ASU grad finds purpose in public policy and service
In 2024, ASU grad Bryson Jones interned with a political advocacy group in Washington, D.C., through ASU's Capital Scholars Program. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2024 graduates.
When Bryson Jones took an AP government class back in high school, he found himself fascinated by the machinery of government and how it operates from a business perspective.
Now, after an extensive and impactful journey, his curiosity has led him to graduating from Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business this semester with a Bachelor of Arts in business (public policy).
After enrolling at ASU in fall 2018, Jones completed his freshman year before taking a two-year break to embark on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the region formerly known as Yugoslavia. During this time, Jones learned to speak four languages in addition to English — Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin and Serbian — inspiring him to pursue a minor in Slavic studies upon returning to ASU.
In 2021, Jones came back to campus with the drive to dive deep into the world of public service and policy.
“I've really enjoyed my time at W. P. Carey. I think the school offers a great and well-rounded education in all business principles,” Jones said. “I've appreciated seeing how things operate from both the public and private perspectives.”
In pursuit of gaining real-world experience in his field, Jones pursued internship experience during his time at ASU. In spring 2023, he interned with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) through ASU’s Arizona Legislative and Government Internship Program, immersing himself in the legislative process.
“My job was to be the fly on the wall at the state Capitol for committee meetings, floor sessions and press conferences,” Jones said. “I was there taking notes on any piece of legislation that affected our organization or the people that rely on the services of AZ DES.”
This past summer, Jones traveled to Washington, D.C., to intern for a political advocacy group called Americans for Tax Reform through ASU’s Capital Scholars Program. With this experience, he gained a better understanding of how policies and politics operate on a national scale. In the future, Jones aspires to combine elements and lessons learned from his internships.
“I’m interested in the legislative process and reporting on how things are working for either public institutions and government agencies, or for private businesses, corporations and political advocacy groups,” he said.
In addition to his academic pursuits with W. P. Carey, Jones is part of Barrett, The Honors College and is involved with the Medallion Scholarship Progrm (MSP) — the ASU Alumni Association’s signature scholarship initiative. MSP not only provides him the financial means to focus completely on his studies, but it’s also given him opportunities to make long-lasting connections.
“The program has helped me make some really good friends throughout my time here at ASU. ... It’s something I'm tremendously grateful for,” Jones said.
In addition to support from MSP, Jones is also the recipient of many scholarships — the Charles and Christine Michaels Scholarship, the ASU Pioneer Heritage Scholarship, the Otto & Edna Neely Foundation Scholarship and more.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: I got enough financial aid. I originally wasn't planning on attending ASU — I had received a half-tuition scholarship from Brigham Young University. I picked out an apartment. I even had a roommate all set up. But then I got several different scholarships that made it so I could cover full tuition here at ASU. Seeing that I was able to cover all the expenses of my education and pursue just as good of an education as I would have gotten in Utah, I picked ASU, and I have not regretted that decision at all.
Q: Who or what has been your biggest inspiration in pursuing your education?
A: I would probably have to say Charles and Christine Michaels. They're the people who oversee one of my scholarships — the Charles and Christine Michaels Scholarship. They have been such a positive influence in my life and have taken a great interest in what I'm studying, what I'm currently doing with my life, my internships and my experiences. I get to talk with them on a very regular basis, and I've really appreciated that kind of personal contact. They offer advice and guidance. Their mentorship has been truly helpful as I've gone through the last several years here at ASU.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Pursue internship experience, because that takes the lessons that you're learning in the classroom and puts them in a far more tangible aspect with real-world and professional experience. It helps you gain a better understanding of the kind of work that you would be doing with your degree. I think it's a very practical experience that everybody should do, and I highly recommend getting two, maybe three internships, just to give you a greater amount of variety and experience, which is what a lot of people look for when you're applying for jobs.
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