Meet the Team: Jocelyn Brandon
Social Media Intern, Transcaucasian Trail Association
Jocelyn joined the TCTA in January 2025, when she moved to Tbilisi as part of her study abroad program at Lewis and Clark University in Portland, Oregon. She studies International Affairs and Economics, so spending a semester in Tbilisi complements her academic program well! Originally from San Diego, California, Jocelyn worked last summer as an intern for John Mannion’s congressional campaign and as the staffing manager for a mobile swim school.
When she’s not working or studying, she stays quite active. She loves going for runs, and she’s on her college’s rowing team. Like many others on the TCT team, she has spent getting outside, exercising, and spending time in nature. On her indoor days, you can find her curled up with a book, playing video games, or indulging in her favorite fruit: tomatoes!
In Jocelyn’s Words:
What is the best part of being a Social Media Intern?
Going back to my interest in Georgian culture, the best thing about being a Social Media Intern is making the Trail Tales posts on Instagram. I’ve gotten to read so many amazing stories about cultural experiences hikers have had not only in Georgia but throughout all of the South Caucasus. Plus (at least from those stories I’ve met so far), I’ve learned that the kind of people who care about conservation and restoration enough to dedicate their work to the TCT are really cool people!
What do you hope to gain from this internship?
I hope to gain a better understanding of different ways to connect with people. Learning how to capture people’s attention and get them to care about something through a different platform is a really valuable skill. I also hope to see some cool pictures, hear some cool stories, and actually visit the TCT!
Which section of the TCT do you want to hike or visit most?
I would love to hike the Upper Svaneti region because I have heard Western Georgia is very beautiful. My host family is from Western Georgia and they have told me some amazing stories.
Why should people volunteer, intern, hike, or otherwise get involved with the TCT?
Part of what makes the TCT so special is where it is situated. The Caucasus region is a really unique place, and a place that many people don’t know a lot about. By getting involved with the TCT, you’re experiencing sights and cultures that others had never even thought to come see in person. And at the end of your amazing experience, you get to spread the word about this fantastic region.
