Alumni Spotlight

Q. What have you done since graduating from AMU?

A. After graduating, I moved to D.C. to work for Senator Marco Rubio. I handled a number of policy areas during my four years in his office, including military, space, and religious freedom. I had seven bills I worked on for him signed into law. When Dobbs was decided, I was reminded that I started working in politics because abortion is the preeminent issue of our time. I recently accepted an opportunity to run the Senate Values Action Team, the social conservative caucus in the Senate, which is the perfect opportunity to lead on the issues I am most passionate about.

Q. How did AMU prepare you for success after college?

A. What Ave does best is forming virtuous, faithful, serious Catholics. Any school can teach you the basics of the three branches of government, the separation of powers, how a bill becomes a law. But Ave made me ask questions about how man relates to God, how that impacts our relations with others, and how we come together to form a political community in light of biblical realities of man. My professors did not try to give me the answer to every question; they tried to prepare me for how to explore difficult questions in a serious way.

Q. What is the most important lesson you learned in your time at AMU?

A. Cling to the sacraments. Teachers, friends, jobs, homes, etc. all come and go, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Why go to a Catholic school and not fall deeper in love with Jesus? Confession and Mass are constantly available! Form the habits there at college to set you up for the rest of your life.  

Q. What is one of the fondest memories from your time at AMU?

A. It’s hard to pick just one. Initiation with my brothers in Filii in Filio. A summer in Delaware with Ambassador Michael Novak and a handful of Ave students. Helping Ambrose Bean build up the nerve to ask his future wife, Paulina, on a date. Anna Murphy falling asleep on the library floor while cramming for a Raiger exam. Getting the Honors Board off the ground with Dr. Colman. Mike Driscoll making half of campus fall in love with him by singing “Run Away with Me” for Cabaret. Doing bourbon tasting with Drs. Nutt and Trabbic.

Q. What is your advice to current AMU students, and to those thinking about attending AMU?

A. Take your studies seriously but be as intentional—if not more intentional—with forming community and deepening your faith. Your grades are important, and learning the material your professors give you are important as well—but the things that stay with you long after you forget the answers from your exam are the friendships you form at Ave and the growth in your faith.  

Extra comments: Capitol Hill is in desperate need of more people formed by Ave Maria. If you, or other graduates you know, are interested in getting started on the Hill, please reach out!