professor of Law, UGA School of Law
Brian Robinson, Political Strategist, President of Republic Consulting, Former Communications Director for Governor Deal
Callie Hood Roylance, Program & Legal Assistant at Western Resource Advocates, Applied Politics Second Cohort
Karen Russell, Associate Professor of Public Relations & Jim Kennedy New Media
Thank you to the following donors whose generous support makes this program possible!
Mr. Eli J. Abad
Ms. Francesca T. Amodeo
Ms. Caroline L. Anderson
Ms. Sarah J. Baines and Mr. Christopher P. Baines II
Ms. Abby L. Batchelor
Capt J. Wesley Bernard
Ms. Lynn M. Brynes
Mrs. Frances Bullock and Dr. Charles S. Bullock III
Mr. Mark A. Burkett
Mr. Brittan J. Bush
Ms. Mary C. Butterfield
Ms. Rachel L. Byers
Mr. Jake Campbell
Mr. Carter W. Chapman
Mr. Timothy R. Chapman and Ms. Emily J. Chapman
Mr. James V. Chin and Dr. Audrey A. Haynes
Ms. Allyson M. Clawson
Dr. Brett A. Clementz and Dr. Jennifer E. McDowell
Ms. Laney N. Copeland
Mr. Dylan R. Davis and Ms. Kelly C. Davis
Mr. Christopher C. Devine
Mr. Timothy B. Dickinson
Mr. David B. Dove and Ms. Courtney Dove
Ms. Julia F. Drury
Mr. Donavan K. Eason and Mrs. Ashley L. Eason
Ms. Sharri Edenfield and Mr. William Lindsey
Dr. Ashton G. Ellett and Ms. Jessica Ellett
Mr. Raphael E. Fix
Ms. Cassidy M. Flood
Mr. Ross E. Freeman
Mr. Kerman D. Goodin II
Mr. J. Patrick Guthrie
Mr. Keith A. Guthrie and Ms. Carolyn C. Guthrie
Mr. Robert M. Haire and Dr. Susan G. Haire
Mr. Cole M. Harper
Mr. J. Bradley Harris
Mr. Coleman R. Hedden
Mr. Jerry E. Hood and Mrs. Angela F. Hood
Mr. Mark Isbitts and Ms. Debra Isbitts
Mr. Dylan M. Jolley
Ms. Sara Beth Cockerham Kaufman
Ms. Abby M. Kousouris
Ms. Ashley M. Land
Dr. Joshua M. Lang
Mrs. Megan L. Larkins and Mr. Wallis M. Larkins
Ms. Noelle C. Lashley
Mr. Joseph A. Lestingi III and Ms. Kathryn L. Fisher
Ms. Malissa M. Little
Mrs. Kaylyn E. Littleton and Mr. Jeffery Littleton
Ms. Leanne E. Livingston
Mr. Joshua J. Mackey and Ms. Kallarin Mackey
Mrs. Brooke Malcom
Mr. Justin P. Maloney
Ms. Sara Beth Marchert
Ms. Jessica D. Martin
Mr. Lewis Massey
Mr. John J. McArthur and Judge Sara McArthur
McArthur & McArthur, P.A.
Mr. Allen T. McCall
Mr. James P. McVaney Jr.
Mr. John T. C. Mitchell
Mr. Kevin L. Mitchell
Ms. Angela M. Morgan
Ms. Madeline C. Morgan
Ms. Katherine R. Moseley
Ms. Roya Naghepour
Mrs. Caroline M. Paczkowski and Dr. Andrew M. Paczkowski
Ms. Samantha E. Paul
Ms. Anne M. Pellegrino
Mr. Ethan M. Pender
Ms. Nicole T. Phillips
Dr. Andrew W. Pierce
Dr. Keith T. Poole and Mrs. Jan Poole
Mr. Glyndon D. Pruitt
Mr. Robert F. Ray Jr. and Mrs. Karen Cochran Ray
Red Maple Group, LLC
Ms. Tiffany N. Reed
Ms. Cecile P. Riker
Dr. Deondra E. Rose
Ms. Callie Y. Roylance
Mr. Adrien D. Sandercock
Mr. Brett D. Smith
Mr. Hunter G. Smith
Ms. Anna Beth Smith
Ms. Margaret R. Smith
Mr. Andrew D. Stancil
Mr. Glenn A. Stegall
Mr. Kent P. Strickland
Ms. Jessica J. Suh
Mr. Grant R. Thomas I
Ms. Shivani B. Vakharia
Ms. Savannah J. Viar
LTC Scott M. Virgil
Mr. John T. Walden
Mr. Frank A. Wasser
Dr. Peter W. Wielhouwer
Mr. Brad L. Williamson
Mr. Jonathan M. Wilson
updated 4.5.21
Gaines, Houston
Harben, Catherine
John-Williams, Kimberlee
Lozano-roman, Glanny
MacPhail, Kate
Marticke, Sam
McAllister, Kaylyn
Mitchell, Tate
Morgan, Madeline
Naghepour, Roya
Sandercock, Adrien
Smith, Hunter
Stone, Emily
Williams, Hayley
Burkett, Mark
Conde, Louis
Dickinson, Bailey
Flores, Stephanie
Griffin, Elizabeth
Hennessy, Reed
Hood, Callie
Hudson, Josh
Katz, Evan
Knell, Samuel
Konishi, Allyson
Marsh, Charlene
Melton, Preston
Pender, Ethan
Plombon, Megan
Siggers, Grace
Thigpen, Cary Lynne
Vanden Heuvel, Alex
White, Haleigh
