About Me

My name is MaryAlice Skidmore and I am a junior at Florida State University. I’m double majoring in Communication/Media Studies and Editing Writing and Media and minoring Psychology. I’m interested in communication, and specifically editing, because I think being able to refine a message strategically and effectively is crucial to a person or business’s success. Unlike many of my peers, I have thoroughly embraced the concept of grammar ever since it was introduced to me. When asked, I rarely decline the opportunity to proofread a friend’s writing. In fact, many times I will be halfway through an article when I realize I have been subconsciously proofreading it all along. During my sophomore year, I was a contributing writer for The Odyssey, an in print and online newspaper catered toward the Greek Life community. Writing and editing have always been hobbies of mine and I am always eager to broaden my horizon and use those skills in a new way.

Words are crucial in relating information to others and using them effectively can have a powerful impact on individuals. I can communicate information effectively, not only because I have experience doing so, but because I am observant, open-minded, curious, and a detail-oriented planner with very strong organizational skills (I keep a list of my lists.) I am an instinctive leader who appreciates a dynamic group environment and I am known for my sharp sense of humor. My creative and intuitive nature has helped me in multiple leadership roles, whether it is serving on hall government, volunteering at a school for children with special needs, or planning events hosted by my sorority.

My background in the communication field has served as a foundation for my interest in lobbying. During the spring semester of my sophomore year, I started an internship with Florida Atlantic University’s Government Relations team. I had the opportunity to work at the Florida Capitol, reporting on education and appropriation committee meetings during the Legislative session, tracking budget items, and meeting with many Representatives and Senators. I returned to my hometown of Boca Raton for the second half of summer, which gave me the ability to continue working at FAU’s main office. I attended local meetings, managed social media, and started the first newsletter for Institutional Advancement at Florida Atlantic University. In addition, I shadowed the director of the Media Relations Department for a week, which gave me the opportunity to work directly with the press.

Prior to returning home for the summer, I studied abroad for a semester in London through the Communications Program at FSU. Studying the communication process, with courses such as “Public Speaking” and “Rhetoric of Didactic Literature,” through a new cultural lens, left a lasting impression and helped me realize that understanding one’s audience is the key to becoming a better communicator.

This semester, I began working at The Capitol Alliance Group, Inc., a lobbying and consulting firm located in downtown Tallahassee. My job mainly consists of writing and working on campaigns and proposals for the firm’s wide array of clients.
  My broad range of interests makes the field of communications appealing and beneficial. Although I am currently focused on a career in editing or publishing, my previous experience has allowed me to develop numerous skills, all of which I’m confident will serve me well in whatever path I choose.