Jessica Payne '01

Recent Longwood graduate Jessica Payne is the 2001 AT&T Scholar for Virginia.

As a result of her selection, Jessica, a political science major from Charlottesville, attended the Stennis Center's Southern Women in Public Service: Coming Together to Make a Difference conference May 19-22 in New Orleans. AT&T sponsors the annual conference, which brings together women leaders working at the federal, state and local levels and pays for all of the scholar's expenses.

"Jessica epitomizes the program," said Wilma McCarey, the president of AT&T for Virginia. "Her peers and superiors speak highly of her leadership abilities. She is a role model for young leaders and has made significant contributions to her school community."

Jessica will enroll this fall at Bowling Green State University in Ohio where she plans to earn a master's degree in college student personnel. She wants to earn a doctorate and pursue a career in higher education administration. She was senior class president, a resident assistant, an intern for the dean of students, and a member of Phi Kappa Phi national honor society and Mortar Board.

The conference, held this year for the third time, encourages and aids women already in public service to move up the leadership ladder, and it also seeks to attract more women to public service careers. Speakers this year included former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and former Attorney General Janet Reno.