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Alumni Spotlight: Q&A with Tori Garrett

A third-generation Oklahoma Christian University student, alumna Tori Garrett graduated with a public relations degree in 2017 and currently works at the Oklahoma House of Representatives as a press secretary for the House Republican Caucus. Garret’s mother Allison (Dabbs) Garrett graduated from Oklahoma Christian in ‘84 and worked as vice president of academic affairs from 2007-2012. Her grandfather and grandmother, Justin and Jolene Garrett, graduated from Central Christian College in Bartlesville in the 50s.

Q. What all were you involved in at OC?
“I was involved in Public Relations Student Society of America my entire college career, and I rushed Phi Omega Nu my sophomore year.”

Q. When did you first become interested in politics?
“I actually didn’t have much of an interest in politics until I somehow ended up interning in it. My mom was pushing for me to start applying for internships that were relevant to my public relations major, and I stumbled upon an internship in Senator Lankford’s Oklahoma City office. I made flashcards over his background, stances in different areas and relevant policy issues to prepare for the interview, and somehow ended up getting the internship. After I got involved there, I realized how much I liked knowing what was actually happening in our nation and our world. When I explored it a little more and found out about the different aspects of it, I liked that there were many different paths I could take to fashioning a career in politics.”

Q. What different internships have you held, and what did each one teach you?
“I started interning in Senator Lankford’s Oklahoma City office at the beginning of my sophomore year and spent the entire academic year there. That was my first involvement in politics and is when I began considering politics as a career. Once I fell in love with politics, I knew I wanted to use the remainder of my college career to explore as many different areas as possible because I knew it would be harder as a graduated, full-time employee to make the jump from government to public affairs to campaigns.

That summer, I worked as the press intern in his Washington, D.C., office on Capitol Hill, which was a great experience. I drafted several opinion pieces, helped record update videos and took pictures for social media.

My junior year, I wrote press releases and feature stories for a semester with OC’s marketing department before I took a spring internship with the Journal Record Legislative Report (JRLR). I knew that after spending a year interning in national politics, I wanted to focus on learning as much as I could about state politics and also dive a little more into the specifics of the legislative process. My months at JRLR were great because I was able to start learning the ins and outs of the state Capitol.

The summer before my senior semester, I worked at a firm in downtown Oklahoma City, where I got hands-on experience learning how the public affairs and advocacy side of politics accomplishes their goals. I was there for about eight months until I graduated in December.

About halfway through my senior semester, I started interning for Mick Cornett’s campaign for governor as a press intern a few hours a week. I didn’t really expect it to lead anywhere after graduation, but I wanted some campaign experience, and I loved what Mick stood for. Then about two weeks before graduation, they offered a full-time job on the fundraising team, and I jumped at the chance. I started on the campaign four days after graduation and was there until we lost the run-off in August, then I did fundraising on Glen Mulready’s campaign for insurance commissioner until the general election in November.”

Q. How did you go about getting these internships?
“My mom actually found the posting for the first internship in Senator Lankford’s office, but, of course, I did all the footwork to get the job. As I learned more about Oklahoma politics and heard about other organizations that interested me, I would periodically check them out online and applied when I saw their internship postings go up. My months as a press intern on the campaign came from a friend, who put me in contact with the campaign.”

Q. What was the best part of living in Washington DC for the summer?

“I never got over the awe I felt walking into our nation’s Capitol every day. It was surreal to me that, behind those doors, just a few feet from where I was working, our country’s most powerful people were collaborating on policy decisions that would shape the lives of millions of people across the country.

You also never knew who you’d find in the halls there. I shared a trolley with Marco Rubio and his staff once, and on more than one occasion I turned a corner and nearly ran into a senator. I also really liked exploring the building and finding the tucked away sections the public doesn’t see when they tour.

It was also really exciting to be in D.C. before the 2016 presidential election—there was such contagious energy during those months.”

Q. Where are you currently working?

“I work at the Oklahoma House of Representatives as a press secretary for the House Republican Caucus.  We have 77 Republican legislators this session, the most in our state history, so thankfully my coworker and I split the workload.

I spend most of my time writing press releases and weekly columns for my members, but I help film some of their video updates every now and then. I also provide talking points about legislation they may be getting questions about. I manage the House Republican Caucus social media pages and show members how they can manage their own as well.”

Q. What is a day like working at the Capitol?

“My typical day starts with checking the newspapers to pull together relevant stories our members should know about. Once I send out the day’s clippings, I’ll start drafting any press release or columns I have requests for. Sometimes I’ll lug camera equipment into their offices when they want to do a video update.

I try to keep tabs on what’s happening with the members I write for every week. If I see one of their bills passed the House floor this week, I’ll go back and listen to the audio so I have notes ready to go when it comes time to sit down with them and work on their column together. If I know there’s a bill coming up in committee that a member will want a press release over or want to mention in their column, I’ll head to that meeting to take notes and educate myself on the legislation.

Some days are pretty slow and quiet, but during deadlines, it’s always hectic for everybody. I’ve stayed at work until 10 p.m. before just because there’s so much to do. But I love that no two days are the same.”

Q. How did your education at Oklahoma Christian prepare you for a career in politics?

“When I started exploring political communication, I already had a great foundation thanks to my public relations classes. I knew the ins and outs of social media and had a portfolio from class assignments that I could show off, too. That definitely helped me stand out against other applicants.”

Q. What are some of your goals going forward?

“I really enjoy what I’m doing right now, but my biggest passion is encouraging women to get involved in politics, and someday I’d love to work with or even start an organization that focuses on that. While we do need more women making policy decisions, serving as chiefs of staff or handling grassroots for nonprofits, we also need more women to take the leap and run for office. Statistics show that when women run for office, they win at the same rate as male candidates. There are several groups that not only encourage women to run for office but also provide necessary training and tools to operate a successful campaign. Access to these tools can help close the gender gap we see at virtually every level of politics. I’d love to work with a group focusing on that area, particularly with Republican women considering pursuing public office.”

Q. What advice do you have for someone who is interested in getting into the political affairs sector?

“A lot of politics is about not only who you know, but also who knows you. Politics is a small world, where everybody knows everybody else, and a good word from the right person can go a long way to opening doors you previously didn’t even know existed. I wouldn’t have my current job if a supervisor from a past internship hadn’t recommended me for it.

Campaigns are a constant roller coaster, and they’re certainly not glamorous. One evening you may be in a cocktail dress counting up $50,000 you received from one fundraiser, and the next you’re driving through McDonald’s for the third time that week after an event with six attendees. Some election cycles will end with you celebrating a victory with hundreds of your friends and supporters, and the next election cycle ends with you trying not to cry while you pack up the office where your coworkers became your closest friends. There are a lot of bad days, but there are a lot of really good days, too.”

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