PC alumnus turned degrees in political science and English — and an unexpected PC internship — into a career covering the federal government.
When Landon Norizsan arrived at Presbyterian College, he thought he had his future mapped out: study political science, attend law school, and become an attorney.
Instead, an unexpected opportunity during his senior year changed the trajectory of his career.
Through PC’s Russell Internship Program, Norizsan became a gameday host for the Blue Hose Athletic Department, where he discovered a natural comfort in front of the camera and behind a microphone. Two years later, the 2024 graduate is combining his interests in politics, writing, and storytelling in Washington, D.C.
A native of Walhalla, S.C., Norizsan double majored in political science and English at PC. Today, he is a producer for “Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose,” a multiplatform media brand and talk show covering the people, policies, and issues shaping the federal government.
“Some days I’m in the studio facilitating interviews with government leaders,” Norizsan said. “Other days I’m working from coffee shops around Washington or from the bay window of my apartment, researching stories, booking guests, and preparing for upcoming interviews.”
Finding Community in Washington
For all of Washington’s influence, Norizsan said the city often feels surprisingly small.
“One thing that surprises people when I talk about D.C. is that, for such an influential city, it often feels strikingly small,” he said. “My colleagues like to joke that I somehow manage to book every South Carolinian in Washington onto our show.”
That sense of connection matters to Norizsan. Tight-knit communities that invest in their people have long influenced where he feels at home, and it was that same quality that first drew him to PC.
“When I was a senior in high school, I applied to nearly 15 colleges. PC stood out because they made it clear that they wanted me there,” he said. “Eighteen-year-old Landon had some pretty lofty dreams, and PC made those dreams feel more attainable because it felt like I was entering into a partnership, not just enrolling at an institution.”
An Unexpected Opportunity
Norizsan came to PC on the pre-law track, but his first experience in communications came during his junior year, when he interned in the College’s Marketing Office.
He loved the work and applied to return the following year. Instead, he was offered something different: an internship through the Russell Program as a gameday host for PC Athletics.
At first, he was skeptical.
“Why would they put this pre-law kid on a mic? In front of a camera?” Norizsan remembers thinking.
He accepted anyway.
“I accepted the hosting position, and it turned out to be exactly where I was supposed to be,” he said. “I had the opportunity to interview players, coaches, and fans, and even travel with the PC women’s basketball team for their historic first March Madness appearance.”
The experience opened his eyes to a career path he had never seriously considered.
“That experience completely changed the way I thought about my career,” he said. “For the first time, I remember thinking, ‘Could I really make a career out of doing something this fun?’ The answer, it turns out, was yes.”
A Liberal Arts Education at Work
Although Norizsan’s career changed direction, the education he received at PC continued to serve him.
His political science background gave him a foundation for understanding government and policy. His English studies strengthened the writing, analysis and communication skills he now uses every day.
“My political science and English degrees from PC have been invaluable because they taught me how to understand policy and the processes that shape decision-making,” he said. “Just as importantly, they taught me how to think critically, ask thoughtful questions, and communicate complex ideas clearly. Those are the skills I rely on every day covering the federal government.”
Norizsan credits several PC professors with helping him develop those skills, including current provost Dr. McAdams McAdams in the Political Science Department and Dr. Terry Barr, Dr. Lynne Simpson and Dr. Emily Taylor in the English Department.
He also shares his post-graduate life on Instagram through videos built around a recurring phrase: “Using my political science degree in D.C.”
“I’ve found that many people have a preconceived idea of what a political science major does, especially in Washington,” he said. “Through these videos, I try to show high school and college students that your degree doesn’t define your career; it gives you a foundation to build on.”
Learning in Public
Social media has become both a professional tool and a creative outlet for Norizsan.
Much of his work involves building relationships with public affairs officers, press secretaries and communications teams to book government leaders for his program.
“Sometimes those conversations lead to an interview in a matter of hours; other times they take months of relationship-building and persistence,” he said. “It’s more of an art than a science, and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding.”
That work has also required him to become comfortable learning in public.
“One of the biggest lessons I’m learning is that I’m never going to be perfect online, no matter how hard I try,” he said. “The interviewer I am at 24 is not the interviewer I hope to be at 44, and that’s exactly the point. Growth, in my job, requires being willing to learn in public.”
PC challenged me, invested in me, and helped me discover strengths I didn’t know I had. If there’s one thread connecting my time at PC and my career today, it’s a passion for people. That’s what drew me to political science. It’s what led me into media. And it’s what I hope will continue to define my work for years to come.”
Landon Norizsan ’24, Producer, “Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose”
Journalism in a Changing World
The media landscape Norizsan works in is changing rapidly, particularly as artificial intelligence reshapes how news is produced and consumed.
“Because I cover AI almost every day, people often ask whether I’m worried about where technology is taking journalism and the workforce,” he said. “My answer is always the same: AI isn’t going anywhere, and change is inevitable. The question is not whether we’ll adapt, but how.”
For Norizsan, the tools may change, but the purpose of journalism does not.
“What keeps me grounded is the belief that, at its core, the work I do is about people,” he said. “I love telling people’s stories, asking thoughtful questions and helping audiences better understand the world around them. That mission hasn’t changed, even if the tools I use have.”
“The medium seems to matter less than it once did. Whether a story is told on television, in a podcast, through a newsletter or on Instagram, I believe people are looking for the same things: clarity, authenticity, and trust.”
Skills That Endure
For Norizsan, preparing students for a changing world makes a liberal arts education more relevant, not less.
“That’s one of the reasons I believe a liberal arts education is more valuable than ever,” he said. “Technical skills will continue to evolve throughout our careers, but the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, solve problems creatively, and build meaningful relationships will always matter. Those are all skills PC gave me.”
His advice to current and prospective students is simple.
“Say yes, even when you don’t feel completely ready,” he said.
“PC will open doors for you. The opportunities are there, but what you choose to do with them is what ultimately shapes the kind of professional, collaborator, and leader you become. Some of the most meaningful moments in my career have come from saying yes to opportunities that weren’t part of my original plan.”
That willingness to step through an unexpected door took Norizsan from a planned career in law to a microphone at PC athletic events and, ultimately, to a newsroom in Washington.
“PC challenged me, invested in me, and helped me discover strengths I didn’t know I had,” he said. “If there’s one thread connecting my time at PC and my career today, it’s a passion for people. That’s what drew me to political science. It’s what led me into media. And it’s what I hope will continue to define my work for years to come.”
