Scott Rowson spent the better part of last month’s recess getting settled in as Rep. Carolyn McCarthy’s (D-N.Y.) new communications director.

Rowson came to the Long Island Congresswoman’s office after serving for three years as press secretary for Bread for the World, the nation’s largest anti-hunger advocacy organization. In

his new position Rowson will work with Long Island media outlets and help conduct overall communications strategy for McCarthy.

“Scott brings a real commitment to connecting with people at the grassroots level,” McCarthy said in a statement. “And with his local media experience, I think he’s got a good sense for what’s important to New York’s Fourth District.”

Rowson, 26, hails from Columbia, Mo., and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri.

Along with Rowson, McCarthy’s office has seen some other recent hires and promotions.

Caroline DeRosa is the New York Congresswoman’s newest legislative assistant. Hailing from West Islip, N.Y., DeRosa will work with health care/Medicare, defense and energy issues.

The 25-year-old DeRosa graduated from Salisbury State University in Maryland with a degree in social work. She is currently attending George Washington University at night for a master’s degree in legislative affairs.

Mike Spira, who has been with McCarthy’s office for a year, has moved up from legislative correspondent to legislative assistant. He will be handling veterans issues, foreign affairs and Israel issues.

Spira, 27, is a graduate of American University and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in applied politics.

McCarthy also recently promoted George Burke to legislative correspondent. Burke had previously been a staff assistant and intern for the Congresswoman. The 22-year-old Garden City, N.Y., native graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., with a degree in political science.

Pickups and Moveups for Northup. With four new additions and three promotions, Rep. Anne Northup’s (R-Ky.) office was also busy over the August break.

Annie Reed, who has served as a legislative correspondent for the Congresswoman, has been promoted to press secretary. Reed, 23, is a native of Northup’s 3rd district and has been working with the Congresswoman since she interned for Northup’s Washington office in 2001. Since that time, Reed has worked on Northup’s fourth re-election campaign, written on issues under the jurisdiction of the Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and worked to build communications contacts in the 3rd district. [IMGCAP(1)]

Reed is a 2002 graduate of Kentucky’s Centre College, where she double majored in government and religion.

Meredith Brown, who began working in the Congresswoman’s office in April as a staff assistant, was promoted to legislative correspondent in May and has just recently changed her issue areas to the Labor-HHS subcommittee.

Brown, 24, previously worked as a government relations assistant at the Collier Shannon Scott law firm in D.C. The Atlanta native graduated from George Washington University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs.

Another quick promotion in the Congresswoman’s office goes to Hunt Rogers, who joined the D.C. office in July as a staff assistant and has since moved up to the job of legislative correspondent. He will now be writing on issues pertaining to the Appropriations subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and independent agencies. Rogers had previously served as an intern for Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.).

Rogers, 25, is a native of Winchester, Ky., and graduated in 1999 from the University of Richmond with a bachelor’s degree in business.

Aug. 1 was the start date for Northup’s new scheduler, office manager and executive assistant, Beth Strategier. Before joining Northup’s office, Strategier, 24, worked as program administrator for the Washington Workshops Foundation, a summer program for high school students interested in public policy and international affairs.

Strategier holds a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. In 2001 she received a bachelor’s degree in French and international business management from Georgetown College in Kentucky.

Brent Dolen joined the Congresswoman’s office in early August as a legislative correspondent. The 22-year-old Louisville native will be writing on issues related to the Appropriations subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, Postal Service and general government. In 2001 Dolen interned for Kentucky’s senior Senator, Mitch McConnell (R).

Dolen graduated from Kentucky’s Murray State University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and is currently working on a master’s degree at George Washington University.

Northup’s latest addition to her Washington office is Shannon Stafford, the Congresswoman’s new staff assistant. Stafford, 23, interned for Empower America during the summers of 2001 and 2002. The Gainesville, Fla., native graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in communications.