Camille Dowdy has used her experiences at the University of Tennessee at Martin to land herself an internship at the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville.
A native of Lebanon, Tennessee, and graduate of Wilson Central High School, Dowdy is a junior political science major who has gained this and other experiences that will help her in her career.
Among her other experiences outside the classroom, Dowdy went on a study abroad trip to New Zealand, where she was able to immerse herself in another culture and continue to learn. This has helped her in her internship today.
“It helped me realize to make the most of any experience because there is always something to see a positive in,” said Dowdy. “I take this attitude into the internship, which has helped me learn as much as I have.”
Dowdy serves as an intern under state Rep. Dan Howell (R-Cleveland), who represents District 22 in East Tennessee and is the chairman of the transportation.
“I had always known that I would want to go into a field that focused on helping people,” she said. “Eventually, I became interested in politics and realized how many jobs fall under the political science umbrella.”
As an intern in the state legislature, Dowdy is able to gain firsthand knowledge of political processes and gain real-world experience that she can use in her career.
“Each day can look different, but there are certain tasks that I do every week,” said Dowdy. “I help file and update bills, set up both the transportation committee and subcommittee, and any other tasks that are deemed important.” After graduating in 2025, Dowdy plans to further her education by getting a master’s degree and hopes to work abroad in politics.
Photo: UTM junior Camille Dowdy is shown on the steps of the Tennessee capitol in Nashville, where she serves as a legislative intern.
