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JENNA KOVALSKY

17 September 2012 Dear Ms. Kozberg: I would like to express my interest in the RAND Corporation and the Strategic Communications Analyst position available at your Santa Monica office. This spring I will be graduating from the University of Southern California with degrees in both Public Relations and International Relations. Dan Schnur, a former professor of mine and the Director of the USC Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, referred me to you. First and foremost, you should know that I am a writer. Youll be hard-pressed to find someone crazier about details, aesthetics, or Oxford commas. I have always played with words like it's my jobor like I want it to bebecause I am fascinated by the weight that they can carry. In my mind, good writing has the power to build strong reputations, mobilize people toward worthwhile causes, and ultimately make a profound impact on public opinion. I hope to make a career using words to do just this, because I am a firm believer in the idea that with the right language and the right intentions, better communication has the potential to make a better world. This, combined with my concern for global policy, is in large part what draws me to the RAND Corporation. My deep-seated curiosity about conversations taking place everywhere from a college campus to the international stage has led me to write for Neon Tommy, the most visited student web publication in the United States, as well as most recently for msnNOW, Microsofts online initiative to capture trending topics. While both experiences afforded me the opportunity to experiment with my writing and further develop my voice, they also fueled my passion for research. By gauging the public interest and reacting accordingly, I have discovered the wonders of strategic, incisive communication and come to understand how influential design and structure can be in making information accessible to a large audience. Between my professional background and my studies in public and international relations, I feel that I am equipped with the skills necessary to be a successful Strategic Communications Analyst at RAND. While my coursework in global politics has taught me how to craft policy proposals backed by analytical research, through Annenberg I have constructed a comprehensive portfolio of press kits and multimedia materials. My internship experience at Wilson Public Relations put my technical skills to the test with its clients and gave me an even stronger understanding of the power of social media as it pertains to maximizing organizational interests. Interning in the media department at an NGO while studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic did the same, but also exposed me to the way it must operate within the non-profit sector. I truly believe that my personal strengths and passions would align well with a career in strategic communications at RAND because I very much identify with the work that your research organization does. I would love the opportunity to further discuss with you my qualifications, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Jenna Kovalsky

(c) 425.301.6171 (e) kovalsky@usc.edu (w) www.jennakovalsky.com