COA Student Interns with Obama Campaign, Meets with Inspiration

Alyson with co-workers at an event for Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joseph Biden, Chicago

Alyson Bell (’10) is currently interning for COA credit with Obama for America, Barack Obama’s national campaign.

She tells me from Chicago, “I’m working for the finance department in the national headquarters, where our department does pretty much all of the fundraising for the national campaign. Most of what I do involves processing donations. We get tons of donations from individuals in the mail, people send them in after hosting house parties, and then there are events that we organize which bring in larger amounts of money. There’s a lot of Excel involved!

Although Alyson plans to work in the world of finance, she wanted an education beyond economics and Excel—cut to her time in COA’s own study abroad program in anthropology and political economy in Yucatán, Mexico. But her work with the Obama campaign goes beyond the computer monitor, too: Alyson says her “coolest” responsibilities include helping out with Obama campaign events in Chicago and receiving letters from kids who send money to the campaign. “There was a really sweet one from a 14 year-old boy telling Obama how he’s inspiring black men,” says Alyson. “And these two sixth grade girls started a lemonade stand. Unfortunately, we legally can’t accept money from people under 16, so we have to send the letters back—but it’s still very sweet. Also, just the amount of mail we receive is amazing. People are literally giving every bit they can: we get letters with checks for 5, 10, 20 dollars, whatever people can give. It’s inspiring.”

Alyson in her workspace at Obama for America, Chicago

So is this inspiring internship affecting her plans for the future? Says Alyson, “I would like to work on the financial side of an organization whose cause I believe in. If I believe in another politician as much as I believe in Obama, I’ll work in politics; if I believe in the work of a responsible company, I’ll work in business.” Alyson says that her time at COA prepared her for the working world by instilling in her a work ethic powered by self-motivation. “At COA I can study finance without limiting myself to the knowledge of a single discipline.” Of the courses she’s taken at COA, Alyson lists Calculus I and II, Differential Equations, and Music Fundamentals as favorites “because the instructors, Dave and John, made them both fun and challenging in unique ways.” Unique experiences in seemingly foundational courses help Alyson to think creatively, expansively, and responsibly about her areas of specialization—and at the same time, the world.

And if that doesn’t sound like fun enough, Alyson the Musician (who also loved her tutorial in Bassoon) has something to share. Back at campaign headquarters, “I met Queen Latifah!”

Michael Griffith