Archer Fellowship Program Alumni Profiles
Leslie Tisdale
Spring 2013 Archer Fellow
Internship: U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Education
The University of Texas at Austin
B.S. Political Communication, B.A. Government; May 2014
Career
Congressional Liaison and Communications Director at U.S.-China Commission
Press Secretary, Office of U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX) - previous
Spring 2013 Archer Fellow
Internship: U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Education
The University of Texas at Austin
B.S. Political Communication, B.A. Government; May 2014
Career
Congressional Liaison and Communications Director at U.S.-China Commission
Press Secretary, Office of U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX) - previous
“I served as the press intern for Senator Hagan's office. It was incredible. … I was mentored by the entire communications team and it eventually helped me get a job on the Hill as a press secretary."
Q & A with Leslie
Please tell us more about your current position.
The U.S.-China Commission was created by Congress to serve as an adviser to Congress on economic and national security issues between the U.S. and China. I direct outreach operations on the Hill and with the press. This includes ensuring Congress has the Commission's recommendations on new or existing legislation and informing Congress of new issues with in-depth research and analysis. It also includes managing the website, social media and press inquiries.
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
I served as the press intern for Senator Hagan's office. It was incredible. My boss was also an alumna of the Archer Fellowship Program and knew I could handle more than the basic intern responsibilities. I did press clips for the Senator every morning before coming into work. I helped write press releases and talking points, made press pitches and took photos when constituents met with the Senator. I was mentored by the entire communications team and it eventually helped me get a job on the Hill as a press secretary.
What has been your general career path?
I moved to D.C. upon graduation and served as Congressman Lloyd Doggett's press secretary and foreign policy legislative assistant. I then worked as the communications manager for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition before joining the U.S.-China Commission.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
The Archer Program deepened my love for D.C. and provided a huge network once I came back. The lessons we learned while interning or in class have stuck with me to this day. There's a long road ahead, but it's the little things that stick – like having your name tag on the right side of your suit or never cooking fish in a small, poorly-ventilated office.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
I felt the Archer Fellowship Program honed skills necessary for entering into the professional world. College was full of wonderful experiences and personal growth, but the Archer Fellowship Program taught me how to look at issues with a policy lens, network at a reception while balancing a drink and plate, and always write a thank you card after an interview. It was like a "how-to" experience for D.C. beginners.
What do you value the most about being an alumna?
The community. Archer Fellows are bound by a common experience that opened so many doors for us. Since the Archer Fellowship Program, we all have taken different paths, ended up in different career fields, and helped to guide those after us, but we all got started with a scavenger hunt and a weekend-long Dr. Daly lecture.
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
Beyond attending the 2013 Presidential inauguration, which was an incredible moment to witness, I met with former Texas Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes for an hour about how he found success, which informed my paper for Dr. Daly's class. It happened to by my 21st birthday, and Mr. Barnes hand-wrote a lovely note in his memoir as a gift!
Please tell us more about your current position.
The U.S.-China Commission was created by Congress to serve as an adviser to Congress on economic and national security issues between the U.S. and China. I direct outreach operations on the Hill and with the press. This includes ensuring Congress has the Commission's recommendations on new or existing legislation and informing Congress of new issues with in-depth research and analysis. It also includes managing the website, social media and press inquiries.
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
I served as the press intern for Senator Hagan's office. It was incredible. My boss was also an alumna of the Archer Fellowship Program and knew I could handle more than the basic intern responsibilities. I did press clips for the Senator every morning before coming into work. I helped write press releases and talking points, made press pitches and took photos when constituents met with the Senator. I was mentored by the entire communications team and it eventually helped me get a job on the Hill as a press secretary.
What has been your general career path?
I moved to D.C. upon graduation and served as Congressman Lloyd Doggett's press secretary and foreign policy legislative assistant. I then worked as the communications manager for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition before joining the U.S.-China Commission.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
The Archer Program deepened my love for D.C. and provided a huge network once I came back. The lessons we learned while interning or in class have stuck with me to this day. There's a long road ahead, but it's the little things that stick – like having your name tag on the right side of your suit or never cooking fish in a small, poorly-ventilated office.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
I felt the Archer Fellowship Program honed skills necessary for entering into the professional world. College was full of wonderful experiences and personal growth, but the Archer Fellowship Program taught me how to look at issues with a policy lens, network at a reception while balancing a drink and plate, and always write a thank you card after an interview. It was like a "how-to" experience for D.C. beginners.
What do you value the most about being an alumna?
The community. Archer Fellows are bound by a common experience that opened so many doors for us. Since the Archer Fellowship Program, we all have taken different paths, ended up in different career fields, and helped to guide those after us, but we all got started with a scavenger hunt and a weekend-long Dr. Daly lecture.
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
Beyond attending the 2013 Presidential inauguration, which was an incredible moment to witness, I met with former Texas Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes for an hour about how he found success, which informed my paper for Dr. Daly's class. It happened to by my 21st birthday, and Mr. Barnes hand-wrote a lovely note in his memoir as a gift!
