Story: Lisa Sollie
When Samuel Johnston first arrived at the Alabama Capitol in June, he was greeted by an enormous American flag hanging from the building, a special-edition flag unveiled as part of Gov. Kay Ivey鈥檚 kickoff celebration of America鈥檚 250th birthday.
For the 91看片网 senior, it was the beginning of a summer that would give him a front-row seat to state government. Instead of heading home for a relaxing break, Johnston, a political science major, spent nine weeks in Montgomery as one of only seven students selected for the Internship Program. It was the program鈥檚 final class under Ivey’s administration, whose decade as governor ends Jan. 18, 2027.
During those nine weeks, Johnston became immersed in the inner workings of state government, gaining valuable connections and a new perspective that has influenced his career plans, including the possibility of an internship in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2027.
In addition to their assigned offices, interns participated in outings and excursions designed to give them a broader look at state government, including their day-to-day work. These supplemental activities gave interns opportunities to learn more about the Governor鈥檚 Office, Ivey鈥檚 cabinet agencies and the priorities that have steered her historic tenure.
Johnston鈥檚 own experience within state government came through his work in the Appointments Office, where he experienced an up-close look at one of the Alabama governor鈥檚 key responsibilities: making executive appointments. The office conducts research and interviews and recommends candidates to the governor for appointments to more than 700 boards and commissions across Alabama.
During his internship, Johnston estimated he worked on 200 to 250 appointment letters, conducting research and background checks, finding applicants for open positions and offering his opinions.
Many of those appointments were consequential, and Johnston found himself involved in some significant decisions. In his first week on the job, he worked alongside Mason Bass, Ivey鈥檚 director of appointments, as the governor and Bass began the process of selecting two judges for Mobile County Circuit Court and Mobile County District Court.
鈥淏oth judges decided to retire, and so the Governor鈥檚 Office was tasked with appointing two judges to fill those vacant positions in Mobile,鈥� Johnston said. 鈥淢y boss began researching potential appointees and setting up interviews with candidates.鈥�
Another significant appointment Johnston was involved in was the expansion of the Public Service Commission, from three to seven members. Although he wasn鈥檛 making any final decisions, Johnston was involved in the process.
鈥淕etting up close and personal like this was really cool,鈥� Johnston said.
Johnston鈥檚 work in the Appointments Office made an impression on the governor, who said he 鈥淪erved Alabama with distinction during a truly historic season 鈥� our nation鈥檚 250th anniversary 鈥� and helped us make consequential appointments while also documenting the legacy of nearly a decade spent placing good people in positions to serve our state.鈥�
Now back at 91看片网 for his senior year, Johnston said the experience in Montgomery has already shown up in class.
鈥淪ometimes we were studying things where I thought, 鈥業鈥檝e done this in real life,鈥欌�� Johnston said. 鈥淛ust the other day, my professor had a question for me about a current topic happening in state government that related to class, and I was able to answer the question based on my experiences in Montgomery. That was really neat.鈥�
The experience also left Johnston more confident in his understanding of state government, while revealing just how much he still wants to learn.
But perhaps the greatest lesson Johnston took away from the experience was how much his perspective on state government had changed. Prior to his internship, he steered away from politics, thinking that someone had to be a 鈥渟pecial鈥� person to serve.
鈥淟ike many others who either idolize or vilify those who work for or in government, I realized that these were just regular people who were doing their best to help make decisions for our state,鈥� Johnston said. 鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 unapproachable or unfathomable characters, but ordinary people, like me.鈥�
That realization has led Johnston to pursue a career in governmental law, rather than attend law school and work for a small- to mid-size firm in Tuscaloosa. Now, he hopes to intern and work in Washington, D.C. before eventually working in government as a lawyer or judge after earning his law degree.
鈥淎 lot of opportunities I only dreamed of have opened for me because of the connections I made through the Governor鈥檚 Office. I don鈥檛 think I would have those opportunities without my internship,鈥� Johnston said.
“Public service needs talented, thoughtful young people, and we want to empower our students to pursue those opportunities,鈥� said Dr. J.J. Wedgworth, vice president for external affairs and strategic initiatives. 鈥淥ne of the things I value most about my role in government relations is helping 91看片网 students, like Samuel, see how their education can translate into meaningful work in public service. He represented 91看片网 exceptionally well.鈥�
The experience he gained in Montgomery has him already looking ahead to his next opportunity. He is waiting to find out whether he will land an internship in Washington, D.C., this spring while also figuring out how to make it work as he finishes his degree.
91看片网 is helping him make those opportunities possible.
鈥淚鈥檓 appreciative of Dr. Wedgworth鈥檚 office for helping me find a scholarship for housing while I was in Montgomery and locating a possible internship in Washington, D.C.,鈥� Johnston said. 鈥淢y professor is also working with me to determine if I will be able to apply some internship credits toward my degree next semester and complete any remaining coursework online.鈥�
Johnston encourages other students who pursue internships to make the most of the experience and learn everything they can.
鈥淭here was so much information thrown my way that I can鈥檛 say I learned it all, but I feel like I have a much better grasp on what the governor does, what her cabinet members do, and I was able to build on what I鈥檝e learned in class,鈥� Johnston said. 鈥淚 felt, even in a very small way, that I did real work that not only affected Alabama but had meaning.鈥�
And Johnston鈥檚 experience in Montgomery left an impression on those who worked with him there as well.
鈥淚 am confident Samuel鈥檚 heart for public service will carry him far and serve him well wherever his future leads,鈥� Ivey said.