Olivia Wales ’21
When Olivia Wales ’21 arrived at TCU from Fayetteville, Arkansas, she was exploring colleges outside her home state for the first time. Growing up near the University of Arkansas campus, she had plenty of friends who would have made staying in-state easy.
“I knew I would have a lot of friends if I went to Arkansas, and it would be very comfortable,” she said.
But Wales wanted something different, a chance to challenge herself and explore new opportunities. A last-minute visit to TCU and an invitation to interview for the Chancellor’s Scholarship changed everything.
“I really liked the size of the school, the city of Fort Worth and the opportunities at Schieffer,” she said. “When I got the scholarship, I knew this was home.”
Today, Wales is putting her Schieffer College and John V. Roach Honors College education to work in one of the highest-pressure communications environments in the country as an assistant press secretary in the White House press office. There, she started as a White House press assistant where she managed logistics for the presidential press pool, ensured reporters had access and were in the right place to cover events ranging from Oval Office speeches to international travel. Now, she works as an assistant press secretary where she supports White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in shaping messaging.
“Every day is a new adventure,” she said.
At TCU, Wales immersed herself in campus life. She worked for TCU 360, starting as a teleprompter operator on TCU News Now in her first year. She later became managing editor, where she wrote long-form pieces on students, faculty and her own experience of studying abroad in Spain during COVID and her journey to return home. She produced social media coverage for TCU football and basketball, including a trip to Madison Square Garden for the National Invitational Tournament Final Four.
Olivia Wales pictured with President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office.
“I loved that TCU gave me the chance to try everything and find where I fit,” she said. “I learned how to lead organizations, write powerful pieces and tell stories that matter.”
After graduation, Wales began her postgraduate career in political communications with the governor’s office in Arkansas, traveling across the state on the campaign trail to meet residents in all 75 counties.
“I never expected to see the entire state of Arkansas on a red RV across Arkansas, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said. “I saw more of my state than I ever had, learned from one of the best and met so many people.”
Her prior experience included a 2019 internship in the White House Digital Strategy Office, where she gained technical skills in social media, videography, photography and digital strategy, while getting a firsthand look at how Washington operates.
“I got to shadow photographers and videographers, draft articles and learn a lot about the digital side of communications,” she said. “It planted the seed for me to want to come back to D.C.”
Wales credits networking and mentorship as critical to her career path.
Olivia Wales pictured with White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt and others.
“I’m a huge people person, and I just love getting to know people,” she said. “I’ve stayed in touch with professors and mentors from TCU, especially Instructor Russell Mack, who shared his experience in communications and politics and continues to be a great mentor for me.”
Her advice to current students is straightforward:
“Be the hardest worker in the room. Pursue opportunities even if they weren’t part of your original plan. Listen, learn and take advantage of the experiences in front of you,” she said. “You never know where they might lead.”