Sister Spotlight: Rachel Bourgeois, Phi

For Rachel Bourgeois, Phi, politics and policy are in her blood. Her grandfather was an alderman in Kenner, Louisiana. “When he passed away while still in office, my grandmother finished out his term,” she recalls. “I guess you could say it’s a family tradition!”

Rachel currently works on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. “We hold public hearings, which sometimes leads to legislation.” Rachel explains. “And we also hold local hearings to get the local perspective in the states represented by Senators on the committee. I help coordinate those, which means I have to stay ahead of what members are interested in doing and what’s going on around the Capitol. It’s an interesting process overall!”

Rachel was drawn to this work by current-National Vice President Jamie Jones Miller, Psi, during the 2010 Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. At the time, Jamie was Legislative Director for Congressman Rob Wittman of Virginia, and is currently his Chief of Staff.

“I had crossed paths with Jamie before, when I was an Educational Consultant for the Sorority,” Rachel says. “At Convention, I happened to sit across the table from her at dinner, and asked her all sorts of questions. She asked if I would be interested in an internship with Congressman Wittman’s office and, after finishing grad school, I jumped at the chance.”

In D.C., Rachel reached out to other AΣT Sisters at the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter, including the chapter’s President Carol Mooney, to see if a member could help with housing. “I received numerous offers, including from Charlotte Floyd [Psi], with whom I ended up staying.” Rachel recalls. “I was amazed that these women were offering their homes to me all because I was a Sister looking to intern on the Hill. I am so grateful for their hospitality!”

After her internship, Rachel went on to work full-time on the Congressman’s staff, and stayed with Charlotte until she could find a permanent home. In fact, her first week was in October 2013 during the government shutdown. “It was quite the welcome,” recalls Rachel. “I remember thinking ‘am I even going to get paid?”. But looking back, I now always have a great story to tell!”

Rachel credits a lot of her career success to her willingness to reach out and tap into her Alpha Sigma Tau network. “I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Jamie, Charlotte, and so many others,” says Rachel. “My advice to anyone who’s graduating or looking for work is this: don’t forget the relationships you have with your Sorority Sisters – local, national, or even the family members of your Sisters. You never know where that next opportunity will come from. So create those relationships. Have those conversations. Take advantage of who you’re in the room with and get their stories. Start the conversation.”

And now that Rachel is on the other side of table? “I believe in paying it forward,” she says. “I’m the Chapter Consultant for Psi Chapter at James Madison University.  When we had an opening for an intern, I shared that with my Psi Sisters and, am happy to report, got one of them to take the role!”

“I am so grateful for the support I received from my Sisters over the years,” concludes Rachel. “I sincerely hope to continue doing the same for any Sorority Sister looking to pursue their dreams!”