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School of Journalism and New Media
University of Mississippi

From Ole Miss to the White House

Posted on: April 9th, 2014 by
Alex May-Sealey standing in front of Air Force One, the official aircraft for the President of the United Stated. May-Sealey works in the White House Visitors Office. Photo credit: Shin Inouye, Director of Specialty Media, White House Office of Communications.

Alex May-Sealey standing in front of Air Force One, the official aircraft for the President of the United Stated. May-Sealey works in the White House Visitors Office. Photo credit: Shin Inouye, Director of Specialty Media, White House Office of Communications.

By John Monteith

Alex May-Sealey’s success has come as no surprise to her former Meek School professors and advisers.

May-Sealey worked as an Advance Associate, coordinating events for President Obama, First Lady Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, before being hired by the White House Visitors Office. May-Sealey’s path to the White House was set by a series of helpful jobs and internships that gave her experience to work in the world’s most powerful office.

“Alex possesses the magic combination of three factors needed to succeed in PR: excellent writing skills, organizational ability, and creativity” said Meek School lecturer Robin Street, who May-Sealy describes as her mentor. “Few people have all three of those factors. To this day, I recall how amazed I was at the color coded system she put together for her class notes.”

“As a student, I learned to be independent,” May-Sealey said. “I benefited from the professional academic staff that opened my mind to broader ways of thinking and approaching problems.”

May-Sealey’s journey began the summer before her junior year when she was an intern for a U.S. Senator.

The next summer she secured an internship at the Federal District Courthouse, which May-Sealey says solidified her career path. In her final year of school, she was selected for the White House Internship Program, serving in the Department of Scheduling and Advance.

After performing well in her internship, she was offered a position that was more long-term. She was offered a job as an Advance Associate.

Many current Meek School students are searching for jobs and internships. May-Sealey advises them to network and seek professional mentors in your field of interest.

“Mentors can support you, provide guidance and introduce you to people you need to know” May-Sealey said. “Make sure you always have a professional and up-to-date resume that you could email or provide on a moment’s notice.”

May-Sealey recognizes all that she learned while a student at the Meek School of Journalism at The University of Mississippi.

“The University of Mississippi taught me how to balance my personal and professional life.” May-Sealey said.

“At the University, I met many amazing and talented people with whom I developed special bonds that continue through today.”