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“As someone from rural America and a small town lacking great opportunities for education, I saw politics as a gateway for me to step up for my community and get into public service.”

Once that gateway swung open, Josh Lyon never let it close. The junior, who is studying at the has been involved in politics since he was in high school in Orange County, Virginia, about 90 miles from Washington, D.C. He began his career on Capitol Hill working in the office of U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) through the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School program. Lyon has since spent every semester at Mason involved in election campaigns or interning on Capitol Hill.

In subsequent years, he gained campaign experience working to elect Virginia Republican Daniel Gade to the Senate and Glenn Davis (R), who was competing in the primary election for lieutenant governor in 2021. (Both lost.) He later was a field organizer for the Fairfax County School Board recall election that sought to unseat three members over disputes with coronavirus responses.

During the fall of his sophomore year, Lyon was back on the Hill interning with U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH).

Lyon sees that “gateway to public service” illustrated in his passion for helping citizens in need or with apprehensions.

“I learned how to talk to constituents and set them up with the resources that they need to be successful,” he said. “When you're providing that support, you're helping facilitate conversations with people calling to voice their concerns about different aspects of government or calling when they need help with different federal agencies.

“As somebody working in that office, you're the first line of communication for constituents calling as a last resort, trying to get help with something relating to the government.”

Lyon gained national election experience last spring as an intern at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which works to ensure party leaders in contested states had the resources necessary to be competitive in the general election.

This summer, Lyon continued to hone his skills in constituent services while helping the legislative team write memos and researching legislation in the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA). That experience prepared him for his current internship—in the private sector—with Sentinel Strategic Advisors, where he works in corporate political action committee relations.

With his considerable experience, Lyons is well positioned to give advice to students interested in getting involved in public service and politics.

“Join a campus organization with political ties,” he said, including Campus Republicans, GMU Democrats, and other campus clubs. “Get involved because there are a lot of connections there.

“Don’t be afraid to take on volunteer work. If you volunteer at a political campaign or at a federal agency, those are experiences that are competitive when you apply for internships on Capitol Hill. And carefully consider your time management when you take on a role, as balancing your work and school life will be crucial to your success.”