What inspires you to work in public service?
My commitment to public service is rooted in a profound belief: that the "promise of America" is only as strong as its accessibility. I am driven by the conviction that every citizen has an inherent right to be heard and a fundamental right to participate in the systems that serve them. I believe that for our institutions to remain strong and legitimate, they must be functionally inclusive and accessible to all. I am inspired by the challenge of bridging the gap between high-level policy and the practical realities of programmatic access. To me, public service is the highest form of stewardship—it is the work of ensuring that the machinery of government is as open and efficient as the ideals that created it. This drive to protect the integrity of our civic spaces through universal design and equitable policy is what continues to draw me to this path.
What coursework or academic experiences have most shaped your interests in policy, leadership or public service?
My path into public service did not start in a classroom. It started with leadership and responsibility. I served as President for Junior National Association of the Deaf, where I learned what it means to represent a community and push for real outcomes. That led to one of the most defining moments in my early work—supporting the effort that helped establish Ohio’s first Deaf History Month. That experience showed me that policy is not abstract. It directly shapes visibility, recognition, and access.
That perspective sharpened when I served as State Superintendent for a Day under Paolo DeMaria. I was not just observing. I was in the room engaging with leadership, seeing how decisions are made, and understanding the weight those decisions carry for over a million students. It gave me a clear view of how power, policy, and leadership operate at the state level—and the responsibility that comes with it.
I brought that foundation into my academic work. I began studying Government at Gallaudet University, where I started connecting policy, research, and public service. I later expanded that at Rochester Institute of Technology / National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID), graduating summa cum laude with a focus on leadership, policy, and international systems. That interdisciplinary background continues to shape how I approach complex issues today.
Now, as an MPA student at Ohio State, my coursework has strengthened my ability to analyze policy, understand institutional systems, and think strategically about implementation. More importantly, it has reinforced what I already knew from experience—effective leadership in public service requires both technical knowledge and the ability to challenge systems that were not built for everyone.
What specific skills or experiences do you bring to your internship?
I bring a combination of policy experience, leadership, and real-world exposure to how systems operate across government, advocacy, and the private sector. I have worked in legislative environments, where I conducted policy research, tracked legislation, and supported constituent and stakeholder engagement. Alongside that, my work in advocacy and nonprofit spaces has focused on education and disability policy, giving me a clear understanding of how policy decisions impact communities in practice.
I also bring hands-on legal experience. Through my work and independent efforts, I have developed strong skills in legal research, statutory interpretation, and drafting. I have spent time learning how laws are applied in real situations, not just studied in theory. That experience has strengthened my ability to analyze complex legal and policy issues, identify gaps, and build arguments grounded in both law and policy.
In addition, my experience at Apple Inc. has strengthened my ability to lead, communicate, and solve problems in fast-paced environments. I have trained teams, improved accessibility practices, and worked across different levels of an organization to address challenges. This has made me comfortable stepping into complex situations, taking ownership, and contributing effectively from the start.
What sets me apart is that I approach policy through implementation, impact, and accountability. I am not just focused on ideas. I focus on how systems actually work and how they can be improved.
What strengths do you most rely on when collaborating with others?
When collaborating with others, I rely on curiosity, follow-through, and the ability to work across both big-picture thinking and detailed execution. I approach conversations with a focus on active listening, clear communication, and making sure I fully understand the situation before moving forward. I adapt quickly in changing environments and stay focused on maintaining progress. I also bring the ability to lead from any chair, and to empower others with the work while ensuring the team stays aligned and engaged.
What are your career goals and how do you hope this fellowship will support your professional journey?
My goal is to serve in a senior leadership role in public service, whether that is leading a government agency, directing a nonprofit organization, or pursuing elected office. I want to be in positions where decisions are made and where policy directly shapes outcomes. My focus is on strengthening how public systems operate by ensuring they reflect modern technological standards and constitutional principles, with accessibility and inclusive design built into their foundation rather than treated as an afterthought.
I have seen how a single piece of legislation can change US history, and that experience reinforced for me that meaningful reform requires a seat at the table. This fellowship is an important step in that path. It will allow me to move from graduate study at Ohio State into direct engagement with federal policy, while building the experience, network, and perspective needed to lead at a higher level. For me, this is about expanding my impact and contributing to the long-term improvement of public institutions.
What is your favorite or most impactful project from a previous role?
One of the most impactful projects I have been involved in was leading accessibility-focused efforts that connected policy with real-world implementation. I worked on identifying gaps, providing ADA-focused training, and pushing for changes that improved access across systems. Through that experience, I saw how accessibility, technology, and education policy intersect and shape outcomes in everyday practice. What stood out to me was how often these areas are treated separately, even though they directly affect one another, and how much impact can be made when they are addressed together. That experience reinforced how I approach public service—I focus on both shaping policy and stepping into leadership to ensure it is carried out in a way that actually works for people.