Student Profile: Mary Jessica Simon

Economics major Mary Jessica Simon, C'2008, is an aspiring political leader and non-profit director. Since 2005, she has served a public servant in her community.

While at Spelman, Simon served the community as a United Parcel Service Scholar and a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority. She has developed leadership skills by participating in the Spelman Women Empowered through Professional Training program, the Civic Engagement Fellows Program and the Women of Excellence Leadership Series program.

Simon is actively involved in the Democratic presidential campaign process. While volunteering on Senator Barack Obama’s campaign, Simon was selected to participate in "Camp Obama" for extensive interpersonal training for grassroots campaign organizing throughout the congressional districts of Georgia. She was also appointed as the coordinator for the canvassing committee for Atlanta's South Fulton area.

Her political training includes internships with The National Center for Human Rights Education, the Public Defender Services' office of the District of Columbia, and the congressional district office of Congressman John Lewis.

Simon, who was also selected to participate in programs such as the Shepherd Poverty Alliance Program, the Public Leadership Education Network Women in Congress Seminar, and the Public Leadership Education Network Women in Public Policy Seminar, enjoys serving the public as an advocate for human rights. For the past several years, she has devoted her services to The National Center for Human Rights Education and as an intern investigator for the Public Defender Services' office.

She has also grasped the opportunity to interact with elite members of the United States Congress while attending the Public Leadership Education Network Seminars.   Simon received Congressional recognition awards from the office of Congressman John Lewis and Obama for America.   Simon plans to purse a master's degree in public administration and a Jurist Doctorate.