Alumnae living in capital choose political study, work
January 25, 2013
Madeleine Kelley has spent the first half of her freshman year involved in the play “Trojan Barbie,” on campus. Kelley is considering majoring in English or Theater, but is currently undecided. Kelley recently attended the President’s Preinaugural brunch at the White House.
WASHINGTON—For alumnae Kyle Cannon (’05), Riley Dowd (’08) and Maddie Kelley (’12), living in the nation’s capital means embracing and participating in the city’s political atmosphere.
Cannon, currently a substitute teacher in private schools in Fairfax, Va. has returned to George Washington University for her master’s in curriculum design. Cannon attended the inauguration four years ago as a student at GW, but tourists crowding the streets and transit system have deterred her from attending this year.
“The first time I went to the inauguration it was an amazing experience — it was exciting for everybody, it was a new beginning,” Cannon said. “I decided it was a once in a lifetime thing, and I wanted to leave it as a ‘once in a lifetime thing.’”
Attending college and living in Washington, D.C. influenced Cannon in her decision to go back to graduate school at GW — pursuing becoming a high school social studies teacher.
“From Convent I was really excited to experience so many new possibilities,” Cannon said. “I wanted to be in education and programming, especially learning about it in D.C. It is such an influential place.”
Dowd, a recent graduate of Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Services, interned for the White House Correspondence Office, sorting through thousands of letters each day with her co-workers and choosing 10 for the president to address.
“It was interesting because it wasn’t the everyday policy of the White House — it had its finger on the beat of what the American people were thinking,” Dowd said.
The letters often contained concerns of everyday people wishing to have the President’s direct aid.
“A lot of times people reach out to the president when they are in a really hard situation,” Dowd said. “Whether it’s kids returning from war, or they can’t make ends meet or they can’t put food on the dinner table.”
Dowd said her high school AP Comparative Government class taught by Michael Stafford inspired her to participate in politics.
“I remember we read ‘Hardball’ by Chris Matthews,” Dowd said. “[Stafford] made politics enjoyable and I just loved studying current events and what was happening in the world.”
Dowd is currently pursuing a career in political journalism while working for ABC News. She covered the presidential election and the inauguration from the youth perspective on the camera and behind the scenes.
Currently studying at Georgetown University, Kelley attends political events such as the inauguration and a brunch event with the president and first lady.
“I’m realizing now that I use material from were classes that incorporated current events into their curriculum,” Kelley said. “That definitely matters — especially here where you’re in the center of where America is making all of its decisions about our country and the rest of the world.”
Kelley said she sought to attend a college that fostered and embodied a strong political standing.
“On my application I wrote about wanting to be here because of the politics — I really enjoy that atmosphere,” Kelley said. “I went to the White House on election night. That was really interesting and a great experience.”
Kelley’s major is undeclared, but she is pursuing her interests in English and theater.
“Luckily I get to have a liberal arts education and study the material I want to study,” Kelley said, “but I also get to be in an environment where I can be really aware of current events and politics and what’s going on in a more concrete way.”
Kelley says she feels compelled to participate in political events while living in the nation’s capital.
“There is a kind of funny sense of obligation to go to these events because you are here,” Kelley said. “People brave the elements to take advantage of their surroundings.”
Kelley said meeting the first president she had voted for and attending his inauguration made voting a memorable experience.
“He acknowledged a lot of social issues in his inaugural address that I feel very strongly about,” Kelley said. “He talked about equal pay for women and marriage as a civil right.”
Tatiana Gutierrez & Madison Riehle Senior Reporters
Kyle Cannon pursues her masters degree in curriculum design at her alma mater George Washington University in Washington. She is currently a substitute teacher working in Fairfax, VA. Cannon embraces the city’s political atmosphere and influence, but steered clear of the inauguration on Monday.
WASHINGTON—For alumnae Kyle Cannon (’05), Riley Dowd (’08) and Maddie Kelley (’12), living in the nation’s capital means embracing and participating in the city’s political atmosphere.
Cannon, currently a substitute teacher in private schools in Fairfax, Va. has returned to George Washington University for her master’s in curriculum design. Cannon attended the inauguration four years ago as a student at GW, but tourists crowding the streets and transit system have deterred her from attending this year.
“The first time I went to the inauguration it was an amazing experience — it was exciting for everybody, it was a new beginning,” Cannon said. “I decided it was a once in a lifetime thing, and I wanted to leave it as a ‘once in a lifetime thing.’”
Attending college and living in Washington, D.C. influenced Cannon in her decision to go back to graduate school at GW — pursuing becoming a high school social studies teacher.
“From Convent I was really excited to experience so many new possibilities,” Cannon said. “I wanted to be in education and programming, especially learning about it in D.C. It is such an influential place.”
Dowd, a recent graduate of Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Services, interned for the White House Correspondence Office, sorting through thousands of letters each day with her co-workers and choosing 10 for the president to address.
“It was interesting because it wasn’t the everyday policy of the White House — it had its finger on the beat of what the American people were thinking,” Dowd said.
The letters often contained concerns of everyday people wishing to have the President’s direct aid.
“A lot of times people reach out to the president when they are in a really hard situation,” Dowd said. “Whether it’s kids returning from war, or they can’t make ends meet or they can’t put food on the dinner table.”
Reilly Dowd stands next to the Capitol in the official press pit, covering the inauguration for ABC News. Dowd earned her degree from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and says that her love for foreign affairs and government originates from Michael Stafford’s AP Comparative Government class.
Dowd said her high school AP Comparative Government class taught by Michael Stafford inspired her to participate in politics.
“I remember we read ‘Hardball’ by Chris Matthews,” Dowd said. “[Stafford] made politics enjoyable and I just loved studying current events and what was happening in the world.”
Dowd is currently pursuing a career in political journalism while working for ABC News. She covered the presidential election and the inauguration from the youth perspective on the camera and behind the scenes.
Currently studying at Georgetown University, Kelley attends political events such as the inauguration and a brunch event with the president and first lady.
“I’m realizing now that I use material from were classes that incorporated current events into their curriculum,” Kelley said. “That definitely matters — especially here where you’re in the center of where America is making all of its decisions about our country and the rest of the world.”
Kelley said she sought to attend a college that fostered and embodied a strong political standing.
“On my application I wrote about wanting to be here because of the politics — I really enjoy that atmosphere,” Kelley said. “I went to the White House on election night. That was really interesting and a great experience.”
Kelley’s major is undeclared, but she is pursuing her interests in English and theater.
“Luckily I get to have a liberal arts education and study the material I want to study,” Kelley said, “but I also get to be in an environment where I can be really aware of current events and politics and what’s going on in a more concrete way.”
Kelley says she feels compelled to participate in political events while living in the nation’s capital.
“There is a kind of funny sense of obligation to go to these events because you are here,” Kelley said. “People brave the elements to take advantage of their surroundings.”
Madeleine Kelley has spent the first half of her freshman year involved in the play “Trojan Barbie,” on campus. Kelley is considering majoring in English or Theater, but is currently undecided. Kelley recently attended the President’s Preinaugural brunch at the White House.
Kelley said meeting the first president she had voted for and attending his inauguration made voting a memorable experience.
“He acknowledged a lot of social issues in his inaugural address that I feel very strongly about,” Kelley said. “He talked about equal pay for women and marriage as a civil right.”
