The National Foundation for Women Legislators, the oldest organization for elected women in the U.S., announced University alumna Morgan Arnold as its new communications and special projects coordinator.
Executive Director Jody Thomas said the organization was founded in 1938 as the National Order for Women Legislators and later became the National Foundation for Women Legislators. The non-profit organization sits in Washington, D.C., and is an educational, bipartisan foundation dedicated “to empower and inspire elected women to become thought leaders who shape America’s future,” according to the foundation’s vision.
Thomas said the NFWL provides education, networking opportunities and leadership development for elected women to advance in their careers on the local, municipal and state levels. The foundation is bipartisan to the extent that no members indicate their political affiliation on their nametags at conferences and workshops.
“Our main goal is just to see more women get elected in the city, county and state levels,” Thomas said. “And help those women either continue up the elected ladder or to just continue their growth as an elected official.”
Working as the communications and special projects coordinator, Morgan Arnold is responsible for everything that involves communication for the foundation. Some of her tasks include creating the monthly newsletter, managing and developing content for the website, handling all social media platforms, dealing with sponsor content, launching programs and marketing.
While at the University, Arnold majored in mass communication, concentrating in political communication and minoring in political science. She said her minor helped her later when she worked as a communications intern for former Gov. Bobby Jindal and as a communications developer for Jindal’s presidential campaign. She said she also worked at a communications-consulting firm and spent a semester in the fashion industry.
Arnold said she took full advantage of the University’s political communication program because it is not a common field at many colleges.
“I really do feel like it taught me so much more about how to target the political world, which is very different [from] a lot of other worlds,” Arnold said.
She also credited Manship Chair and professor Robert Mann for being an influence on her dedication to finding a job in the world of political communication.
Arnold lived in Atlanta, Georgia, before attending the University. After graduation, she faced the decision to stay in Baton Rouge or move back to Atlanta. She chose to move back to Georgia, but her ultimate goal was to find a job in Washington, D.C. She found the NFWL job opening during her search.
After landing two interviews, she was hired. Arnold said she packed her bags, moved to D.C. and started within a week of being hired.
“It really is my dream job,” Arnold said. “I could not be happier.”
Thomas said the organization was impressed with Arnold when she applied for the position. She said Arnold met all the requirements and had strong references.
“She was a pretty unanimous decision,” Thomas said. “We’re thrilled with her.”
Thomas said Arnold and the rest of the foundation are currently preparing for their annual conference at Universal Orlando in Orlando, Florida. One guest speaker at the event will be former CIA Analyst Cindy Storer, who the movie “Zero Dark Thirty” is based on.
Jay Newton-Small, author of “Broad Influence” and a TIME Magazine Correspondent, will be the keynote speaker. Additionally, Melissa Fitzgerald will be speaking about her passion for the “Justice for Vets” organization, which works with veteran drug courts to give veterans proper treatment, rather than time in jail.
Arnold offered some advice to women who aspire to thrive in the political realm.
“My advice would be to have confidence, get your name out there, to work hard,” Arnold said. “You see these accomplishments of other women and it really does inspire you so much to work hard. You have to work so much harder than a man does to get the recognition he does, especially in the world of politics. Be yourself. Don’t lose yourself along the way of trying so hard to do what you want to do.”