Adonna Biel (’17) on the Value of College Internships

Adonna Biel graduated in 2017 with degrees in political science and communication (public relations concentration). She spent much of the last two years as the deputy press secretary for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.  In November, we asked Adonna about her job on the campaign trail, and how her experiences at NC State helped her prepare for her current position.

What is your current position? 

My position is Biden for President Deputy Press Secretary.

What is a typical day like? 

Ha! On a campaign there’s really no such thing as typical. Especially as the election got closer, it was all hands on deck, no task too small, crunch time all the time. 

What do you enjoy most about your current position?

The unpredictability. Everyone I work with and work for is fighting for the same goal. 

How did your college classes and internship experience help prepare you for working in your chosen field?

I completed several internships while I was in college — Media intern, ABC 11; Social media and communications intern, NC Senator Floyd McKissick; digital media intern, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; social media and communication intern, Congressman David Price. Not only did those experiences provide incredible connections, they also helped me determine what I was most interested in. At the end of the day, my college internship experiences gave me the knowledge and experience to be where I am now.  

Did you have a favorite political science class or professor?

My advisor, Dmitri Mitin, was the person who most influenced my education/career choice. I told him my goals and he worked with me to figure out the right education path to give me the tools I needed to succeed. 

Do you have any advice for current students? 

Use internships to figure out what you want to do. This is one of the best times to figure out what is next for you and internships give you real life experience and a taste of what that career might be like. Maintain those professional relationships. Whether you are six months or five years out, the people you intern with and for can continue to play a large role in your career if you keep building those relationships.