What did you study at OSU?
I studied Political Science and English, with minors in International Studies and History, and earned research distinction awarded by the Sociology Department.

What is your current position and where do you work?
I am the Washington Programs Manager for the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State. I am located in Washington, D.C.

What does your work involve?
I oversee the recruitment, placement, and professional development of students in the Washington Academic Internship Program. I help students studying policy, politics, and international relations find internships for their semester in D.C. and serve as instructor of record for Public Affairs 4191.02. Additionally, I plan all professional development programming (such as panels and agency visits), match students with mentors, and serve as a resource for the D.C. alumni community as needed. I have worked with over 200 students since joining the team 3.5 years ago, and I handle everything from prospective student questions to assigning final grades.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I greatly enjoy seeing the growth in our students. I work with them for an average of about eight months, and in that time, I see them develop confidence in themselves and their abilities. My favorite part of my work (task-wise) is helping students grow comfortable with networking. I enjoy connecting students with alumni and strengthening Buckeye bonds in the nation’s capital. The students I worked with when I first started are now returning to D.C. to pursue advanced degrees or begin their careers, so I see their development beyond their semester as well.

How did you get into this line of work?
I moved to this role after spending some time working in health policy with the FDA and the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. I discovered I greatly enjoyed working with volunteers and helping them prepare for meetings with elected officials, so moving to career coaching felt like a perfect next step. The skill set I used when working with our advocate leaders is similar to the one needed in this role, so when I saw the position open, I knew it was time to come home to Ohio State and help expand the programs that made opportunities like mine at the FDA possible.

What transferable skills from your undergrad studies are you using in your current career?
I use critical thinking, teamwork, professionalism, and communication daily. I developed these skills as a political science student (especially with my focus on conflict and cooperation and campaign work) and have been able to resolve issues related to housing, student conduct, supervisors, and political impacts thanks to the focus political science put on critically examining different issues. The political science major also gave me the background knowledge about D.C. and how our government works to successfully train future public servants and help foster relationships across the aisle.

How has your background in political science influenced your work?
My background in political science developed my passion for public service and allowed me to build experience through internships and study abroad opportunities. As a political science undergrad, I interned with organizations like the Ohio House Democratic Caucus, New Visions Group, and the Ohio Democratic Party, all opportunities presented by the department newsletter. Additionally, the coursework challenged me to evaluate conflicting opinions without bias and gave me the tools to facilitate discussions while working with people from all backgrounds. The university motto, “Education for Citizenship,” is directly tied to the learning environment created by the political science department, and I work toward this mission using the skills developed in the major every day.

Any advice for those looking to enter your field?
Focus on relationship building! D.C. is a city where who you know often matters more than what you know. Networking is an essential career skill no matter where you go, but in D.C., and in my role, it is what creates opportunities and helps us develop strong connections to employers, alumni, and other stakeholders. Don’t be afraid to connect with folks working in roles you aspire to, and never hesitate to connect with other Buckeyes.

Anything else you’d like to share?
Take advantage of the unique course offerings OSU Political Science has. I took a misinformation/disinformation course my last semester of undergrad, and it completely reshaped my worldview. The work in that class has become more applicable over time and has taught me how to converse in a chaos-filled time. Take classes outside of your specific area of interest to help expand your worldview and learn how larger systems in American life interact.