After changing majors a few times early in her LVC career, Tabitha Gilbert ’24 ultimately settled on Political Science because of LVC’s flexible program and her desire to serve her community.

“Little did I know I would step into a public service role straight out of school,” said Gilbert, who graduated in December.

After graduation, Gilbert accepted a position as a Legislative Assistant for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Energy Committee where she coordinates committee and legislative priorities and provides constituent assistance/support with state level challenges.

Gilbert said the mentoring and support she received during her internship at Greenlee Partners, a Harrisburg-based lobbying firm, proved vital to her job search success. As a legislative intern, Gilbert completed legislative research, provided written summaries of legislative sessions and committee meetings, and tracked proposed legislation.

“I credit this internship for helping me ‘get my sea legs’ in the state government,” said Gilbert. “Without the guidance and professional development I received from my Greenlee supervisor, I definitely would not be in the same place. Greenlee also has several key energy clients, helping me learn more about the energy policy space at the state level.”

Gilbert gained additional valuable experience at her Constituent Services internship at U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s Office.

“This internship put me face to face with the daily struggles and concerns of Pennsylvanians,” said Gilbert. “I saw first-hand how individuals fell through the cracks and the impacts of stagnancy in the legislature. Our office offered individuals and PA stakeholders assistance and hope. I will always take the knowledge of this experience with me in my career. Luckily for me, my new role is partially constituent-focused so I can continue assisting Pennsylvanians on a one-to-one basis in this early stage of my career.”

Along with her internships, Gilbert cites several of her LVC co-curricular experiences as important learning experiences for her future. Her summer study abroad trip to Maastricht challenged her independence and adaptability and how to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios. Gilbert participated twice in the European Union simulation, which included a conference in Washington, D.C., where students are assigned roles and must collaborate to address political issues. She also served multiple years with LVC’s Student Government several committee positions.

“In each of these roles, I represented student concerns to the relevant college offices and staff and advocated for initiatives to improve the student experience at LVC,” said Gilbert.

Although Gilbert’s career is just beginning, she’s already imagining a bright future.

“I see my career centered in the energy policy sector at the state or federal level. As I gain more experience in my current position, I would be thrilled to move up the ranks in state government to a position that included more direct policy writing or industry research. Following some additional education in energy economics or public administration, I could eventually see myself pursuing a role that oversees the administration of community-based clean energy projects.”

With her vast experiences and accomplishments, Gilbert shares this advice for students planning to major in Political Science.

“Explore several distinct areas of political science: law, policy, campaign work, political communications, lobbying, political research, journalism, national security, urban planning, etc. Whether you explore different fields through independent research projects, internships, or volunteer opportunities, you owe it to yourself to identify your ‘why’. You will be better for it, and your accomplishments will be far greater if you are energized by your work.”