BA in Global Affairs

Desmond Jordan, 2017

Desmond Jordan

It is still dark when Mason senior Desmond Jordan arrives on the White House south lawn. Setting up his equipment, he’s relieved that its relatively warm outside for an October morning. Other members of the media begin pouring in, securing their spots near the podium that will soon host President Barack Obama and the Prime Minister Mateo Renzi of Italy. The four branches of the military arrive with their band ensemble on the lawn, shoulders back, eyes forward, as the sun begins to rise overtop the Washington Monument behind them. Soon, the band plays a powerful melody with horns, trumpets, and drums that fills the air of the south lawn, welcoming President Obama and Prime Minister Renzi, who walk out together to meet the crowd. American and Italian flags wave in the air around Jordan, who steadies his camera to capture the last state visit of Obama’s presidency.

“It was surreal” Jordan said as he described his most memorable experience as a Communication and Marketing Intern for the White House Historical Association. Launched by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the White House Historical Association is a non-profit organization responsible for helping the public understand initiatives and events taking place at the White House, as well as preserving the White House’s history. As a Communication and Marketing Intern, Jordan’s responsibilities varied day to day, but most often included web maintenance, transcribing articles, and taking pictures at events. Jordan also assisted with media outreach—contacting news agencies and reporters to share new information coming from the White House.

Jordan found his internship through HireMason, a website led by Mason’s Office of Career Services that posts available jobs and internships in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Jordan’s majors in Global Affairs and Communication, along with his portfolio of photographs grown in part by his photography work for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, helped him gain the experience necessary for the position. 

Jordan first became interested in photography in high school while on a trip to Japan. His parents gave him a camera as a gift, which Jordan used constantly throughout his visit abroad. When he returned, his parents commented on the strength of his photos. Photography soon became a regular hobby of his. Vacation photos turned into photos of landscapes, which evolved into portraits and candid photos of people. During his junior year, Jordan became a student photographer for Mason’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and he earned his internship with the White House Historical Association in fall 2016.

The internship, Jordan said, worked hand in hand with his studies. The classroom, he said, taught him useful skills that he used full-time at his internship, including the ability the get an idea across in a clear and articulate way. In turn, his newly acquired knowledge of Presidential and U.S. history found their way into many of his papers.

Prior to his internship, Jordan was a Patriot Leader, a peer advisor at Mason Korea, a resident assistant, and an academic mentor for freshman.

After graduation, Jordan hopes to earn a full-time position within the marketing and communication field. His ultimate dream is to work at National Geographic.