Making Her Mark in Washington, D.C.

As Harlem Academy alumni strive for excellence in colleges across the country, several are making their mark in Washington, D.C., including at American, Catholic, Georgetown, George Washington, and Howard. We caught up with Kennedy Murray ’16, a senior at George Washington University, to find out how college life is going in our nation’s capital. 

Kennedy appreciates being in a city teeming with colleges and having Harlem Academy alumni nearby. “It’s very tight-knit,” says Kennedy, who earned an associate degree from Bard College at age 17 before coming to GWU.

Kennedy is majoring in political science and aspires to be a congressional chief of staff. Last fall, she landed a four-month congressional internship with Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s office. “It was such a great experience,” she recalls. “I got to work inside the Capitol Building, talk to constituents, and meet different representatives, including Ayanna Pressley, Cori Bush, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.” 

Kennedy spent most of her time writing proclamations, doing research, drafting memos, tracking media coverage, and answering phone calls. “The internship gave me a better understanding of politics because it immersed me in the culture.” 

Up next for Kennedy?  Studying for the LSATs. “I’m thinking of going to law school,” she shares. “I’m interested in George Washington and Georgetown.” In the meantime, she’s focused on fulfilling her role as incoming president of her college’s NAACP chapter and finishing her senior year strong for law school applications.