Sophia Barro ‘25 interned at the White House and sets her sights on D.C. and a career in political journalism
Sophia Barro ‘25 spent the fall semester interning at the White House under the Biden-Harris administration, an opportunity she never dreamed she would have and one that almost didn’t happen.
A political science major with double minors in Africana studies and women, gender, and sexuality studies, Barro wanted to be in D.C. for the fall of her senior year. She applied and was accepted into American University’s Washington Semester Program, setting her sights on political science-related internships.
“I never thought I would work at the White House,” Barro says. “I thought I was going to intern up on the Hill or some small nonprofit.” While Barro applied for the White House internship and interviewed, she was waitlisted.
Barro moved on and almost accepted an offer from the office of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley on Capitol Hill. Then she received a conditional offer from the White House. After completing the appropriate clearances and background checks, Barro learned she was accepted as an intern three days before the program began.
For Barro, who grew up in D.C., the opportunity to intern at the White House was more than just a professional achievement—it was a full-circle moment that linked her academic journey with her roots.
“I learned that the sky’s the limit and to just reach for it,” she reflects.
Spotlight Recipient
Sophia Barro
Undergraduate