Narric Rome
Class of 1994
The Political Sphere
What is your current position/title, and what is your "typical" day like?
I am currently the Director of Federal Affairs in the Government & Public Affairs Office at Americans for the Arts in Washington, DC. I primarily do advocacy and lobbying activities on behalf of my nonprofit organization and our membership – we represent the national arts community.
A typical day involves monitoring legislative developments on Capitol Hill, speaking with our advocacy “captains” in various states to discuss lobbying strategies, and doing coalition work with the federal affairs officers from other arts organizations to coordinate our national efforts. A great day would be watching legislation we support successfully move through Congress and discovering new federal programs that the arts community can tap into.
Can you provide a quick snapshot of the path that took you there?
A quick snapshot? That’s not easy with my job experience! Directly after graduating from UVM I went to work as a paid intern in Senator Patrick Leahy’s office. After five months there, I went to another paid internship on the House side of the Hill. Then, almost a year out of college, I went to work full-time at a lobbying firm. The lobbying firm job turned into a staff position on the Clinton/Gore ReElect Campaign in Pennsylvania and once we won I received a political appointment doing legislative affairs work at the U.S. Department of Education. After two years in the Clinton Administration, I went to graduate school for a master’s in public administration. From grad school, I moved back to Vermont for three years doing campaign work, including the Dean for America campaign, and am now back in Washington doing congressional affairs work.
I am currently the Director of Federal Affairs in the Government & Public Affairs Office at Americans for the Arts in Washington, DC. I primarily do advocacy and lobbying activities on behalf of my nonprofit organization and our membership – we represent the national arts community.
A typical day involves monitoring legislative developments on Capitol Hill, speaking with our advocacy “captains” in various states to discuss lobbying strategies, and doing coalition work with the federal affairs officers from other arts organizations to coordinate our national efforts. A great day would be watching legislation we support successfully move through Congress and discovering new federal programs that the arts community can tap into.
Can you provide a quick snapshot of the path that took you there?
A quick snapshot? That’s not easy with my job experience! Directly after graduating from UVM I went to work as a paid intern in Senator Patrick Leahy’s office. After five months there, I went to another paid internship on the House side of the Hill. Then, almost a year out of college, I went to work full-time at a lobbying firm. The lobbying firm job turned into a staff position on the Clinton/Gore ReElect Campaign in Pennsylvania and once we won I received a political appointment doing legislative affairs work at the U.S. Department of Education. After two years in the Clinton Administration, I went to graduate school for a master’s in public administration. From grad school, I moved back to Vermont for three years doing campaign work, including the Dean for America campaign, and am now back in Washington doing congressional affairs work.
What do you like best about your work?
I like being able to combine my training from graduate school and the campaign trail to find new opportunities for my clients – in this case, local arts organizations. I like to figure out how a federal program works and then figure out how to make it work better – either by working with the federal agency or developing legislative solutions.
In general, I like working in the public policy field because I believe that beyond our national security interests, government plays an important domestic role in our country. I like working to improve the services our government delivers to its citizens.
I also like the Congressional calendar - nice long breaks for holidays. Not that I get those days off, but the pace of DC slows down during those times.
Any special interests outside the workplace?
Yes, I enjoy running, movies, exploring new bars and bands in DC and raising money for UVM.
What was your major at UVM and what experiences at UVM have proven important in terms of your career?
Clearly my political science degree was helpful, but so was the year and a half I spent on the UVM Debate Team. Many students don’t know about the debate team, but it was critical to helping me learn important research skills, develop argumentation and become more confident about public speaking. I also enjoyed the time I spent as a Senator in the UVM Student Government Association, as it provided a starting point for my understanding of politics and the legislative process.
I like being able to combine my training from graduate school and the campaign trail to find new opportunities for my clients – in this case, local arts organizations. I like to figure out how a federal program works and then figure out how to make it work better – either by working with the federal agency or developing legislative solutions.
In general, I like working in the public policy field because I believe that beyond our national security interests, government plays an important domestic role in our country. I like working to improve the services our government delivers to its citizens.
I also like the Congressional calendar - nice long breaks for holidays. Not that I get those days off, but the pace of DC slows down during those times.
Any special interests outside the workplace?
Yes, I enjoy running, movies, exploring new bars and bands in DC and raising money for UVM.
What was your major at UVM and what experiences at UVM have proven important in terms of your career?
Clearly my political science degree was helpful, but so was the year and a half I spent on the UVM Debate Team. Many students don’t know about the debate team, but it was critical to helping me learn important research skills, develop argumentation and become more confident about public speaking. I also enjoyed the time I spent as a Senator in the UVM Student Government Association, as it provided a starting point for my understanding of politics and the legislative process.
What's the single most important tip you have for UVM students as they prepare for their careers?
There is no room for introverts in the job search. You need to introduce yourself to prospective employers, be personable, and absolutely, positively follow up with a letter or email even if there isn’t a job opening involved. That is a basic rule of networking.
Any special tips for anyone interested in your industry/field?
For anyone interested in any kind of public policy career, working on Capitol Hill for at least a year, as an intern or a paid staffer, is critical. It pays very little and you work very long hours doing somewhat insignificant tasks, so the best time to do it is right after college. The experience you gain on Capitol Hill is irreplaceable.
Any additional comments for students and/or alumni using the Career Connection?
Two things. Spend a lot of time working on your resume. It is your calling card for all job prospects and a poorly written or designed resume will immediately disqualify you from a job. Ask friends and mentors to spell check it and provide design advice (my two cents – keep it to one page and don’t include an “Objective” section). Don’t be afraid to include extracurricular hobbies or interests to fill up the page – you need to show how you’re different from the rest of the pack.
Second, don’t be afraid to email the UVM alums in Career Connection. They’ve listed themselves in there for a reason and while they might not have a job opening down the hall, everyone knows someone. This might seem like a waste of time, but it’s called networking and you only see the payoff somewhere down the line. If you don’t spend at least 3 hours a day emailing and looking for leads online, you’re not networking hard enough.
There is no room for introverts in the job search. You need to introduce yourself to prospective employers, be personable, and absolutely, positively follow up with a letter or email even if there isn’t a job opening involved. That is a basic rule of networking.
Any special tips for anyone interested in your industry/field?
For anyone interested in any kind of public policy career, working on Capitol Hill for at least a year, as an intern or a paid staffer, is critical. It pays very little and you work very long hours doing somewhat insignificant tasks, so the best time to do it is right after college. The experience you gain on Capitol Hill is irreplaceable.
Any additional comments for students and/or alumni using the Career Connection?
Two things. Spend a lot of time working on your resume. It is your calling card for all job prospects and a poorly written or designed resume will immediately disqualify you from a job. Ask friends and mentors to spell check it and provide design advice (my two cents – keep it to one page and don’t include an “Objective” section). Don’t be afraid to include extracurricular hobbies or interests to fill up the page – you need to show how you’re different from the rest of the pack.
Second, don’t be afraid to email the UVM alums in Career Connection. They’ve listed themselves in there for a reason and while they might not have a job opening down the hall, everyone knows someone. This might seem like a waste of time, but it’s called networking and you only see the payoff somewhere down the line. If you don’t spend at least 3 hours a day emailing and looking for leads online, you’re not networking hard enough.
(for UVM staff)