What inspires you to work in public service?
What inspires me to work in public service is the realization that my privilege provides me with the platform to challenge the systemic inequalities I have witnessed first hand. My experience serving at homeless shelters and food pantries has transformed my understanding of advocacy. Seeing people pushed to the brink of survival in the wealthiest nation on earth shook me to my core and ignited a drive to act. I am deeply motivated by the intersections of environmental policy and health equity, and I believe that public service is the most direct way to leverage the law to protect human dignity. For me, public service isn't just a career path; it is a commitment to ensuring that the barriers I've seen--whether they be lack of housing, food insecurity, or environmental injustice--are dismantled through intentional, compassionate policy.
What is your major, and do you have any minors or specializations?
Environmental Policy & Decision-Making (Spec. in Policy & Governance); International Relations & Diplomacy minor
What coursework or academic experiences have most shaped your interests in policy, leadership or public service?
ENR 3200 Environmental and Natural Resources Policy; ENR 5797.02 Study Foreign Institution: Australia (Human Impacts on the Natural Environment); RURLSOC 5540 Population, Place, and Environment
What specific skills or experiences do you bring to your internship?
Policy & analytical research: My work on the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) demonstrates your ability to handle complex data extraction and systematic reviews. Leadership/Public Service: Serving as a Co-Lead for multiple Buck-I-SERV trips shows I can manage travel logistics, facilitate group reflection, and lead peers in unfamiliar environments. Also as a Volunteer Shift Lead at the Heart to Heart Food Pantry, I've managed workflow and intake for diverse populations, proving my ability to navigate the human side of public service and social policy.
Academic Background: My major in Environmental Policy & Decision Making on a pre-law track provides a solid theoretical framework for understanding how legislation is crafted and implemented. Also, my education abroad experiences in Australia and the Dominican Republic provide a cross-cultural lens that is essential for working in a global hub like D.C.
What strengths do you most rely on when collaborating with others?
I rely most on trying my best to create a culture of open communication and create a welcoming environment where every team member feels they belong. I believe that people do their bets work when they are genuinely excited to show up, so I prioritize building a space rooted in a mutual respect. By centering passion and transparency in my collaborations, I am able to literally see that transformation from a random groups of individuals into a cohesive team.
What are your career goals and how do you hope this fellowship will support your professional journey?
My career goals are rooted in achieving health equity by addressing the intersection of environmental policy and human health. Through my studies, I have seen how societal interactions with natural resources directly shape health outcomes, and I am driven to identify and dismantle the systemic inequalities that arise within these connections. Ultimately, I plan to pursue a law degree to work in health law or legal epidemiology, leveraging policy as a tool to fight for a more equitable world. I hope that WAIP program will support this journey by providing me with a front-row seat to the federal policymaking process, allowing me to see how legal frameworks are designed and implemented to protect public health. By engaging with professionals in the DC sphere, I aim to bridge a gap between my academic background in natural resources and my future in health law, gaining any practical experience necessary to advocate for vulnerable communities.
What is your favorite or most impactful project from a previous role?
One of my most impactful experiences was volunteering at the Father McKenna Center in Washington, D.C., during a winter Buck-I-SERV trip. While I arrived thinking I understood the complexities of housing insecurity, meeting and speaking face-to-face with men experiencing homelessness shook me to my core and dismantled my preconceptions. Hearing their personal stories of struggle and rare triumphs made the systemic inequalities of the U.S. feel deeply personal; I was struck by the injustice of a society where individuals are often forced into survival instincts just to stay alive. This experience ignited a lasting drive in me to use my own privilege to serve those in far more vulnerable situations. It was the catalyst for my commitment to policy and advocacy, and I am proud that I have remained consistent in that mission ever since.