At 30, Eldon Burton is likely the youngest district director for any member of Congress, but he still has a great deal of experience dating back to his days at Virginia State University, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“My school means so much to me,” he says. “I want to represent Virginia State in everything I do.” Born in Alabama and having grown up all over the country, Burton has lived in Richmond for two and a half years.

“It’s been really exciting,” he says of his new job working for U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin, a freshman Democrat. “All of my time is working with constituents, and it’s really been a lot of following up with people I worked with before.” Burton also was an outreach representative for Sen. Mark Warner in his Richmond office, and he taught at VSU and Richard Bland College.

In 2015, he received VSU’s Young Trojan Award and serves on several state boards, including J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

Burton likes to connect with students and young graduates, and may return to academia one day. “I’ve always kept an ear out for job opportunities or even internships,” he says. “I try to keep a good number of folks in mind” that may help young people find their path to success.