Campus leader, future lawyer: Political science student builds case for success

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Since he was little, Asa Hollingsworth has been fascinated by politics. 

"I felt that the government is the biggest driver of change, and that is something I've always wanted to be a part of," says the Farmington Hills, Michigan, native.

Now approaching spring commencement on Saturday, April 26, with a bachelor's degree in political science nearly under his belt and a wealth of professional experience, the soon-to-be Western Michigan University alumnus is prepared to start making his mark.

Getting to work

An exemplar of Experience-Driven Learning, Hollingsworth built a resume full of impactful roles during his time at Western. One thing he's learned: It's about who you know. 

"My very first internship, the summer after my first year, I interned at the mayor's office in Dearborn (Michigan) because one of my instructors at the time worked for the city and had a connection. I met someone there that led me to work for the Michigan Department of Attorney General the next summer. So it set off a chain reaction of meeting people and networking."

That chain reaction led to a dizzying amount of developmental opportunities:

• As a communications fellow for the city of Dearborn, he conducted critical policy research and contributed to the city's strategic rebranding initiative.
• While interning with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, he had the opportunity to write press releases and draft quotes as well as help facilitate media requests and interviews.
• As an intern with the 30th Circuit Court in Lansing, Michigan, through Western's esteemed Capitol Interns Program, he drafted and prepared legal memorandums, compiled and organized trial binders, supported the law clerk as well as assisted as a bailiff on several occasions.
• In his role as a Mayoral Fellow for Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department, he created social media content to enhance outreach, updated and optimized the department's web presence and helped in the certification process for the Detroit Business Opportunity Program.
• In the lead up to the 2024 presidential election, he worked as a student fellow with For Michigan, managing voter registration tables and empowering students to take leadership in their communities to increase youth civic engagement.
• As a current intern at Hamilton Law, through the Broncos Lead Internship Program, he's getting a front-row seat to the justice system by building client relationships, reviewing legal documents and attending court proceedings.

"Getting so much hands-on experience has been amazing and really prepared me for the next steps in my career," says Hollingsworth, who will take the LSAT this summer and plans to attend law school. "I'd love to eventually be a lawyer for a regulatory agency."

A natural leader

While he's been busy putting the skills and knowledge he's honed in the classroom to work through internships, Hollingsworth has also been dedicated to engaging in a variety of ways on campus and being a catalyst for success for fellow Broncos.

For the past two years, he's worked in Multicultural Affairs for Students, where he is a tier two leader in the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars Academy who coaches and offers guidance to MLK scholars. "It's like a family there (in Multicultural Affairs for Students);  they're very supportive. Any time I need something or have a question, they're always there. They really care about what they do," he says, adding Sherrie Fuller, specialist of diversity education, has been instrumental in his development both personally and professionally.

Hollingsworth has grown his leadership skills in campus organizations like the Black Student Union (BSU), where he has served as both director of communication and president. He led the organization of a number of events and community service activities.

"BSU gave me a sense of belonging on campus. It helped me find my crowd," he says. After joining the organization's executive board, he used that platform to help other students thrive the way he has. "I have three goals when people join BSU: I want them to have fun, I want them to learn a little something and I want to make sure they graduate in a timely manner."

Hollingsworth also served on the executive board of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. 

Building a profile as a campus leader, WMU administrators have tapped Hollingsworth to moderate a number of discussions and events featuring prominent community and professional leaders, from WMU Trustee James Liggins Jr. in the President's Leadership Series to award-winning author and educator Ilyasah Shabazz and attorney and political commentator Bakari Sellers. 

"Those experiences reminded me of the power of service, advocacy and dialogue in driving change. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.'"

Hollingsworth also earned opportunities to travel all over the country, attending conferences from Milwaukee to Chicago to Dallas because of his leadership roles.

"Western was the right decision for me because there's a lot of opportunity and a lot of room to showcase who you are," he says. "I've always been confident, but here I've been empowered to always present my full, authentic self."

From emphasizing the importance of community impact to leading social justice initiatives and engaging with leaders on campus and beyond, Hollingsworth has made his mark on Western as much as it's made a mark on him.

"It's been transformative," he says. "I say it all the time, but college is what you make it. It's not just about learning and getting a degree—it's that plus learning life skills, how to live on your own, being involved and making things a little better for your community."

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