Kathleen Easterbrook '08 (Economics) from Burlingame, CA tested out life in the federal government with an internship at the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), where she worked on two independent projects evaluating business taxation policies. Her work taught Kathleen about the nuances of many taxation issues, enabled her to create frameworks to answer research questions, and improved her ability to evaluate the quality and limitations of studies. She found her projects particularly interesting since she was drawn to the GAO by their work on methods of restructuring federal taxation and spending programs as well as their recommendations to reduce the federal budget deficit. Kathleen cares that the government adopts "efficient, effective programs," especially in the areas of taxation, trade policies, and allocation of resources for healthcare and education, and hopes to "help advance responsible government." She is considering graduate school in economics or public policy and plans to eventually work in the government.
Ben Eppler '09 (History/Economics) followed his love of history to the Center for Legislative Archives, where he analyzed primary source documents from the Senate and the House of Representatives. A budding historian from Portland, OR, Ben was excited for the chance to work in "the dynamic setting of our nation's capital, a place where history is constantly being made." He thrives on "engaging in historical analysis" and is exploring the possibility of writing an honors thesis in history, with plans to pursue a career in government. Working with documents from the seat of the US government furthered Ben's passion for recording history, a process he calls " a critical human endeavor."
Patrick Fitzgerald '08 (International Relations) from Sacramento found his internship at The Hill Congressional Newspaper in Washington DC the perfect place to combine his interests in politics and the media. A politics junkie since high school, Patrick once thought he would become a politician but has since discovered his passion for journalism. He has taken on numerous positions at The Stanford Daily, working as Editor-in-Chief this past fall, and interned at The Davis Enterprise last summer. At The Hill, Patrick had the opportunity to closely follow the political scene and discover the nature of government work. Patrick was able to interview Senators and Representatives while walking through hallowed halls in the Capitol, attend press conferences and hearings in the Congressional office buildings, and experience the world of a political reporter. He says, "A fellowship at The Hill provided me with the crucial next step in my development toward a career in journalism and gave me unparalleled access to government and politics."
Mary Ho '09 (Economics) experienced another area of the federal government through an internship with the National Labor Relations Board in Washington DC. Originally from Antelope, CA, she gained interest in working with the government as an employee of the US Army Corps of Engineers. This summer Mary was exposed to legal work and learned a great deal about relations between labor unions and employers. In reviewing cases of unfair labor practices, researching legal precedent and Board Decisions, and preparing memos with her own recommendations, Mary was able to significantly contribute to the work of her fellowship organization. She is interested in improving the health and lives of women and children from low-income families and enjoyed being part of the NLRB's pursuit to ensure the rights of American workers.
Meryl Holt '09 (Public Policy) served as a research intern for Dr. Steven Hochman, a close academic advisor to President Carter, at The Carter Center in Atlanta. From Los Angeles, Meryl has been engaged in human rights groups since high school, including Amnesty International, STAND (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur), and Stanford Students for Choice and admires the culturally sensitive approach The Carter Center takes to confronting the roots of socio-economic problems. An aspiring politician, organizer, and activist, Meryl was able to apply her studies to real-world situations at the Center and to get a taste of what her future career could be like. She says, "The Carter Center exhibits the structural principles, ethical standards, and social responsibility I hope to espouse as a public servant. It exemplifies the mediatory tactics and multilateral strategies critical to my political future."
Kaeche Liburd '08 (Human Biology) delved into the field of health policy at the American Public Health Association. She found her passion for health while working on a diabetes study in her hometown of St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands and realized she wanted to focus on health issues affecting disadvantaged communities. After studying abroad in England, Spain, and South Africa, Kaeche has gained a sense of different health care systems internationally and was glad to have the opportunity to look at health care from a policy perspective this summer. Her long-term career goal is to conduct health education campaigns across Latin America and the Caribbean while educating Americans about the state of health care and health policy within the United States. Foreseeing a life of public service, she says, "I hope to continue being someone who makes positive things happen within my local community and global communities."
Amanda Mendoza '08 (International Relations) from Bowie, MD joined the Partnership for Public Service in their quest to improve government performance and inspire people to engage in public service. Amanda was first drawn to a career in public service after an internship on Capitol Hill with Representative Hilda Solis in 2002; this summer she was able to explore a variety of possible paths. Still undecided about where she is headed after graduation, she welcomed the exposure to numerous projects, including outreach to universities and event planning. She says, "This fellowship provided me with an opportunity to strengthen and refine my commitment to public service with a better idea of how I might want to focus my career."
David Milller '09 (Economics) from San Mateo, CA examined the economic interactions between the US and Mexico at the Trade and NAFTA Office at the Mexican Embassy. In Mexico last summer, David volunteered at a microcredit organization that gives loans to groups of rural women, where he witnessed both positive and negative effects of free trade between the US and Mexico. At the Mexican Embassy, he was able to apply his knowledge of economics to gain a better understanding of the broader situation and learn about development economics and free trade, also gaining insight into how national governments handle trade policy. Focusing in development economics in his coursework at Stanford, David would like to work in a field related to trade and development in the future.
Jessica Vernon '08 (Economics/Political Science) from Sugar Land, TX continued her work with the World Bank in Washington DC, where she interned spring quarter through the Stanford in Washington program. In the spring, she worked with the Regional Program on Enterprise Development for Sub-Saharan Africa, analyzing the constraints faced by firms in African nations that prevent efficient performance. She moved to the Development Research Group for the summer, investigating the effects of trade liberalization in African nations. Jessica became interested in development after volunteering in a Mexican slum with her parents when she was young; she became disillusioned with the work when she realized it wasn't encouraging endogenous change. She spent the past two summers in Africa, interviewing micro-finance bank clients in Tanzania and government officials and private sector leaders in Ghana, gaining a rounded perspective and macro and micro obstacles to growth. The World Bank provided her an opportunity to make the transition from research to policy. Currently working on an honors thesis in economics, Jessica values the exposure she gained through her fellowship and feels it will make her a better policymaker in her future career. She says, "By understanding the barriers faced by firms in developing nations, we can create policies that encourage greater growth and investment."
Ben Eppler (Portland, OR)