Classroom to State House: Kim ’26 Builds a Career in Political Communication

For Jeni Kim ’26, internships have been more than resume builders—they’ve been formative experiences that helped clarify her career goals and build confidence in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.

Last fall, Kim interned in the office of Massachusetts State Senator Lydia Edwards, gaining hands-on experience in political communications while working alongside a largely women-led, diverse team. The internship, which ran from September to December, gave Kim an inside look at how messaging, policy, and public service intersect.

“I wanted to work with a politician before graduating, and in Massachusetts there are a lot of inspiring female leaders, like Senator Edwards, whose values and mission and overall passion I admire,” said Kim. “Being able to work for an office that is so educated and passionate, with mostly women of color, gave me workplace confidence, which is something I’ve struggled with.”

Kim heard about the internship opportunity from Communication Studies Associate Professor Vincent Raynauld, who said Edwards’ Communications Director Caroline Larangeira ’25 was looking for interns. Kim’s responsibilities included copywriting Instagram captions, helping draft and edit press releases related to legislation, conducting research tied to timely policy issues, and seasonal efforts like compiling a list of food drives in the district before Thanksgiving.

“A lot of tasks and assignments were based on situations [of the moment]. That pushes us to be on our toes. I [honed] the skill of adaptability, and I’ll bring that to whatever job I do in the future.”

At the same time Kim was interning at the State House, she had an internship with the Innocence Project, a nationally recognized nonprofit headquartered in New York City, focused on criminal justice reform. Her Emerson classwork came in handy for the Innocence Project application, which included a lot of writing and specific questions that encouraged her to be creative.

“I can’t help but be creative because Emerson gave me that skill set and mindset,” said Kim. “Emerson always encourages students in comms departments to be creative and think outside of the box. I’ve become that person because of how we’re taught in the classroom.”

Kim travelled to NYC once a week to the Innocence Project office, and worked remotely other days from Boston. She said the opportunity to work with the Innocence Project was especially meaningful, as she had admired the organization since high school. “It was an honor to work there,” she said.

At the Innocence Project, Kim worked within the communications department, an experience that challenged her assumptions about nonprofit communications. The role allowed her to blend storytelling with advocacy—an intersection that continues to shape her professional interests.

“I didn’t know that a communications department for a nonprofit would be so good. Comms departments aren’t that well-funded and supported,” said Kim. “It was a whole other experience.”

Kim pitched and write articles that promoted the organization’s mission and conduced interviews with clients. She also helped out on the organization’s website and assisted with their annual report..

The role allowed her to blend storytelling with advocacy—an intersection that continues to shape her professional interests.

Her previous experiences include internships with the Environmental Protection Agency in New York City, and Enough Abuse, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit advocating for legislation to prevent child sexual abuse. Each role, she said, built upon the last.

Several of Kim’s internships came through Emerson alumni connections, like her spring internship at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Larangeira made the introduction that got her foot in the door.  

As she looks ahead, Kim is weighing several paths. She plans to graduate a year early and is considering law school, as well as applying to master’s programs with a focus on international relations. Her experiences balancing coursework with internships have shown her that it’s possible to pursue advanced education while building a career.

“For Emerson students—especially in journalism and communications—we’re very hands-on,” Kim said. “We’re very good at time management and multitasking, and eager to learn. Internships offer an education you can’t get in the classroom. I think a lot of Emerson professors are good at setting us up with people and connections, and good at motivating us to pursue hands-on education outside of the classroom.”