Kimberly Bowers, '05, Gets An Offer She Can't Refuse

What’s it like to get an offer you can’t refuse?

Kimberly Bowers, ’05, knows the answer to that question thanks to a phone call she received in 2007 from the secretary of the commonwealth.

“Secretary Kate Hanley called me and said, ‘The governor would like to know if you want to be director of appointments?’ It really was an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Bowers recalled.

The political science major and leadership studies minor knew she wanted a career in politics, and she knew that she admired Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and enjoyed working with him. During her time at the University of Richmond she was a finance intern for him when he was lieutenant governor, so the answer seemed obvious.

Despite working in admissions at the University of Richmond for eight months after graduation and then working as a fundraiser in northern Virginia and later on a gubernatorial campaign in Maryland, Kaine never forgot her.

“The governor has a great memory. He would see me at an event and remember to say hi,” Bowers said.
        Kimberly Bowers, her boyfriend Anthony Dale and Gov. Tim Kaine                                                                  

As an intern, Bowers was able to see what it was like to run a campaign. She worked closely with Kaine and the finance director, did cold-calling and helped set up fundraising meetings.

Now as the director of gubernatorial appointments, Bowers solicits and assesses candidates for appointments to policy, supervisory and advisory boards, commissions and councils in state government. She presents candidates to Kaine, who then appoints people to boards throughout the Commonwealth.

“On any given day, I may be talking with board administrators about board members, speaking with legislators about constituents they would like to see appointed, reading applications of citizens who have an interest in serving on a board, preparing paperwork and making sure that all boards and commissions under my purview have full participation, looking for someone to recommend to fill a vacancy or doing outreach at events getting to know people who I may later consider for board appointments,” Bowers said. “Every day there is something different.”
   
Bowers also says her Jepson education prepared her for the job and inspired her to be an agent of change.

“The Jepson School allowed me the opportunity to study concepts, challenge ideas and ask tough thought-provoking questions within the classroom setting,” she said. “Now that I’m in the real world, I am able to see how things play out in everyday life. My Service to Society class (now called Justice and Civil Society) with Nancy Stutts encouraged me to look at the bigger social picture and tackle tough issues.”

The varied nature and challenge of working in politics is a perfect fit for Bowers. Although Bowers said that she never expected to be in a role like this at such a young age, she relishes the opportunity and the fast-paced environment.           Bowers with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

She also feels certain that she picked the right career for her.

Bowers admits that she has always been obsessed – her word – with politics. She was involved in student government and helped out on local races when she was younger. “I liked politics even in elementary school,” Bowers said with a laugh. “I wanted to be a city manager when I was in middle school and high school. I guess I was a bit of a political nerd.”

Political nerds, as it turns out in Bowers case, get to meet world leaders. She met House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a congressional black caucus gala. “She was great,” Bowers said. “I waited to meet her and told her that she was an inspiration to me as a woman in politics.”

She has also met presidential hopeful Barack Obama several times.

Despite working for Kaine and meeting leaders such as Pelosi, Obama, Bill Clinton and Madeline Albright, Bowers knows that politics isn’t all glamorous.

“My first job was working out of someone’s basement in a house for a month. I worked on a card table with lots of dog hair,” Bowers recalled.                                Bowers, Barak Obama and                                                                                                                                                                  her mother, Gracie Bowers  The first day on the job, she showed up in pearls and her best dress clothes. She soon realized her mistake. “I was one of two females working with a bunch of guys who clearly weren’t focused on fashion or personal grooming,” Bowers recalled. “It definitely was a bit of a frat house scene.”

Not that she’s complaining.

“I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything,” she said. “When I finally had a real office and a real desk, I appreciated it so much more.”

The call of politics, after all, has long been one she couldn’t resist answering.