Hometown
Highlands Ranch, CO
Undergraduate education
Bachelor’s degree in microbiology and philosophy, minor in bioethics, University of Idaho
Employer
Climate Solutions for Health Lab, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Job Title
PhD candidate and graduate researcher
Start Date
June 2022
Primary job responsibilities
As a PhD candidate, my job responsibilities can change on a daily basis. But over the long-term, my responsibility is to finish my dissertation and plan of research. This includes three research projects that contribute in a meaningful way to environmental studies and policy. I also mentor and guide undergraduate students in policy research, assisting them in projects that may or may not feed into my own overarching research. There are also times where I am asked by my PhD advisor to do smaller projects related to climate policy and health such as writing policy memos, assisting in policy briefs, and attending conferences (policy, academic, etc.) to communicate evidence-based policies.
Describe a project that best illustrates your job
A main project in my research is reading and analyzing the energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to understand the health and equity implications of the historic law. This includes reading the law itself, translating it to plain language, and then using qualitative health and equity criteria to analyze how sections within the IRA will benefit or cause harm to health and equity.
How do you use what you learned at La Follette on the job?
Much of my job responsibilities and my research are related to policy analysis, specifically analyzing climate policy on their health and equity implications. Much of what I use and learned about policy analysis came from La Follette, particularly Intro to Policy Analysis, Policymaking Process, and Health Systems and Policy. On a less academic note, I also use my networking skills that I built and practiced while at La Follette.
What experiences shaped your decision to pursue a master’s degree in public affairs?
When I was an undergraduate student studying both microbiology and philosophy, I wanted to pursue a graduate degree that could help me connect these two seemingly separate disciplines. I decided to apply my microbiology degree towards public health which led me to the Master of Public Health program. When I thought about how to apply my philosophy degree, I came up with a few options but ultimately settled on policy, and the MPA in general, as a way to come up with solutions to complex problems, particularly as it related to human wellbeing and dignity.
What drew you to the La Follette School? Did you consider anywhere else?
I applied to several schools that had dual-degree options related to public health and policy. UW–Madison was on the top of my list because of the opportunities for funding that other schools did not have. Though I knew it may be hard to find an assistantship at a university where I had no prior connections, the availability of assistantships at UW–Madison was a huge plus. I was also drawn to La Follette because it had small class sizes, and the curriculum gave students the ability to have a core foundation of skills while also taking classes that fit within their interest. Since I was not entirely sure which topic in policy I wanted to pursue, I appreciated the flexibility of the curriculum. This was incredibly true once I started the program and added the energy analysis and policy certificate which allowed me to follow my interest in energy and climate policy while still working towards my MPA.
Project assistantships while at La Follette
I had two different assistantships while at La Follette. First, I had a project assistantship with the College of Letters and Science where I helped run a fellowship for graduate students. While this was not related to any research I was interested in at the time, I appreciated the experience it gave me working with an office space. After my first year at La Follette (second year in graduate school overall due to my dual-degree program), I was able to receive a research assistantship with a professor I was already doing student hourly research for. This position gave me the most experience to what I am doing now by giving me the time to learn how to do effective research.
Most rewarding experience at the La Follette School
The most rewarding experience at La Follette was the chance to work with my fellow classmates who turned into great and close friends. The small class sizes gave me the opportunity to talk and connect with other people, whether they had similar or different policy interests. These friends are now part of my network of people working in policy that only adds to the larger network of La Follette alumni. I am truly so thankful for the people I met while at La Follette.
Most challenging experience at the La Follette School
The most challenging experience for me was the introduction to statistical analysis course, partly because it was entirely online (Spring 2020). But, I was able to get through it fine with the help of student-led study groups!
Why would you recommend the La Follette School?
La Follette has an excellent support staff that will go above and beyond to help students. If you are struggling with a class, there are staff who are willing to hear your concerns and come up with solutions. If you need help with your resume or career advice, they have fantastic staff to help you through the process (major shoutout to Marie Koko!). I always felt supported by the staff, which was incredibly important as a dual-degree student who had to work with two separate schools!
If any La Follette alumni, faculty members, or friends have helped you with your career path, who was it and how did he or she assist?
Mary Michaud was a HUGE mentor to me, and I don’t think I would be the same person without her. She is not only a phenomenal teacher (health policy, systems thinking, people-first policy analysis, etc.), but she is truly such a caring, empathetic, and beautiful human being. Whenever I needed advice about my next steps, she was always willing to make time and chat with me. I cannot give enough compliments to Mary!
Mo O’Connor was also very helpful when it came to organizing my dual-degree schedule and plan. She always knew the answers to my questions and was willing to meet with me to make sure I was on track to finish both degrees. She was always willing to connect me with alumni or other students who may have more advice to give.
Marie Koko was a resource that I used a lot when thinking about how to shape the skills I had from my MPA to a resume or CV. When I was looking for internships, she not only looked over my resume but also met with me to go over what I should expect during the interview. Her weekly Google sheets with internship and job opportunities is such a great resource that I wish all programs had one!
Favorite book, podcast, app, Madison restaurant …
If you ever want to go down the rabbit hole of organization, I would highly recommend looking into the app/website Notion. It has helped me organize not only my academic projects, but also my life in general.