Staffer Spotlight
Oh, You Should Talk to Brooklyn Souza
Want to meet the Press Assistant whose most essential piece of office equipment is a space heater?
Oh, you should talk to Brooklyn Souza!
Brooklyn Souza is the Press Assistant for Rep. Mike Rulli (OH-06). She grew up in Massachusetts, went to college in Louisiana, and now spends her days telling the story of eastern Ohio.
Brooklyn came to Washington for the reason a lot of people do, and says it more plainly than most.
“I’m a proud conservative who believes in America First, secure borders, traditional values, and protecting the freedoms that make this country great. I want to help fight for the future of our country and the principles that make America exceptional.”
After graduating from LSU with a degree in political science, she moved to D.C. and started as an intern in Rep. Clay Higgins’ office. That summer settled the question of what came next: it “confirmed that I wanted to pursue a career in politics.”
She joined Rep. Rulli’s office as a Staff Assistant, then moved over to communications. “Now I get to combine my love of politics, writing, and media while helping tell the story of our office and the people we represent in Ohio.”
As for the boss, her reason for liking the job has less to do with the work and more to do with the person at the top of the org chart.
“I really enjoy working for Rep. Rulli because he is such a down-to-earth and genuine member. He truly cares about his staff and makes an effort to know the people he works with, not just what they do in the office.”
Her Backstory
- 🏠 HometownWinchester, Massachusetts
- 🎓 College & MajorLouisiana State University (Political Science)
- 🏛️ Time in D.C.Two years, a year and a half of it on the Hill
- 💭 Favorite Hill MemoryThe Congressional Baseball Game: “It’s such a fun tradition that brings everyone together outside of the usual day-to-day work on the Hill.”
More About Brooklyn
🔗 CNCT with Brooklyn about…
- 🐶 Benjamin: Her Jack Russell Terrier, of whom she is openly and unapologetically “obsessed”.
- ⛷️ Skiing in New England: Usually at Sunday River in Maine.
- 🇮🇹 Italy: Her someday trip.
- 📺 The Sopranos: Her favorite show.
Roll With the Punches
Ask Brooklyn for the most valuable skill on the Hill and she doesn’t hesitate.
“Adaptability, without a doubt. Especially in communications, things can change quickly, and you have to be ready to pivot.”
Anyone in a press shop knows the version of this she’s describing. A release gets drafted, polished, approved by two people, and then the news cycle moves and it goes in the folder of things that will never see daylight.
“You might spend hours working on something that suddenly needs to be changed or dropped altogether. I’ve learned not to take that personally, to roll with the punches, and to focus on getting the job done.”
That’s something every comms staffer on the Hill has to come to terms with.
“Being reliable and staying calm under pressure will take you a long way on the Hill.”
❤️ Brooklyn’s Favorites
- Coffee SpotBlank Street
- BarThe Brig
- Happy HourKing Street Oyster Bar
- Lunch SpotBullfeathers
- TV ShowThe Sopranos
- MovieOppenheimer
Brooklyn’s Capitol Corner
- 🥪 Cafeteria OrderThe BLT from Madison Café
- 📝 Best Out-of-Office WorkplaceHer apartment rooftop, weather permitting
- 👔 Hill Closet, Sponsored byJ.Crew
- 💎 Hidden GemAMBAR
- 🔥 Hill Holy GrailHer space heater. Anyone who has worked in a House office building in February understands.
- 🍽️ Go-To OrderLobster ravioli from Florentine Café in Boston
- 🍹 Go-To DrinkA Chambord spritz from Lobby Bar
Off the Clock
Brooklyn’s end-of-week reset is refreshingly low-key: Sleepytime tea, a clean apartment, and a good show to binge. Sleepytime tea and The Sopranos is a combination we didn’t expect.
✈️ Travel
Her favorite spot so far is 30A, Florida: “beautiful beaches, cute beach towns, and the perfect place to relax.” Next on the list is Italy, where she wants to explore the history, eat the food, and connect with her family roots.
📚 Brooklyn’s Reading List
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
- The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow
Advice to Young Staffers
The best advice Brooklyn has ever received is the kind every new staffer needs and almost nobody follows on day one.
“You don’t have to know everything, but you do have to be willing to learn. Especially on the Hill, things move fast and you’re constantly learning as you go. Be willing to ask questions, take advice from people with more experience, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.”
And the part worth printing out and taping to the monitor:
“You’ll get a lot further by being hardworking and willing to learn than by pretending you have everything figured out.”
– Brooklyn Souza