Shelby Evans

Dr. Grant
JRNL 3125
2 February 2015
Andrew Smith Politics and Modern Culture
Andrew E. Smith is from Folkston, GA. Smith graduated from ABAC Fall 2015 with a
degree in Rural Studies Politics and Modern Culture. He was given an Award of Distinction at
graduation for being the top student in the School of Liberal Arts. In 2014 Smith was able to
intern through the Georgia Legislature Internship Program. While interning, he worked with
Senator Steve Henson (D-Tucker). Henson is the minority leader of the Georgia State Senate.
Smith stated in an interview that he has always had an interest in politics and that the internship
completes my dream.
Smith found the Rural Studies program as an avenue of change for hurting communities.
Smith grew up in Charlton County and spent his early life working within the Charlton
community. Smith says he got an inside look at the chronic issues facing [his] rural home, from
providing a quality education and healthcare to the masses to developing an economy that works
for everyone. This insight and his passion for serving others was the motivating factor for Smith
in joining the Rural Studies program. [I]t was tailor made for my interests, he stated.
When asked what opportunities the Rural Studies program provided for Smith, he
describes passionate instructors, and program flexibility. Smith said, Coming in I knew I wanted
to focus on the public policy aspect of the program. The courses I took gave me a strong
foundation in analyzing how policy makers effect aspects of rural life. Smith wasnt just another
generic student, put through a generic program where the courses are always the same and the

results are predictable. The ability to mold the program to suit my needs gave me the ability to
chase a long held dream and help bring a rural focus to an urban centric organization.
Now that Smith has graduated he continues to work with the Georgia State Senate.
Currently I am the Deputy Director of Operations for the Georgia Senate Democratic Caucus.
This is a continuation of my service to them during the previous session, says Smith, My
assigned duties include preparing the daily briefing materials for caucus members, preparing
questions on legislation, producing needed researching of pressing topics, creating fact sheets,
talking points, questions and writing speeches. Additionally, I help with spreading our message
through social media. Besides his work with the Georgia Senate, Smith still work with the
ABAC History and Political Science Department in their annual trip to the Captiol. He will soon
return to ABAC to share his experience in government.

Interview Questions
Shelby Evans interviewing Andrew Smith

1. What made you interested in and then join the rural studies program?
For me the name says it all. I grew up in and was able to worked for Charlton County. This
experience gave me inside look at the chronic issues facing my rural home, from providing a
quality education and healthcare to the masses to developing an economy that works for
everyone. This view along with a passion for serving others is what peaked my interest in the
program and showed that it was tailor made for my interests.
2. What opportunities did the RS program have for you?
The wide array of courses offered, the interaction with engaging faculty and the program's
flexibility provided me the opportunity to shape my education into what I needed to prepare
myself. Coming in I knew I wanted to focus on the public policy aspect of the program. The
courses I took gave me a strong foundation in analyzing how policy makers effect aspects of
rural life. All of this was accomplished through instructors that loved their course subject and
took a genuine interest in the accomplishments of the students. Additionally, the ability to mold
the program to suit my needs gave me the ability to chase a long held dream and help bring a
rural focus to an urban centric organization.
3. What are you doing now?
Currently I am the Deputy Director of Operations for the Georgia Senate Democratic Caucus.
This is a continuation of my service to them during the previous session. My assigned duties
include preparing the daily briefing materials for caucus members, preparing questions on
legislation, producing needed researching of pressing topics, creating fact sheets, talking points,
questions and writing speeches. Additionally, I help with spreading our message through social
media.