This fall, Taylor Prochnow, the recipient of the second Dotty Lynch scholarship, begins her graduate studies at American University (AU).  Prochnow came to Washington, DC,  just a few years ago, straight from earning her undergraduate degree in Political Science and has already made her mark as executive coordinator at Third Way, a think tank where she has focused on workforce issues, marriage equality, and gun safety. 

Lynch, a highly respected journalist and pollster, was also a professor at the AU School of Communication and, as the first director of AU’s MA in Political Communication program, infused students with a love of politics and the political process. Lynch passed away in 2014.  To honor her memory, Lynch’s husband, Morgan Downey, along with a group of her many friends and colleagues established the Dotty Lynch Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Below, Prochnow shares a bit about herself and what she hopes to accomplish through the MA in Political Communication program. 

Studying at American University:


“Having spent the past few years immersed in public policy, I'm really excited to get back in the classroom to learn more about the communication strategy behind the work that I do.  At AU, I will learn from leaders in the field who have decades of experience applying what they're teaching.”  

Employment Highlights


“I plan to continue working at Third Way while pursuing my MA degree.  I know I’ll be busy, but together the two opportunities will provide me with both the theoretical understanding and the practical application that I need to be an effective communicator and advocate. One of my proudest accomplishments in my tenure at Third Way was serving as the primary contact between Third Way, the Office of the Vice President, and the Office of the Secretary of Labor in the planning and execution of a policy day on workforce development.”   

Extra-Curricular Activities/Interests:


“My passion for politics extends to my volunteer and outside-work activities. I'm the communications chair for a non-partisan group called She Should Run that works to get more women elected to office, and I'm a member of the Young Democrats of Virginia with whom I traveled to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC.  I also volunteer regularly with DC Central Kitchen and Path to Greatness. When I'm not doing any of the above, I can be found with a new book roaming around the district or out in Virginia hiking up a mountain.” 

Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa

Program: MA, Political Communication

LinkedIn: Taylor Prochnow