What are your role and primary responsibilities at the Academy?

As a research associate for the studies side of the Academy, I get to participate in most aspects of the Academy's funded research projects, largely focusing on organizations within the federal government studies. I am responsible for much of the administrative work that goes on during a study, such as setting up interviews, taking notes, preparing deliverables, and communicating with the client. As a research associate, I am also helping out with the research, reviewing documents, and benchmarking. I work closely with the project director, attend touch base meetings with the client, and prepare agendas for all meetings. My roles change day-to-day and shift depending on the project, but there is always something to do and interesting research to delve into.

I am also a member of the Intern Programming Team and I get to meet with the interns every week to talk about their work at the Academy and any challenges they may be facing. Finally, I provide support on the Management Matters newsletter and input news stories related to our Grand Challenges daily.

What do you like best about working at the Academy?

My favorite part of the Academy is the people. The Academy is a small organization, and this allows us to build relationships with everyone we work with. I enjoy our days in the office where we go out on lunch trips and are able to sit down and talk about our work and our lives. I have really enjoyed being a member of the Academy’s intramural teams, including cornhole and kickball. These allow for great bonding outside of work.

I also really enjoy the people we get to meet and the connections we make through our work with federal agencies. We have the opportunity to speak with some of the most influential people in the federal government and learn about the practices they have developed and implemented. Working with people who have such a passion for their work is something I greatly appreciate.

Which of the 12 Grand Challenges in Public Administration resonates the most with you?

All of the Grand Challenges are important, and I am lucky to look into them daily through my work on Management Matters. If I was to pick some that resonate with me the most, they would include “Protect Electoral Integrity and Enhance Voter Experience” and “Foster Social Equity”. I have had the privilege of working with the Strategic Initiatives side of the Academy on an election project where we are diving into potential practices to improve voter experience, public trust, the election workforce, and more. This has given me an appreciation for the work that is being done, it has educated me on the intricacies of running elections in the United States, and it reminded me of the great importance of electoral integrity in our democracy.

“Foster Social Equity” is a Grand Challenge that we are confronted with every day, and it is a large topic to tackle. However, I see great importance in including this topic in the focus areas of the Academy. The Academy, through our work and the work of our Fellows, is in a unique position to make real change on this topic and I am excited to see the work that is being done.

Why is public service important to you?

Throughout high school and college, I always knew that I wanted to be a part of the government and I knew that I wanted to be working towards meaningful change. It was not until late in my college career that I realized how important the work of public servants truly is. Public service is important to me because that is where the real change happens. Working as a public servant and with public servants has shown me that we are the people fighting for change and working with our communities to bring them the best outcome. Working for the Academy has allowed me to better understand public service and truly appreciate all the people in our local and federal governments who are fighting to make the system work better for everyone.

What is your favorite hobby or interest outside of the office?

One of my favorite things to do outside of work is to read. I love to read fictional books and even participate in the Academy’s book club readings. I also love spending an evening with my roommates watching a show or movie. Being relatively new to Washington, DC, I also enjoy exploring the area, finding amazing restaurants, and taking advantage of how walkable the city is.

What is your favorite travel destination, either past or future?

Earlier this year, my sister was studying abroad in Madrid, Spain and I was able to go visit her with my two roommates. This was an amazing experience since I studied Spanish in college but was unable to study abroad due to COVID. We spent the entire week finding fun places to eat, exploring castles, and walking all over the city. We had an Airbnb with plenty of beds, so we had many sleepovers with my sister and her friends, and we spent the nights playing lots of loud card games. Being able to see such an amazing city, spend time with my sister, and practice my Spanish all made this a great trip!