Hillary Beard ’12 and Robyn Gulley ’20 first met at Birmingham-Southern’s Honors Day in 2019. In her keynote speech that day, Beard described how BSC prepared her to work for U.S. Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-Ala.) as senior policy advisor. She spoke movingly of seeing raw sewage in poor rural areas of Alabama’s Black Belt – a significant part of Sewell’s district – and what it showed her about how decisions in Washington impact people locally. At the event, Gulley, almost finished with her junior year, was honored with the Guy and Patricia Hubbs Award for her commitment to service and academic excellence.

Beard’s speech resonated with Gulley, and they have stayed in touch ever since. Now, they are colleagues in Sewell’s Washington, DC. office – Beard as chief of staff since December 2020, and Gulley as a legislative correspondent since March 2021.

Beard has worked with Sewell for more than nine years, first as a congressional intern, then in several press and legislative roles over the years. “Every day, I learn new things about her, our district, and our government,” Beard says about working with the Congresswoman. “I’ve learned a lot about her way of thinking, her voice, and how she will respond to various issues and scenarios. Regardless, she and the work we do keeps us on our toes and reminds us to always be prepared to respond to and mitigate surprises, which are common fixtures in Washington. Adaptability is paramount.”

Beard considers Sewell one of her most valued guides, along with Dr. Natalie Davis, professor emerita of political science, and Libby Greer ’98, partner at Forbes Tate Partners in Washington, D.C. Both Davis and Greer are reflective of how BSC – through Beard’s education and experiences at the College – and its alumni network have supported her and helped shape her trajectory.

When Beard came to BSC from Guntersville as a pre-med major, she quickly figured out that she was drawn to courses focused on policy, poverty, the economy, and other social sciences over her chemistry and biology track.

“I was much more interested in the policy aspect of medicine from the get-go,” she says. “It was around the same time that the Affordable Care Act was being debated in Congress, and I was glued to the television.”

A graduate of Ramsay High School in Birmingham, Gulley also studied political science at BSC – one of her favorite courses was Black Political Thought with Dr. Desirée Melonas – and she draws on that knowledge in her role on Sewell’s team. She also draws from her experiences working with Woke Vote and as a field organizer with the Democratic Party of Georgia, a position she held during the 2020 Presidential election and the U.S. Senate run-off in Georgia.

Gulley writes letters every day, responding to constituents who have reached out about policy issues or other concerns. “It’s my job to do research so I can respond to those constituents and give them information, but also to speak on behalf of the Congresswoman as a response to them, letting them know that their concerns really do matter and she is taking them into account,” she says.

Gulley worked in Sewell’s field office before moving to D.C. this summer, and she loved getting to work in the district.

“During my time in the district office, I was able to go to Selma for the Jubilee Weekend,” she says. “I also assisted the Congresswoman at different events, making sure she had everything that she needed. It was interesting having a chance to see what the district team is doing on the ground.”

As chief of staff, Beard manages a team of individuals with a diverse range of skills and backgrounds and keeps up with the Congresswoman’s network and relationships. She also oversees the office’s recommendations for U.S. Attorneys, federal judges, U.S. Marshals, and other appointments that go to the President, among other crucial work for the team and district.

“What has increased over time is my realization of how much that relationships and garnering trust matter,” Beard says. “On the policy front, we’re always looking at and drafting legislation and working with other congressional offices, committees, federal agencies, and stakeholders. You need input from all of those entities, and your relationships can make or break your ability to get a bill or policy change across the finish line.”

Both Beard and Gulley recognize the importance of the district itself and of establishing meaningful connections with the communities Sewell represents. Gulley remains in constant communication with constituents, and Beard says that the best part of her job is the time she spends with leaders in Alabama.

“The biggest privilege of the job has been meeting people in the district and having the honor to spend time with Civil Rights leaders like Sarah Collins Rudolph or F.D. Reese,” Beard says. “The events that happened in this district – Selma, Birmingham, Montgomery – have shaped so much of this country’s trajectory and all of us are better off because of their contributions. I find myself speechless, unable to muster up words worthy of their presence.”

McCullough at graduation with her mother, Kristie Cloud McCullough ’90.

On August 30, another BSC graduate joined the Sewell team – Harrison Honors Scholar and religion major Trammell McCullough ’21, who started an internship in the D.C. office. “It’s been a lifelong dream to work on the Hill,” she wrote in a LinkedIn update, “and I could not be more excited for this amazing opportunity.”

BSC graduates work in roles all over the nation’s capital and on both sides of the aisle. Read more about them in the upcoming issue of ’Southern.

This story was included in a special social sciences edition of From the Hilltop, Birmingham-Southern’s alumni email newsletter.

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