Connor Polston

Digital Fellow at Mothership Strategies | Former International Development Group LLC Senior Associate | Virginia Tech Alumna

United States

About

Connor Polston recently served as a Senior Associate at International Development Group LLC (IDG), supporting government-funded projects and new business proposals around the world. She contributed to projects in economic growth, governance, building public-private partnerships, and women’s economic empowerment initiatives. Connor is currently seeking roles in project management, policy, and communications. She loves research and writing, analyzing international and domestic politics, and building relationships across sectors and cultures. She’s motivated by work that drives tangible impact and advances equity and accountability. She earned her bachelor’s degree in National Security and Foreign Affairs from Virginia Tech, where she studied the rise of fascism, the evolution of global democracy, and international systems. One of her favorite experiences was studying abroad in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland, through the European Affairs in a Global Context program, which explored European politics, diplomacy, and international institutions. Previously, she served as a Research and Legislative Intern for former Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr., conducting policy research and tracking legislative developments on issues ranging from healthcare access to tax policy. Skills: Project Coordination, Proposal Development, Research, Technical Writing, Policy Analysis, Political Science, International Development, Interviewing, Event Organizing, Financial Planning, Budget Management, Procurement, Communications, Social Media Strategy, Stakeholder Engagement, Scheduling, Deliverable Tracking Let’s connect! Feel free to reach out at [email protected] 📬 Follow her political writing on Substack: https://substack.com/@connorelsie

Experience

  • Digital Fellow at Mothership Strategies
    Apr 2026 - Present · 3 mos

  • International Development Group LLC (IDG) (1 yr 7 mos)
    • Senior Associate
      Jan 2025 - Mar 2025 · 3 mos

      Indefinitely furloughed due to USAID closure

    • Project Coordinator
      Nov 2023 - Jan 2025 · 1 yr 3 mos

      • Oversee daily operations of multiple international development projects, including processing invoices, completing annual and monthly financial plannings, managing budget, developing project work plans, and tracking progress towards deliverables. • Manage urgent requests and communication between clients, stakeholders, and government partners. • Provide technical research, writing, and data analysis support for contract deliverables. • Collaborate with field office and manager to plan various events and conferences, through booking flights, creating event schedules, communicating with attendees and stakeholders, and assisting in venue procurement. • Draft visually compelling PowerPoints and progress reports to effectively communicate complex project information to clients, ensuring clarity and accuracy.

    • Projects and Proposals Intern
      Sep 2023 - Nov 2023 · 3 mos

      • Responsible for supporting new business development through research, proposal coordination, and logistics. • Projects I assisted on: Caribbean Business Environment Reform Activity (CBEE-R), Technical Assistance Project for Economic Growth (TAP-EG), Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA) Zimbabwe and Egypt

  • Research and Legislative Intern at U.S. House of Representatives
    Sep 2022 - Dec 2022 · 4 mos

    • Composed key summary briefs of the Cancer Equity Act and the PROTECT program. • Provided research and analysis to the Congressman on the Lënapehòkink Cultural Heritage Homelands Fellowship, securing funding for the tribe. • Authored co-sponsored memos for a variety of bills, including the Puerto Rico Status Act ( H.R. 8393). • Analyzed bi-partisan dynamics through understanding committees and prior voting patterns.

  • Non-Profit Intern at The Family One
    May 2022 - Aug 2022 · 4 mos

    • Collaborated and designed a comprehensive website through Wix with a user-friendly layout that boosted website traffic and led to an increase in online donations. • Maximized their social media presence by posting the founder's and students' stories and promoting their different events.

  • Administrative Assistant at Virginia Cancer Specialists, P.C.
    Jun 2020 - Jan 2021 · 8 mos

    • Conducted check-ins, scheduled appointments, and maintained records. • Effectively communicated complex medical terminology, facilitating seamless collaboration. • Ensured HIPAA compliance and data protection for patient confidentiality.