Emma Posey: A Cardinal at the Kentucky Capitol

By: Olivia Barclay,  UofL Class of '25, '27

February 4, 2026

When Emma Posey was scrolling through her LinkedIn feed during the fall semester of her sophomore year at the University of Louisville, she never expected that one click would change the trajectory of her summer. She saw a post from Team Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet advertising its summer internship program and decided to apply. 

Shortly after, Team Kentucky contacted Posey, hosted her for an interview, and offered her the role. Posey quickly accepted and spent that summer as the Social Media Intern for Team Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet. She managed the cabinet’s Instagram and Facebook accounts while creating stories and reels to boost follower engagement. Posey was also tasked with photography duties, which she admits were intimidating when a professional camera was handed to her with no prior experience. However, she knew that adding this to her resume would exemplify her problem-solving skills and adaptability. “I think it made me realize that a lot of the job market right now is not what you studied in school or what you’ve previously experienced. It’s what you’re willing to learn and what you’re dedicated to doing.” 

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The camera quickly became an extension of Posey herself, as she photographed popular tourist destinations as well as action shots of events. In fact, one of her favorite memories as an intern was the day she not only got to photograph but also meet Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “I got to photograph him at our annual tourism announcement, and that was where he announced that we had broken the previous records from the year before. After the event, I got to go up to him and introduce myself and take a picture,” she said with a smile. “It was very cool.”    

Posey felt prepared for her internship with Team Kentucky due to her involvement as an undergraduate at the University of Louisville. In the summer of 2024, she participated in the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) and conducted interviews with University of Louisville students who were present during the 1985 protest against South African apartheid. As a result of her research with the Braden Institute, Posey became familiar with the archives, how to search through the collections, and what to look for when reviewing primary sources. For Memorial Day, Posey took the initiative to highlight local history by drawing on her previous experiences. “I had to go through archives to get pictures of Kentucky veterans to put up on our social media, and that’s something I would not have been able to navigate if it weren’t for my research,” she said. 

Posey’s extensive talents stem from her involvement in student organizations. She is a proud member of the Engage Lead Serve Board, the Black and Brown Honors Society, and the Admissions Pathway Ambassadors. Her role in these organizations provided her with transferable skills that served her well as an intern, such as time management, strong communication, teamwork, and professionalism. 

When she was not curating content about Kentucky attractions, Posey utilized the skills associated with her studies to assist with important media statements. “I also helped write and edit press releases for different government officials, like our (Tourism, Arts, and Heritage) Cabinet Secretary, Andy Beshear, and our Director of Tourism.” She created an individualized major (Journalism) through the College of Arts and Sciences, combining three focus areas: communication, political science, and social change. Posey has an appreciation for oral history, public-facing writing, and creativity, which made this internship especially impactful for her.  

When Posey came to the University of Louisville from her hometown of Charlestown, Indiana, she knew she wanted to participate in an internship opportunity, yet she was unsure exactly what she was looking for. While she dreams of being a journalist writing news features on political and social movements, her internship taught her to be willing to take on any task. 

“It made me realize that I’m interested in a lot of different things, and I would be happy to do a variety of things in specific fields. It used to be a bit of a curse because I was interested in so many things. I don't know how to narrow it down, but I don’t think you have to narrow it down necessarily. It’s better to be open and willing to do anything.” 

Emma Posey is now a junior on track to graduate in May 2027 with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in English (Public and Professional Writing) and Journalism, with a minor in Pan-African Studies. Her biggest piece of advice for students seeking professional experience is to check resources throughout the year to stay informed about opportunities, remain open-minded in the application process, and be willing to try anything because you never know what might bring you joy and fulfillment. Due to her impressive performance as an intern, Team Kentucky has expressed interest in having her return during the holiday break in December and in Summer 2026. Connect with Emma Posey on LinkedIn to stay updated on her success! 

Interested in recruiting driven, adaptable students like Emma Posey? Or know a Cardinal whose story deserves to be shared? Connect with the University Career Center (ulcareer@louisville.edu) to learn how to engage with UofL talent or to recommend a student or employer for a future feature. We look forward to hearing from you.