College of Liberal Arts student finds purpose in public service through time on Capitol Hill

Dylan Duke | 5/13/2026

Robbie Reuse, a recent political science graduate from Birmingham, Alabama, always knew Auburn was home.

“If I were to cut my arm right now, it would be bleeding orange and blue. I have always been an Auburn fan. I was only six months old at my first football game,” Reuse said. “This was the only college I was ever going to go to. To me, Auburn is home.”

Reuse turned that lifelong Auburn pride into a passion for leadership and public service. In addition to his political science degree, he earned a Certificate in National Security and Intelligence and a minor in psychology.

During his time at Auburn, Reuse was very involved in Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society. He joined during his third year at Auburn, getting involved in events and leadership, including a term as vice president, where he utilized his program management skills to organize blood drives and speaker events.

“I am very career-oriented, so I wanted to get the ball rolling early,” Reuse said.

That mindset eventually led him to a spring internship on Capitol Hill. He interned for Tommy Tuberville, a current United States senator and former Auburn football coach.

“Having that pride for Auburn really shows something about someone,” Reuse said. “We both love Auburn so much. I think Coach was the perfect fit for me, and it's been a fantastic personality match.”

Through the internship, Reuse discovered how much he enjoys connecting with people and helping constituents navigate problems and resources.

“We receive a lot of phone calls and it's been a really rewarding experience to help people get plugged in the right direction,” Reuse said. “I really love that aspect of public service. I love talking to people, hearing their stories, figuring out where they're at in life, where they're going and what drives them.”

Reuse credits much of his success to the values that growing up in Alabama and attending Auburn has given him.

“In Alabama, you get a lot of that Southern hospitality. Auburn has really instilled a hardworking ethic and always encouraged me to go get after it,” Reuse said. “Auburn in general has just been a great school for me to really find out who I am. I have grown so much since my freshman year, Auburn has definitely prepared me and set me up for the rest of my career.”

Reuse also participated in Auburn's Political Science study abroad program in Brussels, Belgium. He and other students visited NATO, the European Parliament and the German Marshall Fund.

“Brussels was a great eye-opener for me,” Reuse said. “The public service and diplomacy side of government that we got to experience in Brussels really taught me when to step back, listen and not act like the most important person in the room.”

The experience also strengthened his networking skills and prepared him for the fast-paced environment of Capitol Hill.

“We got the chance to dive headfirst into networking, going up to random people and having to build instant connections,” Reuse said. “Being from Alabama, it comes naturally to me to walk up to random people and be their friend, but the opportunities we were given in Brussels truly prepared me for what I was going to walk into here.”

In the short term, Reuse hopes to stay on the hill and earn his stripes. Long term, Reuse hopes to return to Alabama and build a career in the defense and national security realm where he can continue building relationships.

“What’s important to me is doing something with many opportunities to help people and get to know people,” Reuse said. “I want to be able to talk to people, get to know their story and help them succeed.”

Learn more about the Department of Political Science.

Tags: Political Science Students