Virginia Dent

It may have been fate that Virginia Dent wound up in Washington. 

As a public relations and speech communications double major at the University of Georgia, she was on her last day of a trip to the nation’s capital when her school group branched off to shadow workers in different offices. 

{mosads}“I was one of two people who came to the Hill, and I just fell in love with it.” 

When she popped into Sen. Johnny Isakson’s (R-Ga.) office that day, staff there said it just happened to be the last day to apply for an internship. 

“It was serendipitous. It was meant to be, it felt like,” said Dent. 

While destiny might be credited with getting her to D.C., it was hard work that ultimately landed Dent her current job as press secretary to Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). Her role in Fischer’s office has led to some memorable moments, such as one time she traveled to the Cornhusker State with her boss: “We toured a manufacturing plant, and at the end of our visit, I found myself driving a farm combine in full business attire, including high heels,” she said. 

Dent definitely ditches the pumps when she’s getting a sweat session in. Though she said it’s hard to keep a regular routine at the gym with her work schedule, the Pilates fan says she “loves” getting outside, “whether it’s talking, or going for a run somewhere in D.C.” 

The Georgia native also enjoys getting out of town; she’s an avid traveler who’s in the process of planning her next overseas adventure with a group of friends. 

And making itineraries isn’t the only thing Dent’s working on these days — the foodie is attempting to improve her culinary skills. Her mom, who Dent calls an “amazing cook,” gifted her with a cooking encyclopedia last Christmas. “I’m trying to learn from the master,” she said with a grin. 

She’s not currently dating anyone, and Dent says it would take “a really thoughtful” suitor to sweep her off her feet. An ideal outing would include “a really great dinner at a really great restaurant” with “a fun plan for after dinner. It’s not just go-with-the-flow.” 

And although she prefers her dates to do a little legwork, she’s leaving her own life plans up in the air. She says for the future, “I hope to be growing in communications, developing my skills, and learning all I can on the Hill, and taking opportunities as they hopefully come.”

— Judy Kurtz