Last summer, a Langston University alumna was chosen to work as a White House intern under Vice President and current presidential candidate Kamala Harris. She shared her experience of getting the internship, working with Harris, and now watching her run for office.
After graduating, Nia Daniels was stunned to receive an email that she had the opportunity to become an intern at the White House. She had applied in the spring of 2023 and had heard nothing until August 30. Filled with complete shock and excitement, she accepted.
After many calls, interviews, and background checks, she packed her bags and prepared to move from Kansas City, MO, to Washington, D.C.
“Seriously, when I tell you, it was literally a God-ordained thing because I don’t know how it happened,” Daniels said.
She was inspired to apply after watching her friend and fellow alumna, Sasha Ndisabiye, be chosen to attend a briefing at the White House.
Langston Journalist Attends White House Briefing with VP Harris
“The White House was partnering with HBCUs and sending HBCU students to interview the director of urban housing or something like that, and when I saw one of our students get picked, my friend Sasha, I was like, wow, that’s such a great opportunity, Daniels said”
Daniels was now living in a new city, surrounded by new people, and working for the Vice President of the United States. Her emotions were all over the place. She was trying to balance enjoying the moment while battling feelings of self-doubt. However, at the beginning of day one, she tackled her imposter syndrome head-on.
“Walking into the room on the very first day of my internship, I was the only one wearing red, and everybody else was wearing the darkest colors, like navy and black. And I was like, did I miss the dress code or something? But when I tell you, I just walked confidently in that room of who I was,” Daniels said.
She was ready to get to work with the 13 other interns chosen. Daniels said she was surprised about the racial diversity of people in her internship, which she was not expecting.
“It was so beautiful just to see how a change in power and position changes the whole landscape of things and the opportunities that they offer students, so just to see the diversity of that was really amazing,” Daniels said.
The internship consisted of working on several aspects of media coverage such as daily news, social media monitoring, transcribing speeches, and researching information for briefs and memos. She and other interns would then relay the information to VP Harris and the communications office.
“We’re basically doing whole news coverage, any news regarding the V.P., that’s basically what we’re tracking,” Daniels said.
Daniels made it a point to create a comfortable work environment for VP Harris. She intended not to come off as starstruck, even though deep down she was. She wanted to make a good impression when she saw her, knowing at some point that they would likely get to speak one-on-one. The official meeting was not until the second to last week of the internship when they were invited to do a photo op with her.
“She just radiates and magnifies like a strong woman who’s about her business… you could just tell by the way that she stands and the way she communicates and operates,” Daniels said.
After three months of living in D.C., the time came to return home. Some of the things she learned from her experience were to be confident in who you are, completing tasks while disagreeing, the power of adaptability, and how to have a work-life balance.
“I had a really good experience working under VP Harris, and I think it’s just honestly a symbol of what she represents and what’s to come,” Daniels said.
After her internship, Daniels now works as a communications director at The Hope Center in Kansas City, MO. The nonprofit works to provide asset-based programs for local youth and community development on the east side of the city.
“I would like to work at a job that allows me to serve people, love on people, connect with people, and to bring stories to life… those are my goals,” Daniels said.
With the upcoming election for the next President, Daniels has high hopes for the future in a possible Kamala Harris presidency.
“I’m excited, honestly, I’m so excited that she’s going to be the one running. And I think it’s really going to be a shift and a change in the sense of a presidential candidate that represents America,” Daniels said.
She strongly encourages students to vote and pay attention to local elections, specifically in conservative-leaning midwestern states. She highlighted specific policies that address the lack of funding at HBCUs, the attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, reproductive rights and access to abortion, and Native American land rights for Langston University students to pay attention to.
“Rights are being taken away, left and right… if you have the opportunity to have a voice, to advocate for yourself, your communities, your families, and all these things that are going to affect us in the future… It’s your duty,” Daniels said.
Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on August 22. If she wins, she will become the 47th President of the United States, being the first woman, and HBCU graduate to accept the title.
Ciera Agee
Staff Writer
Ciera Agee is a junior broadcast journalism major.
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