From the River to Capitol Hill, Abbey Thompson (‘16) has always been interested in politics.
Thompson got into politics as a senior at Riverside when she worked as an organizer for the Hillary Clinton campaign. She was also student body president.
“I got to do a lot of behind the scenes things, which was really fun,” said Thompson. “A lot of planning, things that feel very reminiscent of my job now.”
Now, Thompson works in Washington DC as the Communications Director for the office of Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and the Communications Advisor for Escobar’s campaign.
“I serve as an advisor to the congresswoman in terms of all things communications,” said Thompson. “I write things like press releases, statements, quotes, all of our social media is handled under my purview. All reporters and interviews, I schedule those, maintain our relationships.”
When Thompson was a student at Bryn Mawr College, she worked on political campaigns over the summers.
“I worked in Georgia and Pennsylvania, kind of wherever a campaign would send me that I didn’t have to pay for,” said Thompson. “I kind of ping ponged up and down the East Coast.”
In her junior year of college, Thompson interned in the senate and discovered the field of political communications.
“I didn’t really know it was a field to be honest with you,” Thompson said. “And I kind of fell in love with it.”
Thompson loves the communications aspect because it connects with people who otherwise would not have been involved in politics.
“Something I’m really passionate about is making complex topics legible and accessible to people,” said Thompson. “Essentially speaking the language people understand.”
