ABINGTON, Pa. — Jacklin Rhoads graduated from Penn State Abington in 2008 with a pretty stellar resume: Student Government Association president, orientation leader, research assistant, senior class president, and recipient of a prestigious award for Commonwealth Campus students.
And the English major hasn't slowed down since she hit the real world. Rhoads spent five years in progressively responsible positions at two Philadelphia public relations agencies. In 2015, she was hired to be press secretary for U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania.
Question: You are the press secretary for a United States senator — a high-level and high pressure job. Share a typical day.
Rhoads: Truly, no days are typical here in Washington.
My day usually begins with an early morning meeting with Senator Casey and our communications team to go through the prominent news stories of the day, prep him for media interactions and interviews, and channel our social media strategy. I shuffle from staying on top of his media inquiries, including last-minute cable news interviews and long-lead story ideas, to disseminating news from our office to local, regional, and national outlets — all while monitoring breaking news from around the globe.
My day concludes with filing briefings for the Senator’s next interviews and press conferences, or I hit the road, traveling to Pennsylvania to staff the Senator’s in-state press events.
Question: How did your experience at Penn State Abington help you build your career?
Rhoads: At Abington, learning didn’t stop at the doorway of the classroom. My involvement in student government still helps me every day as I navigate the political world in Washington and across Pennsylvania.
My English professors helped refine my writing skills, a skill set that is crucial to my career. I still draw on their expertise for making my work products concise and clear. It also turned me into a master proofreader.