Internship Location: Hybrid – Madison, WI and Remote
Organization Type: State Government
Policy Areas: Transportation
During the summer of 2023, I had the opportunity to work for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) as a Program and Policy Analyst in the Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives (DBSI). This internship was through the State of Wisconsin Student Diversity Internship Program (SWSDIP). Within DBSI, I worked in the Performance, Research, and Library Section. In this role, I participated in regular staff meetings, attended the Safety First Taskforce and Wisconsin Non-Driver Advisory Committee meetings, and conducted research relevant to the Department. I wrote issue papers on oral fluids testing and aerial surveillance traffic enforcement. I also completed literature searches on mechanically stabilized earth walls and wrote a research brief about a data governance project for WisDOT. I relied heavily on my experience in PA 873: Introduction to Policy Analysis, as my issue papers were a similar format to the policy analysis project I completed for the course. PA 871: Program Evaluation also helped me evaluate the quality of the research I reviewed for these projects. My WisDOT internship was a rewarding experience that affirmed my decision to pursue my MPA, and I look forward to further developing my policy analysis skills for future work.