About
Growing up the daughter of a US State Department Foreign Service Officer, my life has always been public service-oriented. I graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs in May 2020. Deeply impacted by the ever-rising number of deaths related to COVID-19, I decided to apply to work in my local community as a contact tracer. The experience working as a contact tracer at both the local (Fairfax County Health Department) and state (Virginia Department of Health) levels of government piqued my interest in public health policy. It was rewarding to serve as a liaison between the local and state health departments and my fellow community members. While working as a contact tracer, I began work on a Master’s degree in Public Policy through George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. Through the Schar school’s career services, I learned about the Partnership for Public Service’s “Future Leaders in Public Service” internship program. During my interview for a position within the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), I spoke of my interest in public health policy, and public policy more broadly. After being accepted to the internship program, I was assigned to the USDOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) due to the public health risks inherent within the transportation of hazardous materials - via pipeline, train, truck, airplane, or boat. While the program was originally for one semester (fall 2023), I became eligible for - and accepted - a second semester (spring 2024). After I graduated with my MPP in May 2024, I interviewed for a full-time position as a GS-09 Program Analyst within PHMSA’s Office of the Administrator. I began working in July 2024. Since then, I worked on two Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) grant programs, helped coordinate records management for the office, and provided additional administrative support to PHMSA’s front office team as needed. I was in training to help PHMSA’s FOIA officer reduce backlog cases - and just gained access to FOIAXpress - when I was terminated as a probationary employee in February 2025. I was reinstated in March 2025. I worked in-person at DOT HQ for one more month before I made the difficult decision to accept the USDOT’s second offer for the Deferred Resignation Program. Since taking the DRP, I have connected with various groups and organizations to make professional connections and learn about tips and resources available to me to help with a career transition. I am currently working on preparing to sit the Project Management Institute’s Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam.