Alumni Spotlight: Jamie Green '15

UL Lafayette graduate journeys to the Capital

Most people only learn about our country’s history through textbooks and internet searches; Jamie Green, on the other hand, has the United States Capitol Building in her backyard.

Jamie Green ‘15 recently made the leap from Lafayette to Washington, D.C. to work as a press assistant for Congressman Cedric Richmond. Green is responsible for all of Richmond’s digital media including managing all of his social media accounts.

As a Louisiana native, Green has had the opportunity to bring her southern charm to our nation’s capital. However, her path to politics was not initially where she predicted her career would take her.

Green, a New Orleans native, came to UL Lafayette to study public relations. As an undergraduate student, she immersed herself in campus life by joining organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and becoming a staff member of SOUL Camp.

As she approached graduation, Green started thinking about her future. “I initially wanted to work in Entertainment PR,” said Green. A few months before graduation, her older sister gave her a different idea. Her sister lived in Washington, D.C. and told her about an internship with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. The highly competitive internship places African American college students in congressional offices, giving them the opportunity to gain real world experience in the political sector.  After an intense interview process, she was accepted into the program.

Green experienced two major milestones that year: becoming a college graduate and moving across the country.

Green immediately dove into her political journey, but says that she did have to adjust to her new way of life. “Washington, D.C. is definitely very different than Lafayette,” said Green. Even with the cultural differences, Green was able find her niche and embrace her new home.

In her duties as press assistant, Green has been given the chance to manage crisis situations, expand her graphic design skills, and even attend events such as Washington D.C. Mardi Gras. Having a Mardi Gras celebration in the capital reminds Green of her roots, but she still wishes that Washington, D.C. had one of her favorite eateries from back home: Billy’s Boudin.

As for her future plans, Green doesn’t see herself leaving the political circuit anytime soon. She would love to eventually work for an organization that educates young people on how to interact with political professionals. She's even considered coming back to UL Lafayette to possibly teach a political communication class.

Even at her young age, Green has developed wisdom beyond her years. She's learned to try and focus on living in the moment and knows that hardships in life won’t last forever. “It’s important to know that everything will pass,” said Green. As she continues her career in politics, Green hopes that she can serve as inspiration for UL Lafayette graduates and show them that Ragin’ Cajuns can accomplish anything they set their minds to.

Photo: Jamie Green '15 works as a press assistant for Congressman Cedric Richmond in Washington, D.C.