Washington, D.C. – Attorney and Assembly Intern alumna Lauren Garry-Boggio was the second featured speaker of the Armenian Assembly of America Internship Program's Summer Speaker Series on Thursday evening, June 10th.
Assembly Programs Director Joseph Piatt served as moderator and introduced Garry-Boggio, who is the current attorney-advisor in the Wireline Competition Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Garry-Boggio, who was a participant in the Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program in 2002, thanked the Assembly for the "wonderful experience" she had among fellow Armenian American students.
"The Assembly is a huge reason why I came to Washington, D.C., permanently in 2004," she said. "I urge all college students to participate in the program so you can meet Armenian Americans and experience D.C. professionally and personally, especially since you are instantly part of a community and have a built-in network."
Garry-Boggio, who was a law clerk to the Honorable William S. Colwell in the Office of Administrative Law Judges at the Department of Labor and also worked for Comcast Corporation and in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, highlighted her professional path, which began with an internship for former Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) on Capitol Hill, a place she described as a "great place to begin a career in D.C.," where she was exposed to a variety of issues, from telecom to women's rights to education.
After realizing she wanted to focus on policy, Garry-Boggio worked as a legislative correspondent for Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) and as a legislative assistant for the House Natural Resources Committee, shortly after receiving her B.A. degree from Bowdoin College. She switched to the private sector three years later to work for Comcast Corporation, while pursuing her MBA and then J.D. from American University in the evening. Garry-Boggio then worked for a law firm and the Department of Labor as a law clerk, followed by the FCC's Attorney Honors Program, where she gained "excellent professional development."
The guidance she provided for college students revolved around the themes of networking, working hard, being persistent and finding a mentor.
"Go after what you want and don't listen to outside noise because people will always have opinions," said Garry-Boggio, who reiterated the importance of building a strong network.
"It's so important to meet with as many different people as you can and learn about their careers and how you can grow professionally," said Garry-Boggio. "You should push yourself and gravitate toward issues that interest you."
She recommended working after college to obtain hands-on professional experience, which can only enhance the knowledge learned in graduate school.
"I appreciated law school and what I was learning there because I knew how it would help me going forward," said Garry-Boggio, who also recommended students work in different fields to see where their interests lie.
"Lauren Garry-Boggio spoke in-depth about her career from her internship days to the present time, both in the private and public sectors, which I found immensely helpful," said Emily Hale, who is studying political science and public relations at the University of Miami. "I appreciated her enthusiasm and her honesty in sharing the successes and challenges of her career."
Register to attend next week's speaker series on June 17, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, where Dr. Rouben Adalian, Director of the Armenian National Institute, will speak about the significance of President Biden's affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
The Terjenian-Thomas Assembly Internship Program, which will take place virtually this summer, provides college students of Armenian descent an opportunity to gain exposure to the policy-making process in our nation’s capital for eight weeks each summer.
Since 1977, the Armenian Assembly of America has assisted over 1,200 participants in securing placements in prominent congressional offices, government agencies, media outlets, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations in Washington, D.C.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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