Early Interest In Politics Leads Alumna to Governor’s Office

Leah Trilling and Gov. DeSantis

When most kids were watching cartoons, Leah Trilling ’18 was on the couch watching the news with her dad. That interest in current events stuck with her, and eventually led to her current position as deputy director of Cabinet Affairs for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The steps leading to that position include undergraduate internships working on campaigns for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Florida Rep. Mike Miller, who represented District 47. Today, Trilling serves as a liaison between Florida’s many state agencies and the governor’s office, evaluating their needs and problems, and proposing solutions.

“I enjoy the personal contact my job requires,” Trilling said. “I interact with many fine and dedicated people who serve our state with passion and concern.”

When she first came to UCF, Trilling wasn’t sold on politics completely. Overwhelmed by the endless possibilities and a school brimming with opportunity and culture, Trilling did what most freshman do and began exploring.

“Being at the biggest school in the entire state was an exhilarating feeling for me,” Trilling said.

As unsure as she felt, Trilling found that the discourse in her political sciences classes kept her engaged and excited, solidifying her decision to pursue a political science degree.

“I left UCF with conservative values inspired by a lot of the work I did as an undergraduate,” said Trilling. “I would like to help open up even greater opportunities for women to participate and get involved in the political arena.”