What inspires you to work in public service?
The opportunity to address wicked problems on a national level and collaborate with driven individuals to serve marginalized, underserved populations draws me to a career in public service. I am energized by completing projects and doing work that will directly impact others and create tangible improvements in people's wellbeing and security.
What is your major, and do you have any minors or specializations?
I am dually majoring in Economics (B.S.) and Public Policy Analysis with a minor in Political Science.
What coursework or academic experiences have most shaped your interests in policy, leadership or public service?
I am particularly interested in analyzing housing economics and geographical barriers to equity. In my Public Service and Civic Engagement class, I had the opportunity to complete a comprehensive, semester-long project on the gentrification of Hilltop, a local Columbus neighborhood. The issue of gentrification is complex and multi-faceted, and this project utilized both my knowledge in economics and my experience navigating public management. Attacking this issue was energizing, frustrating, and inspired me to further navigate the intersections of economic inequity with public wellbeing in my career.
What specific skills or experiences do you bring to your internship?
My coursework in economics has equipped me with skills in data analysis and visualization using STATA, an understanding of micro and macroeconomic principles and models, and a strong quantitative background. As a Public Policy Analysis major, I am highly experienced in policy analysis and policy writing, utilizing public data to create comprehensive, digestible reports on public policy proposals.
My role at the Glenn College as a Student Services Assistant has equipped me with skills in academic data visualization using Microsoft Excel and has allowed me to work in highly collaborative settings and make meaningful connections while also completing projects and managing appointments and tasks for the advising team.
What strengths do you most rely on when collaborating with others?
I pride myself in my patience and ability to listen to and digest others' opinions before contributing to a conversation. I find that keeping a level-head and hearing what others have to say allows me to manage my own thoughts and explore perspectives different from my own. When completing collaborative projects, getting to hear how other people would approach the task enables me to figure out my own approach so we can seamlessly work together and create outcomes that are better than if it had been done individually by any one of us.
What are your career goals and how do you hope this fellowship will support your professional journey?
I am pursuing a career in economic development to address systemic barriers to economic equality. I hope to achieve a career providing meaningful analysis on economic policy to advise policymakers on a national level. This fellowship will allow me to gain meaningful experience completing economic policy research, and I hope to explore the different trajectories and paths my career may take me. Washington, DC provides a wealth of opportunity for research on national policy issues as well as a deep network of driven professionals that I hope to learn from and hear how they have spent their careers in public service.
What is your favorite or most impactful project from a previous role?
Last summer, I had the opportunity to intern under the administrative team of a highly ranked, International Baccalaureate School. My role centered around the planning and execution of their annual SPARK Conference, which brought together over 200 teaching and administrative professionals in Northeast Ohio for a day of intense professional development. Contributing to the success of this event through detailed planning and management, and then getting to see the culmination of our work on the day of the conference was incredibly rewarding. Not only did I gain important knowledge in areas of planning and development, but I also developed a profound appreciation for the invisible work educators do to help students succeed in their later careers, just as I get to do now through WAIP.