Charlotte, N.C./Sept. 12, 2022 – Justin Nixon ’25 may only be a rising sophomore in the Political Science program at JCSU, but his determination and excellence in the classroom earned him recognition from a national organization and a seat in an internship on Capitol Hill.
Nixon was featured in the Summer 2022 issue of The Educated Mentor, an official publication of The Collegiate Black Male Network.
Nominated by Dr. Cindy Kistenberg, professor of Communication Arts and advising coordinator, Nixon touts an impressive number of accomplishments.
He has served as president of his residence hall, a fellow with You Can Vote, was one of five selected as a 2021-22 JCSU Charlotte Racial Justice Fellow and, of course, spent his summer climbing the steps of Capitol Hill as an intern with the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus in Washington, D.C.
“This has been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” he said. “I heard about the internship from a classmate. I was able to talk to one of congresswoman Alma Adams' staff members at an event. The opportunity was in the back of my mind for the entire school year.”
At the end of the academic year, the Center for Career and Postgraduate Readiness reached out to Nixon about the opportunity. After a few weeks and several interviews, Nixon earned a place in the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus Internship Program.
The HBCU Caucus was founded by Congresswoman Alma Adams on April 28, 2015. Adams co-chairs the caucus with Congressman French Hill (R-AR), Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
“The Caucus works to promote and protect the interests of HBCUs by creating a national dialogue, educating members of Congress and their staffs about the issues impacting HBCUs, drafting meaningful bipartisan legislation to address the needs of HBCUs, and supporting students and graduates of HBCUs by increasing access and career opportunities,” reads Adams’ official website. “The Caucus is bipartisan and bicameral, with over 100 members.”
A major goal of the Caucus is connecting HBCU students with the opportunity to gain real-world, hands-on experience in the field of political science through its annual internship program.
Nixon performed several duties during a typical work day, like answering constituent phone calls, drafting memos and letters in support or opposition to legislation or government action and attending briefings to take notes.
He also attended educational events.
“I’ve learned a lot about caucuses and their influences on how a given congressperson votes,” he said. “The best part of the experience so far has been the research and learning about legislation and how it works.”
Nixon credits Johnson C. Smith University for connecting him with the opportunity, especially the Center for Career and Postgraduate Readiness.
“The Smith Institute for Research, Career Development and Postgraduate Readiness is dedicated to educating, preparing and connecting students to opportunities that will equip them to compete in the 21st Century,” said Jennifer C. Joyner, the director of Career Development and Postgraduate Readiness. “We know that our students are capable of achieving at the highest levels and it pushes our staff to create even more strategic working relationships with staff, faculty and employer partners. Our students are our clients, and we want them to succeed. We believe in them and know that, if given the opportunity, they, like Mr. Nixon, will surpass our expectations.”
Nixon also feels his time at JCSU has helped him gain confidence in himself and his abilities.
“Before I came to JCSU, I didn’t have the strongest belief in myself,” he said. “But my professors and the experiences and opportunities I’ve been placed in have helped me gain a lot more confidence, pushed me out of my comfort zone and have helped me flourish in my internship.”
Nixon encourages his fellow students to get involved with the career center and connect with classmates and professors around campus. His passion for political science inspired him to act as the student host for a fireside conversation on the state of HBCU student activism with JCSU alumnus Dr. Frederick Engram ’05, which will take place on Oct. 7, 2022.
After he graduates from JCSU, Nixon hopes to pursue a career focusing on public policy, specializing in social programs like healthcare, housing and education.
“JCSU is a great institution,” he said. “Believe in yourself and get as much experience as you can. I wouldn’t have known about this opportunity without building relationships with the people in the career center.”
Read more about Justin in The Educated Mentor at https://www.thecbmnetwork.org/theeducatedmentor .
