Avery Dunlap
Economics; Public & Nonprofit Administration
Class of 2026
From Edmond, Oklahoma
Q: This summer, you threw yourself into studying for the LSAT and earned a high score. What motivated you to change your course and aim for a future in law?
Law school was never my plan. Look at me now! My future career plans are to work in government affairs on the state level. In the Spring semester of 2024, I interned in the Senate Majority Floor Leader’s office for 20 hours a week during legislative session. This experience allowed me to gain advice from those in the roles I hope to obtain and pushed me towards law school. If it weren’t for my experience at the State Capitol, I would not have had the confidence needed to pursue law school. A law degree will help me to better analyze legislation and discover achievable solutions to Oklahoma's problems.
Q: What was it like working as a project intern with the Oklahoma State Chamber?
I worked for a different department within the Chamber each week and was able to help with many projects that spanned across the Chamber. In my first few weeks, I aided in the planning and helped carry out our annual meeting, which had 500-plus attendees who were leaders in business, government, and local communities. I was also able to meet with Chambers from across the state and learn about their local business infrastructures. These experiences and many others in the political world taught me so much of what I could do with my OU degree.
Q: How did this internship enhance your understanding of the relationship between business and state government?
My internship helped me understand the true importance of advocacy. Many business owners are too busy running their businesses to worry about legislation being passed in Oklahoma City. The Chamber fills that gap and works hard to meet with businesses across the state to gain an understanding of the business culture throughout Oklahoma. The Chamber takes what they learn to the Capitol to better advocate for or against business legislation to support business owners.
Q: What skills did you develop during your internship that will be valuable in your future career?
The skill of networking is something I have been developing throughout various internships and the State Chamber enhanced it even more. When I say networking, I mean the skill of finding connections to people and building a web of connections from a single conversation through mutual connections and experiences. This skill is vital in the realm of politics and I hope I can continue to build this skill through my classes and future internships.
Q: How has this summer helped you prepare for the next steps in your academic and professional journey?
This summer made me more future-focused. It gave me a real vision of the next five to ten years of my life and offered me a direction in pursuing a career. This preparation can also be seen in the specific electives I will be taking at OU this semester, adding a minor of Constitutional Studies to my degree program, and pursuing specific internships for next summer!
