Hokies are everywhere, including in the halls of Congress.
Many developed a passion for public service while they were Virginia Tech students, and they followed it to fulfilling careers in federal government.
From committee hearings and House offices to Senate chambers and statewide travel, meet four college alumni who work for the legislative branch.
Brent Blevins, staff director for the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
A visit to the World Trade Center site in 2002 as a Virginia Tech student and manager of the men’s basketball team changed Brent Blevins. He already was majoring in history and political science, and he planned to become a high school teacher. But that day, standing on the former ground of the Twin Towers changed his career goals.
“Those were powerful moments for me,” he said. “I felt like I could have a more direct impact by going the political route.”
Now, Blevins is staff director for the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. He’s worked on Capitol Hill for at least 18 years, in a variety of roles. His job now involves overseeing legislation that falls within his committee’s jurisdiction, which is connected to NASA, parts of the Federal Aviation Administration, and commercial space activity. He also meets with companies and other leaders in the industry and organizes committee hearings, prepping witnesses, and helping members with questions and discussion topics that may arise.
Each day, he distills complex information so that it is digestible for a variety of people. His liberal arts education at Virginia Tech prepared him for this kind of work. He graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science and in 2005 with a master’s in public administration.
“Are there days I wish I had studied aerospace engineering? Absolutely,” said Blevins, who as a teenager wanted to be an astronaut. “But the more important thing in a role like this is being able to assimilate knowledge quickly in different areas and that’s the benefit of having a liberal arts education.”
Blevins, who grew up in Wythe County, Virginia, said working on the nation’s political stage still feels surreal to him.
“My metric for when it’s time to move on is if I ever look at the Capitol and I don’t marvel that this kid from Wythe County is here and has this opportunity, then that’s when it’s time to move on,” he said. “Every time I see the Capitol dome, I think what an amazing opportunity that I have.”
Jaclyn Marmol, regional director for Virginia Sen. Mark Warner
Jaclyn Marmol didn’t know she liked advocacy work until she joined the Asian Student Union at Virginia Tech.
From there, her academic – and later career- dominoes fell into place. She changed her major from business management to political science and even landed an internship with Congressman Mark Takano on Capitol Hill through the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies.
“I want to be closely aligned with what I have personal interest in,” said Marmol, who also worked for former Virginia House Delegate Chris Hurst’s campaign while she was a student.
After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government, Marmol had jobs in campaign finance reform and with Fairfax County Public Schools. But she eventually found her way back to federal government work. She served as Virginia Sen. Mark Warner’s outreach representative for two years before she was promoted to regional director last fall. Now, she leads outreach for Warner and travels with him and as his representative throughout the state.
She speaks publicly and attends many events on the senator’s behalf, and the topics range from tariff discussions to mental health for first responders.
“I am his eyes and ears for the region,” she said. “My job is to make sure I keep him apprised of everything that’s going on and if there are issues he needs to be aware of.”
Marmol works in both Warner’s offices in Vienna, Virginia, and on Capitol Hill.
“I am always learning something new about Virginia and the constituencies who make up the commonwealth,” she said. “It’s something that I really look forward to...being out in the community, they give you reasons to see joy.”
At Virginia Tech, Marmol said her professors in political science were essential in her ability to learn and grow. She didn’t feel like a number.
“They were very supportive,” she said. “It wasn’t just ‘Did you learn everything?’ It was ‘How are you feeling? What is going on in your world?’”
They also found ways to make learning active. For a U.S. Congress class taught by Nicholas Goedert, students pretended to be members of Congress and introduced their own bills.
Working in federal government also has given Marmol a first-hand lens into Virginia Tech’s motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).
“It’s something I always come back to when I feel like I am in the right place,” she said. “That I may serve is still applicable to this day.”
Parish Braden, staff director for the House Committee on Agriculture
It took one constitutional law class, and Parish Braden was hooked. He planned to study crop and soil sciences at Virginia Tech. That all shifted once he began learning about government, checks and balances, bills becoming laws, and more.
“It was eye opening for me, and I never looked back,” said Braden, who graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
His first job after graduation was on Capitol Hill, working for the congressman representing Maryland's Eastern Shore, where he was born and raised. Now 21 years later and with stints in a variety of roles, both on and off Capitol Hill, Braden is staff director of the House Committee on Agriculture. He has had the role for the past five years, after serving as staff director of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
He manages the agriculture committee’s staff, which includes about 40 people on the majority side, and works directly with the chairman and committee members to conduct oversight and develop legislation. Day to day, he's planning hearings, negotiating bills, and advising on legislative strategy.
“There are a lot of moving goal posts and changing timeframes here, especially for younger folks who think it's a straight path to passing a law,” Braden said. “There are so many other layers of politics that impact the timing of when a bill can move to the floor. Part of the job is navigating what is outside of your control.”
It was this legislative process that fueled Braden’s passion for politics in the first place.
As a Hokie, he took a study abroad class focused on the European Parliament in London. The class included a month-long internship, and Braden was paired with a municipal office in London.
It helped him see first hand how all politics are local. He said he also learned to appreciate U.S. government more.
Despite long days, particularly during a bill markup session which could last 26 hours, Braden thrives on being in the center of U.S. law-making. At times, his bedside reading even includes budget requests and other backgrounders.
“There’s a myriad of strategic tools that you have to hone to create the best possible opportunity to advance policy,” he said.
Alex Rosemond, chief of staff for North Carolina Congressman Richard Hudson
Alex Rosemond has spent her eight-year career on Capitol Hill, mostly as a legislative assistant or a director in a variety of congressional offices and early on, with the House Ways and Means Committee.
Research, writing, preparing for hearings, and making sure her legislator is up to date on an issue – it’s the legislative policy work that drives her.
“One of the top things I think about is what will this [legislation] cost the taxpayer,” said Rosemond, who now is chief of staff for Congressman Richard Hudson. “I think about how this will have a real-life impact on the ground. In 100 years, this could affect somebody.”
Rosemond, who grew up in North Carolina, loved studying government and political science as a high school student.
“I liked the educational aspect of it,” she said. “I liked that there was always something to learn.”
She took those interests to Virginia Tech, initially with plans to become a high school government teacher.
In her political science classes, her professors encouraged students to dig into issues and discuss and debate all sides.
“They facilitated an environment that allowed us to think a little freely,” said Rosemond, who graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
An internship on Capitol Hill further sealed her interest in working directly with legislators.
In her chief of staff role, Rosemond manages a staff of 12, travels with Hudson, and handles other administrative and managerial tasks.
“I love the pace,” she said. “It makes you feel like you are doing something worthy.”