Summer in the Statehouse

Senior communication major Jacob Hawthorne ’24 completed an internship in Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s office this past summer.

By Jessica Weiss ’05

From writing briefs and researching policy proposals to assisting at a turtle release in the Chesapeake Bay, senior communication major Jacob Hawthorne ’24 took on a wide range of responsibilities during his internship in Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s office in Annapolis this past summer. Part of the Moore administration’s first internship cohort, Hawthorne was an operations intern within the governor’s chief of staff’s office. 

The experience, which he called “transformative,” affirmed the importance of his studies in communication at UMD, where Hawthorne has focused on building skills in areas including public speaking, influence and argumentation. For instance, he was tasked with and excelled at managing his fellow interns.

“I realized that I’m a great communicator and I feel like I can hold a room and facilitate a meeting, and I can connect people as well,” he said of the role, which required fostering an environment of trust and collaboration. “That’s a strength I can carry anywhere.” 

Associate Professor of Communication Nick Joyce, who has taught Hawthorne in classes on intercultural communication and influence, said it’s an example of how an “engaged education in communication can make anyone more mindful and more effective.”

“Jacob was an especially engaged student,” he said. “He went beyond mastering the material, and could be seen actively working through how the theories and ideas we discussed could be applied to his own life.” 

Originally from Anne Arundel County, Hawthorne spent a year at Elon University in North Carolina studying social work before transferring to UMD in 2021. He knew he wanted to complete an internship in public service to continue exploring possible professional paths and better define his skills. 

After meeting Moore while he was running for office, Hawthorne applied for the internship earlier this year through the Maryland Public Service Scholars Programs based at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, which coordinated the summer experience. As part of the program, he and three other interns also worked together to craft a 25-page policy recommendation related to Maryland’s ongoing opioid crisis; they conducted interviews and spent hours researching the state's current policies. They presented their recommendations to Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller at the end of the internship. 

Hawthorne urges other students interested in finding an internship to “take advantage of all of your connections and relationships,” which can make a significant impact when it comes to applying and landing a position: “Go out there and meet people who hold positions you’re interested in as well,” he said, “and be persistent.” 

He also advises students to advocate for themselves once in the internship to ensure they get the most out of the experience. After he learned Lieutenant Governor Miller would be traveling to Poplar Island in the Chesapeake Bay to release turtles into a nesting habitat this summer, Hawthorne inquired with another intern about whether he might also attend. That resulted in one of the most memorable days of his internship, featuring a three-hour boat ride with Miller and other environmental experts to accompany the turtles.  

“If you yearn for a richer experience, speak up for yourself,” he said.  

Hawthorne said he’s looking forward to using the communication skills he fostered over the summer this academic year, such as when speaking up in class discussions or working alongside classmates.  

“I have so many interests and I’m not 100% certain what I want to do yet—I’m very honest about that,” he said. “But the skills I’ve gained are applicable in so many fields and after this summer I’m ready to face the world with renewed passion and purpose.”

Top photo of Hawthorne with Maryland Governor Wes Moore by Patrick Siebert. Photo with turtle by Joe Andrucyk.