Max Seltzer

Major: Political Science

Certificates: Digital Studies & Entrepreneurship

Graduation Date: May 2019

How did you end up working at the U.S. House of Representatives?

Like most jobs in Washington DC, you cannot start applying until you actually move to the city. So I moved to DC without a job, but I had a solid professional network which I had developed through summer internships and alumni connections.

Using this network as a base, I got my first job as an Associate at a corporate lobbying firm, ACG Advocacy. I worked at ACG for three years, focusing on a variety of issue areas and eventually becoming a Senior Legislative Aide and the team lead for the Transportation division. In this role, I represented numerous clients in their advocacy efforts in Congress and relevant executive agencies.

Following my tenure at ACG, I decided it was time to transition to the public sector. My first stop was working in the US Senate as a Professional Staff Member for the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. After a change in the committee’s leadership following the 2022 election, I transitioned to the House of Representatives, serving as a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Derrick Van Orden, representing Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District. In this role, I am in charge of the Congressman’s position on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

What does a typical day in the office look like for you?

My day includes so many different things. On a typical day, I might be doing any of the following:

• Developing floor vote recommendations
• Conducting legislative research
• Writing briefing memos
• Performing other legislative functions

I also work with executive agencies, advocacy organizations, and other outside groups to accomplish the Congressman’s legislative goals.

How has Digital Studies influenced your career path?

A big part of a congressional staff position is being able to do quick, concise, and accurate research. Through my Political Science major, I practiced a variety of more formal means of research. However, when you are in the real world, there isn’t time for this type of long-form, thought-out research. I often get policy questions from the Congressman and have to provide a concise, and more importantly, accurate, answer to the inquiry in under 60 seconds. This near-instant research skill is what I think has been the biggest benefit I learned from my Digital Studies Certificate. Having a thorough understanding of how to navigate modern digital information tools has given me a leg up in this field where information changes by the second, and an inaccurate answer can win or lose an election.

Did you have a favorite Digital Studies class when you were a student?

My favorite Digital Studies class was Communication Arts 509: Digital Media & Political Communication with Professor Mike Xenos. This class looked into the ways that digital media frames the biases that voters bring to their political beliefs.

Do you have any advice for current students?

My advice to current students is to not be afraid of networking. The unfortunate reality of our world is that jobs are not won or lost based on talent or merit, but rather on the human connections you are able to make and leverage when needed. Never be afraid to make a connection with someone, even if you feel awkward about it. Remember that everyone loves to talk about themselves, so simply asking someone about their work or their interests can keep a conversation going longer than you might think.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career thus far?

As part of the annual congressional budget process, there is an opportunity for congressional offices to request direct funding for specific infrastructure projects in our district. I was extremely proud to have gotten upwards of $20 million dollars in funding earmarked for the FY 2023 budget directed toward 15 different projects across Wisconsin’s Third Congressional District. In a budget of trillions of dollars, these may sound like small numbers. But to a township of 300 people, this money is the difference in whether the town has clean drinking water or a school to send their children to everyday.