ACCG Welcomes 2015 Summer Interns

From left to right: Kelly Parry, Sam Johnson and Elijah Anderson.

Kelly Parry is a Georgia native and a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. After completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology, Parry taught as an elementary school English language instructor in Istanbul, Turkey. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University (GSU) with a concentration in management and finance. Kelly also works as a Graduate Research Assistant with GSU’s Center for State and Local Finance. A resident of Reynoldstown, Parry enjoys keeping up with Atlanta’s art and music communities and taking spontaneous road trips. Through her internship this summer, Parry is excited to enhance her understanding of county finance and administration and learn as much as she can from ACCG staff. Over the course of her internship, Parry will compile statistics for and assist in updating the ACCG SPLOST Guide, research veto powers for county chairmen, assist in the update of statewide revenue and expenditure data through survey and research methods, write reports and prepare statics for the Georgia County Internship Program, attend meetings and provide additional research assistance as needed.

Sam Johnson is an Atlanta native, has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia (UGA) and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration from UGA, as well. During his tenure as an undergrad, Johnson worked in both the legislative and executive branches of Georgia’s government, gaining a well-rounded knowledge of the law-making process and how it affects the state’s small governments. In addition to his experience in both the public and private sector, he has also worked on a statewide campaign for the U.S. Senate, gaining firsthand experience of Georgia’s vast array of counties. In his spare time, Johnson enjoys kayaking, playing drums, reading science fiction books and touring local college campuses. During his internship, Johnson will assist the research and policy staff by updating and verifying information for new ACCG publications, updating county data through research and survey methods on timber tax collections and county airport data, attend policy meetings and provide general research assistance.

Elijah Anderson is a Master of Public Administration candidate attending Georgia State University. Born and raised in Metro Atlanta, Anderson obtained his undergraduate degree in political science at Georgia Southern University. During his time at Georgia Southern, he was awarded scholarships to participate in study abroad trips to the countries of Egypt, Albania, Greece, Montenegro and Kosovo. Now working toward his Master’s degree, Anderson is living in downtown Atlanta and working as a Graduate Research Assistant at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. When not studying, he enjoys traveling, reading and exploring north Georgia’s hiking trails. As an intern for ACCG, Anderson’s goal is to understand the intricacies involved with local government and learning what it takes to become an effective public manager. During his internship, Anderson will prepare a research paper exploring the differences between cities and counties, assist in the update of statewide county data through survey and research methods, update the Georgia State Firefighters Association (GSFA) Statistical Directory and provide assistance with the GSFA awards program, update county notice and reporting requirements, attend meetings and provide additional research assistance as assigned.