Public policy certificate student Alexa Iraheta spent the summer in Washington, D.C. completing an internship at the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics (WHHI). Iraheta’s interest in the program was sparked after she heard a presentation on the organization’s work focused on Latine students from K-12 and higher education at the 2023 National Conference on Race and Ethnicity. “As a Latina who is interested in education policy, this organization was in alignment with my interests and identity, which enhanced my experience here this past summer,” says Iraheta.
A major takeaway from Iraheta’s internship experience has been the importance of having Latine leaders in government. She says the work of government plays a big role in people’s lives, and having Latine leaders to give input is a crucial step towards equity. She also learned the importance of the WHHI Interagency Working Group, an organization that includes several federal government agencies to submit reports of agency resources that increase educational and economic opportunities for Hispanics and Latines. “This is something I find very important, as it serves as a type of oversight on participating agencies to see if they are committed to strengthening the link between the Latine people and the government,” Iraheta says.
Iraheta’s favorite part of her summer experience was the opportunity to work in a cohort of brilliant interns who were all Latine. “It was very inspiring and motivating to hear their leadership stories back at school,” she says. “Not only that, but how great team players they were. The experience would have been less impactful without them.” Another highlight for Iraheta was participating in the Brown Lunch Bag series, run by the Department of Education hosting lawyers, confidential assistants, executive directors, chiefs of staff, and even the Deputy Secretary of Education to speak on their experiences to interns. “Attending this series helped me better understand the importance of job roles you apply for and how each role is unique,” she says.
The La Follette School successfully prepared Iraheta for her internship role by supplying her with the foundations of thinking analytically and emphasizing the importance of data. “There was an on-site visit and event where I took the initiative to collect data on the WHHI programming, students’ feelings on educational issues, and feedback for the Department of Education and WHHI through a survey,” Iraheta says. “Doing research papers in my Public Affairs 380 course showed me the importance of data for improving policies and programs. I applied what I learned from class and put it into action by using the survey results for the office’s future programming.”
Iraheta says she loves what she does because she is passionate about being in spaces where policy is made and received, as it affects all people. She is interning at the Wisconsin Assembly this fall and is excited to use her passions and writing experiences to conduct research projects in her work. Iraheta says her La Follette coursework showed her how much she cares about education policy and solidified her interest in pursuing a career in public policy. “In the future I hope to work in the government, a think-tank, or nonprofit that focuses on education policy and other policy areas,” she says.
– Story by Clare Brogan