HANNAH VAN CUREN’ 21
Shaping Democracy from the Capital
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
HANNAH VAN CUREN’ 21
CAPITAL CHANGE MAKER
Shaping Democracy from the Capital
Four years after graduating from Jacksonville University, Hannah Van Curen’ 21 has found her calling in the heart of American democracy. Recently promoted to public affairs manager at Targeted Victory in Washington, D. C., the political science alumna orchestrates nationwide grassroots campaigns and digital advertising strategies that have helped pass legislation in both the House and Senate.
Van Curen’ s diverse portfolio spans healthcare and technology sectors, working with Fortune 500 companies, national nonprofits and leading trade associations. Her days blend communications, marketing, creative work and data analysis— from drafting press releases to setting up social media campaigns and visiting Capitol Hill.
“ Working with Congress is always challenging, but seeing legislation pass after months or years of work is incredibly rewarding,” Van Curen says.“ It’ s democracy in action and helping people participate in that process is deeply meaningful.”
Her passion for political advocacy took root at JU, where professors like Dr. Matthew Corrigan and Dr. Austin Trantham introduced her to electoral politics and political communication through courses that ranged from campaign strategy to scandal analysis.
“ My classes at JU were diverse, from politics to marketing and Shakespeare,” Van Curen recalls.“ The course variety helped me figure out what I was really interested in while pushing me to grow.”
Dr. Corrigan remembers Van Curen’ s standout potential:“ She has the passion for the political world and also the analytical skills to understand the impact that politics and public policy have on everyday Americans.”
Looking ahead, Van Curen plans to pursue a Ph. D. and expand her master’ s thesis research on nonprofit lobbying effectiveness, aiming to help organizations maximize their grassroots mobilization impact.
38 WAV E MAGAZINE | Spring 2026