What inspires you to work in public service?
What inspires me to work in public service is a genuine love for the American project—for the idea that a free people can govern themselves, imperfectly but earnestly, over time. I’m drawn to this work because, for me, service is both civic and personal: caring for others is what gives the work meaning and what makes it fulfilling. Public service is one place where love of country and concern for people meet in a direct, practical way—where responsibility is shared and the consequences of decisions are real. While it isn’t the only way to live out that commitment, it is a space where helping others and sustaining the institutions we rely on come together. That combination—love of country, responsibility, and service—is what continues to draw me to this path.
What is your major, and do you have any minors or specializations?
Masters in Public Administration
What coursework or academic experiences have most shaped your interests in policy, leadership or public service?
The coursework that shaped my interests most was the kind that treated politics and policy as lived realities rather than abstractions. Classes in constitutional and criminal law pushed me to think carefully about power, limits, and the human consequences of legal and institutional decisions, while political science and social science courses emphasized rigor, evidence, and serious engagement with competing ideas. I was especially drawn to courses that approached politics through unconventional lenses—like politics and film—which helped me see how culture, narrative, and institutions shape one another. Experiences in international relations and Model UN broadened my perspective beyond domestic policy, while graduate-level economics grounded my thinking in tradeoffs, incentives, and practical constraints. Across all of it, what mattered most was learning to hold ideals and realism together—an approach that continues to shape how I think about leadership, policy, and public service.
What specific skills or experiences do you bring to your internship?
I bring a level of professional range and maturity that goes beyond a typical graduate student experience. Before and during graduate school, I’ve worked across private-sector, nonprofit, higher-education, and government settings, which has given me a grounded understanding of how organizations actually function. I’ve taken on responsibility in frontline service roles, contributed to policy and research work at the local, state, and federal levels, and helped build systems and processes from the ground up, including through entrepreneurial work. These experiences have shaped how I approach an internship: I’m comfortable taking ownership, navigating complex environments, and contributing meaningfully from the outset while continuing to learn.
What strengths do you most rely on when collaborating with others?
When collaborating with others, I rely on curiosity, follow-through, and a willingness to work at both the big-picture and detailed levels. I ask a lot of questions at the outset, listen carefully, and take time to think through problems before moving to action. I’m comfortable moving between vision and execution—imagining what’s possible at a higher level, then getting into the details needed to make it work. While I’m not an extrovert in group settings, I care deeply about people and take collaboration seriously as a form of service. I show that through reliability, thoughtful communication, and a focus on producing real results for the team.
What are your career goals and how do you hope this fellowship will support your professional journey?
My career goal is to be prepared for roles that require sound judgment and trust—positions where I can serve as a thoughtful advisor and, over time, a responsible leader. I want to be qualified not only in policy analysis, but also in decision-making, management, and the practical realities of governing. I’m drawn to work that sits at the intersection of ideas and action, where careful thinking informs real choices with real consequences. This fellowship should support my professional journey by immersing me in a policy environment where I can observe and participate in how decisions are actually made, learn from experienced professionals, and continue developing the analytical and leadership skills needed to contribute meaningfully in complex institutional settings.
What is your favorite or most impactful project from a previous role?
One of the most impactful projects I worked on centered on system design and database structure that affected not just one division, but the institution as a whole. I helped design and implement a constituent portal and underlying data architecture that required making decisions about definitions, access, workflows, and accountability across multiple departments. Those design choices shaped how information moved, how resources were stewarded, and how leadership evaluated performance—effectively functioning as internal policy. The project mattered because it forced careful judgment about tradeoffs, incentives, and long-term sustainability, and because the outcomes influenced how the institution operated day to day. It reinforced for me that thoughtful design and data governance are forms of policy, with real consequences for people and decisions.