Leading the Way to Washington

“Remember in Washington, it’s all about the network — an unparalleled network to inform economy inside the capital beltway,” said Mark Gaspar, the Glenn College senior director of Washington operations and an academic instructor. “Washington is an economy of ideas and thoughts and plans and policies. It’s very, very intellectual. The thinking power inside the beltway is really fundamental.”  

So, too, is the intellectual power of The Ohio State University, and the Glenn College’s Washington, D.C., programming provides a bridge crucial for fulfilling the university’s land-grant mission to Ohio and the nation. 

Ohio’s robust economy, which if it were a nation would rank as the 34^th largest in the world by gross domestic product, underscores the necessity for the Glenn College to engage in national policy development, Gaspar said. 

Washington, D.C.’s professional and cultural setting enriches learners’ skills, capabilities and knowledge, preparing them for future success. Study tours of D.C. landmarks and professional development workshops with public service and policy professionals further augment the experience. 

When John Glenn served as a U.S. Senator, he noticed how committees and hearings often highlighted the expertise and perspectives of the coastal universities rather than the Midwest “flyover states,” as he called them.  

He called on The Ohio State University and the then-John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy to bridge that gap by giving students the knowledge and inspiration for public service in the nation’s capital.  

Herb Asher, director of the institute, worked closely with Glenn to establish WAIP in 2000. 

“It was open to all students, not just those in the Glenn College or studying political science,” Asher said. 

Asher and Glenn wanted WAIP to give students insight and experience toward a public service career rather than simply a one-time internship. 

 “I said we probably need to have richer experiences in the internships, and it may be good at some point to have a major in public affairs,” he said. “That happened some years later.” 

The institute began programming that continues in WAIP to this day, finding internships for students in fields that reflect their particular areas of academic interest, such as Capitol Hill, federal departments and agencies, policy centers, news organizations, international organizations and art and history museums. 

“Our presence in Washington is much more than student programming. It’s faculty involvement, testifying at committees, awards at the state and federal level. What we’re seeing here is the college is playing a more significant role,” said Asher, now a Professor Emeritus of political science and Distinguished Adjunct Professor with the Glenn College. “The college itself has more programs, whether those are links to federal departments such as the defense or commerce departments or more linkages on campus with other academic units, and all of those have ties with Washington and the federal budget.”  

Charles Wise, faculty emeritus and founding director of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, which followed the institute in 2006, said WAIP was a foundation block to build the college’s presence in Washington. 

“Since then, the object is to afford the college more comprehensive capabilities with regard to the federal government. The objective is to share not only the college’s but Ohio State’s vast expertise with those in the federal government to inform public policy and the management of federal programs,” Wise said.   

“The college has developed some capability in acting as a bridge from Ohio State to the federal government, which is important not only for the federal sector but for Ohio,” Wise said. “Ohio benefits from federal policies and programs and needs to be accurately represented in federal programs, and our involvement makes a down payment on making that happen.” 

One of Wise’s objectives as the school’s founding director was to grow it into a national and international presence to match that of The Ohio State University. 

“I served in the federal government as director of intergovernmental affairs for the Department of Justice, and there were many, many things that I learned and saw — many dynamics of federal management and policymaking,” Wise said. “I wanted to make sure that, in our instruction and our programs at the Glenn College, those dynamics were fully understood and incorporated into our research and teaching. That’s what it means if you’re going to have a comprehensive public service education program. You need to have more faculty and students engaged in federal government and federal policymaking, so they have an understanding of what it is and what its significance is.” 

Faculty and staff draw on their experience and expertise to guide Glenn College students through the ever-changing landscape in Washington, from the shifts with each new administration to transformations such as generative AI and quantum computing that offer vast new opportunities and redefining the nature of work. 

“The new administration’s changes may seem novel in government, yet they reflect long-established private-sector practices, making a business perspective valuable,” Gaspar said. “Government operations traditionally minimize risk, while businesses thrive on rapid change — a strategy Republicans embraced during roughly 12 years of Congressional control following the 1994 midterms. In 2006, Democrats gained the majority and swiftly held hearings to reverse billions of dollars in outsourced functions, claiming many were inherently governmental. Although today’s pivot appears dramatic, the nation’s $25 trillion economy relies on strong federal roles, and some positions will likely return to private contracts managed by public officials.”  

“Naturally, students feel concern, so we counsel them to remain flexible and prepare for shifting demands in governance, business and civil society,” Gaspar said. 

Girth prioritizes critical analysis and historical context in her classes to encourage students to examine how current shifts affect governance, policy implementation and public trust and to reinforce the essential role of merit-based civil service in ensuring competence, continuity and nonpartisanship in government.   

“Just as importantly, as we all grapple with the breakneck speed at which these changes are unfolding, I have made space for open, respectful discussions, where students can voice their concerns, questions and perspectives,” Girth said.

Many two-way connections between Ohio State and Washington, D.C., give the Glenn College those opportunities to broaden students’ perspectives on federal public service.  

“We maintain strong ties with the highly capable Ohio State Government Affairs team and an extensive network of active alumni in the greater Washington, D.C., area, ensuring students have access to influential connections,” said Gaspar. “Professional development workshops and study tours unite alumni expertise with outstanding venues, offering participants the best Washington has to offer.” 

 “I feel like I am living John Glenn’s vision,” said Haley Foster, a 2022 MPA-DC graduate who is associate manager of executive networks at the Partnership for Public Service in Washington. “Without a program like MPA-DC, how would a first-generation college student from an impoverished area of Ohio get the opportunity to design and lead sessions at the White House for members of a presidential administration? These are the folks leading policy areas across government, and I get to interact with and support their learning journey. 

“My work encourages and enables federal employees to do their jobs and make the world a better place,” Foster said. “There truly is no greater or more fulfilling type of work than serving those who serve us all.” 

Read the latest edition of Public Address, the Glenn College magazine.