A slew of new staffers has come aboard with Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), and all of them appear to be upbeat and hardworking. New legislative correspondent Bryce Carson takes care of the mail but also has a hand in working on defense, homeland security, science, technology and other issues. [IMGCAP(1)]

Carson is from Langford, S.D., and most recently spent time in the state Senate as a Republican legislative aide. At the same time, Carson, 27, earned a double master’s degree in public policy and public relations at the University of Denver.

He also has a dual undergraduate degree in English and government/international affairs from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.

He played football and ran track in college. Now, “all of my hobbies revolve around my daughter,” he said. Carson is the proud father of a 5-month-old girl, Hadassah, with his wife, Erin.

Hadassah loves the outdoors, as Carson frequently takes her on walks. She especially likes looking at trees along the way, he said.

If only Climbers were so easy to please.

Shauna Christensen, 25, is “kind of from all over,” but mostly from Denver. She is Musgrave’s other legislative correspondent. She deals with the mail and with veterans affairs, budgeting and social issues including women’s rights, anti-abortion activities and religious freedom.

“I love working for a Member who is true to her values and who doesn’t compromise on her values,” Christensen said.

She served in the Air Force as a medical administration technician, which she calls “the best and worst three years of my life.” She just graduated from Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, with a degree in international relations.

She looks forward to a continued career in the government, and hopes to go into intelligence.

Nate Bowen, Musgrave’s new legislative assistant, has lived “a lot of places” but originally is from southeastern Colorado. He transferred to the Congresswoman’s D.C. office after working in her district office in Loveland, Colo., and said that “it was neat to see the two sides of the equation” — the local and national levels.

“Both [offices] are incredibly important to what we do,” he said.

Bowen, 24, worked in banking at Suntrust outside Atlanta for about a year after he graduated from Berry College near Rome, Ga., with a degree in government.

He apparently has been unpacking his belongings since he moved to D.C. two months ago.

“You need to just do it in a weekend,” Climbers advised.

“One box at a time,” Bowen replied.

Good luck.

Staff assistant Christen Nelson is from Vero Beach, Fla., and just graduated from Bob Jones University in South Carolina. There, she earned a degree in political science with a minor in English and was vice president of the College Republicans.

Nelson was a member of the Bob Jones University Intercollegiate Debate Club and contributed to various state and local campaigns. She also worked on the campaigns of Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and President Bush.

Nelson, 22, likes Musgrave because “she is a true conservative, and stands up for what she believes in.” The office is like a family, she said — everyone works well together.

In D.C., Nelson enjoys ballroom dancing, running and being involved with Capitol Hill Baptist Church.

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