U.S. Senate internship immerses OU student in D.C. political scene

Oakland University student Nia Matthews spent the last four months in Washington D.C. interning for U.S. Senator Gary Peters and building connections across the political spectrum.

Matthews served as a digital press intern, drafting press releases, creating social media graphics, transcribing TV and radio interviews, recording videos, writing video scripts and curating newsletters with news and social media posts related to Senator Peters and fellow U.S. Senator from Michigan, Elissa Slotkin.

While in D.C., Matthews shared a house with 17 other interns who worked in various settings, from think tanks to museums to hospitals. She made friends among her housemates and enjoyed lively political debates with those who identified with different political parties.

“I side with the Democrats on most issues, she said. “But I’m glad I had the experience of being around people who don’t have the same ideas or values as me. I think it really expanded my knowledge and made me want to better my own arguments and also see things from a different perspective.”

Matthews, a self-described “social butterfly” who loves talking to people, said her internship offered many opportunities to make new connections.

“I found it really empowering and fun to socialize and network with people,” she said. “I think I had over 75 ‘coffee chats.’ You don’t even need to have coffee. You can just meet up and talk about your interests and find out new things.”

Matthews, a double major in film and international relations, with minors in ethics in criminal justice and entrepreneurship, has a plethora of interests and aspirations, including potential career paths in film, advocacy and public policy.

“I really want to find something in film immediately after college, but I also realize this is a political moment that needs leaders,” she said. “I would be open to doing something in advocacy and exploring policy that betters communities.”

Matthews also made connections among those who share her racial background, including the Congressional Black Associates (CBA), a group composed of Black Congressional staffers, and the Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus (SBLSC), made up of Black Senate staffers.

“I made so many good connections because of these two groups and got a lot of insight into what it means to be Black and be on the Hill,” Matthews said. “I feel like our experience is different from what traditional experience may be like. They do a Congressional Black photo every year for Black History Month, and I was able to be a part of that. The presidents of SBLSC and CBA are amazing females that I look up to as someone who wants to be in politics and as a Black woman.”

Matthews got some face time with Senator Peters during video recordings she helped with and at Q and A sessions for interns. She also had a ‘coffee chat’ with Peters’ wife, Colleen Ochoa Peters, who currently serves on the Oakland University Board of Trustees.

Matthews said her internship not only provided a view of life inside the Beltway, it also taught her the importance of communicating effectively with everyday citizens.

“I think one of the things Senator Peters’ office does really well is keep everyone informed, and put it in a language that people who don’t know the details and nitty-gritty of politics can understand,” she said. “When I came to the Hill I didn’t realize how important communications were to the general population, and I now realize how important those roles are.”