This story is part of a series that highlights La Follette’s employer connections and the career opportunities available to students after they graduate. On September 26, an Eat & Greet will bring together La Follette students and graduates currently working in the State Capitol to network and discuss working in the unique environment.
The La Follette School of Public Affairs prepares graduate students to work in a variety of fields and industries. With the Wisconsin State Capitol less than a mile from campus, it makes sense that many of its students make the hike up State Street to work in the legislature post-graduation.
In fact, more than 60 La Follette alumni currently work in political offices in the State Capitol or in the non-partisan legislative service agencies that assist the legislature in policymaking.
Recent graduate Ryan Ring (MPA ‘25) is among the alumni working in political offices. He serves as a research assistant for the Office of Representative Alex Dallman, a member of the Joint Committee on Finance. Although his position is ideal for someone steeped in the rigors of a La Follette education, Ring believes there are many roles for La Follette alumni interested in legislative politics.
“There are a wide variety of career opportunities in the State Capitol for someone with a degree in public affairs. Some of the primary roles include Legislative Assistant, Research Assistant, Committee Clerk, and Policy Advisor,” Ring says. “Capitol staff also work closely with nonpartisan legislative service agencies such as the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Legislative Audit Bureau and the Legislative Reference Bureau.”
La Follette also has many students filling internship positions in the Capitol as a requirement for its growing undergraduate certificate program. These internships ensure that students have impactful, real-world experiences that help communities across Wisconsin.
A core feature of a La Follette education is its focus on experiential learning and connections to potential employers, with many opportunities to explore workplaces where students could thrive and maximize their La Follette education. “Having worked in the legislature prior to earning my MPA, I now fully recognize how impactful my education at La Follette has been,” Ring says. “My education at La Follette not only sharpened my skills as a policy analyst but also strengthened my ability to think critically and approach challenges with better perspectives.”
To highlight the many employment opportunities for students interested in legislative politics and connect students with La Follette alumni currently working in the field, La Follette is partnering with the Department of Political Science to host a State Capitol Eat & Greet on September 26 from 3:30–5:30 p.m. in the Assembly Parlor of the State Capitol. Ring will be joined by Rebecca Hogan (Poli Sci), Christa Pugh (MPA ’14), and Joel Rivlin (Poli Sci) as alumni panelists who will share their experiences working in the Capitol.
Ring recently appeared on the Department of Political Science’s 1050 Bascom podcast to discuss the Eat & Greet and employment opportunities in the Capitol for public policy majors.
The Wisconsin Idea, bringing the benefits of education beyond the classroom, is central the La Follette School’s mission. In this spirit, La Follette continues to expand the popular Eat & Greet networking series launched in the Spring of 2024. These gatherings are dedicated to connecting current students with policy experts working in a related field. In addition to the State Capitol Eat & Greet, La Follette will also host a Local Government Eat & Greet on October 24, and a Higher Education Eat & Greet on November 14. These events are supported by the Ascendium Education Group.
La Follette Connection
The La Follette School offers students hands-on experiences and opportunities to make connections with alumni and other friends of the school who work in important policy roles. La Follette’s strong employer connections help our students find and excel in roles in a variety of organizations. This spring, we will explore some of the many ways that La Follette prepares our students for successful careers through a series of stories highlighting employer relationships and student experiences.