Tim Ranstrom ’05, an aide to U.S. Congressman Richard Neal, D-Springfield, delivered a talk April 6 titled “From history major (music minor) to Capitol Hill: A conversation with Tim Ranstrom.”
Ranstrom has worked in Congressman Richard E. Neal’s D.C. office for 15 years. As a legislative assistant/scheduler, he frequently contacts the offices of Congress members, the speaker of the House, and members of the Biden administration. He shared his journey from Westfield State to Capitol Hill and reflected on how what he learned at Westfield—about a historical perspective, research, writing analysis, and performance—prepared him for his current position.
When asked about how Washington works, Ranstrom spoke of relationships and the perks of attending special events, such as President Obama’s inauguration. “Capitol Hill is all about relationships,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed interacting with many individuals, including Hillary Clinton when she was a senator. She always called herself and was very polite.”
Ranstrom also responded to a question about how to land a position in the field. “If you want to work in government or politics, they would like you to have some experience, so internships are recommended,” Ranstrom shared. “Volunteering, on either the political or the government side, is also a great way to gain hands-on experience to work with the public.”