Bringing TU to the White House
Senior Danielle McNerney spent the fall term as an intern with the White House Communications Department
By Kyle Hobstetter on May 2, 2024
Like most kids growing up, Danielle McNerney ’24 was trying to find something she was passionate about. But unlike most 8-year-olds, McNerney found her answer on the nightly news.
Now a majoring in political science with minors in journalism and human rights and history, McNerney says she grew up wanting to work in news by watching the “NBC Nightly News” with Brian Williams every night with her dad.
Watching the famous anchor helped not only develop her love for storytelling but also provided her an example of how sharing stories can help build the community around her.
“I don't know why, but we would sit down and watch Brian Williams for 30 minutes and then go do all the things we needed to do at night,” McNerney says. “That was our routine. Watching him, I fell in love with journalists' ability to share stories and realized my big thing is sharing stories.”
“ I'm passionate about public service and leadership. And being able to be in classes that teach you about public service and then going into internships and applying skills has been so valuable. ”
McNerney also had a passion for helping people. And while journalism is helping share stories and build community, political science will help her understand how policy is made and affects peoples’ lives.
This past fall, McNerney found the perfect internship that combined her passion for journalism and politics: the Biden administration’s White House Communication Department.
In her position, she helped the department amplify the Biden administration’s voice while also learning how to use media, television and other outlets to publicize the administration’s policies and projects.
The opportunity came from one of her mass communication classes at TU. The professor posted on Blackboard that the White House Internship Program was accepting applications, and McNerney jumped at the chance.
“I was very honored to represent Towson University in Washington, D.C.,” McNerney says. “I was surrounded by young, passionate people who wanted to be of service and help make our country better.
“Being in an environment where every day you're talking to people about change, it was so inspiring.”
This was her second internship with the U.S. government in the span of the year. In spring 2023, McNerney also interned for Jamie Raskin, a member of U.S. House of Representatives.
McNerney credits Towson University for helping her get ready for two high-profile opportunities.
“It's just been incredible to be at a university where I feel they're helping me grow into the person I want to become,” she says. “I'm passionate about public service and leadership. And being able to be in classes that teach you about public service and then going into internships and applying skills has been so valuable.”
These are just a few of the external opportunities that McNerney has received while at TU. But it’s the internal ones that attracted her to TU in the first place.
When asked what made her choose Towson University, she quickly states being part of the Towson University Honors College helped seal the deal. She also liked that TU allowed her to jump into undergraduate research.
During her time at TU, she has conducted research on the Central Park Five, a group of teenagers who were incarcerated for a crime they did not commit. This has led her to present at research conferences through the country.
“I presented at the American Psychological Association Conference, which is meant for Ph.D. students and professionals, and there are not a lot of undergraduate students there,” McNerney says. “I’m so grateful to Towson University because they saw something in me and helped give me the tools to make my research come alive.”
More on Danielle McNerney
Cooking up success before TU
Her success isn’t anything new. When she was 13, McNerney won an episode of the Food Network competition show “Chopped Junior.”
With her winnings, she started her own business called Save The Moms, which created recipe cards that helped kids cook for themselves. She came up with the idea after her mom was diagnosed with cancer when McNerney was younger, and she wanted to help make healthy meals for her family.