Roughly 50 Howard students were at the White House last week, where they had the opportunity to engage with alumni who work in the Biden Administration.
As these students navigated the historic halls, they learned about the pathways alumni took to secure positions within the administration.
This event allowed them to learn about the inner workings of the presidency and also encouraged them to envision their own futures in public service and leadership.
The White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach hosted the event, “Truth and Service: Shaping Future Howard Leaders,” on Oct. 9 to educate Howard student leaders “on the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration” as well as to give them an opportunity to learn more about what it is like to work in the administration, according to its press release.
During the panel, titled “Bison in the House,” Brent Robinson, a Howard alumnus (Class of ’08) and director for partnerships & global engagement at the White House National Security Council, highlighted the importance of adaptability in any career path.
“Every one of you may not make the decision to start a career in government, but you may make a decision to start your career elsewhere and it’s still going to require the same skills in terms of transition,” he said.
Robinson said that if anyone finds themselves in a “recession” after graduation they shouldn’t be afraid of betting on themselves.
Throughout the day, Howard students heard from members of the Office of the Vice President, Office of Public Engagement, Domestic Policy Council, National Security Council and more.
Charmion Kinder, Howard alumna (Class of ‘03) and senior advisor for the Office of Vice President Kamala Harris, Public Engagement & Intergovernmental Affairs reflected on the difficulty of adjusting to new environments, noting that the vibrant Howard spirit—where individuals proudly introduce themselves and celebrate their backgrounds—can clash with more reserved professional settings.
This made her raise the question about maintaining authenticity while navigating different workplaces.
She said, “How do I still fit into those environments?”
Her answer was to create new ones.
“Coming out of school, you are always going to have to innovate in the world to be who you are and to create space where people can come behind you,” Kinder said. “That is the most challenging thing to do. How to make the opportunity a reality.”
Mary Collins, a political science major with a legal communications minor from Nashville, represented Howard’s College of Arts and Sciences and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
She highlighted how the event clarified her thoughts and provided a positive outlook as she plans for life after graduation.
“As a senior who recently decided to take a gap year before attending law school, it was very helpful hearing all this advice about searching for jobs, and especially someone who wasn’t really sure if I wanted to enter the policy sector,” she said.
Students from the NAACP, HUSA, The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Howard Men’s Basketball Team, and other organizations were in attendance.
The event ended with a reception with attendees such as President Ben Vinson III and Stephen K. Benjamin, senior advisor to the president of the United States.
This was the second time an event like this was held and Havillyn Felder, staff assistant for the White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach, and Howard alumna (Class of ‘23) was responsible for putting the event together this year.
She shared that a former White House intern organized a small event for a group of Howard students and one student was so inspired by the experience that they requested a repeat event.
The vice president’s team then contacted Felder to help plan another event.
Felder expressed gratitude for being able to lead the event and provide an opportunity for students, stating that it was an “honor of a lifetime.”
“When they asked me to help with this event, it honestly meant everything to me. I am not here today without everyone who has come before me and made a way for me to be in the room,” she said.
Felder also commended the Biden-Harris administration for allowing events like the one she led to take place.
“Knowing that my superiors, our assistants to the president and deputy assistant to the president understood that this programming was special, shows what the Biden-Harris administration stands for,” she said.
With less than a month until the 2024 presidential election, Robinson emphasized the significance of the current Bison leaving the event with this crucial insight.
“If the president-elect of the United States is a Howard University graduate, how should you position yourself after graduation? Make sure education is at the absolute top of your resume,” he said.
Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau
