Class of 2025 Alumni Share Career Updates and Advice for Upcoming Graduates

Santiago Vidal Calvo (MPP’25)

Santiago Vidal Calvo (MPP’25) is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute, where he conducts research on government accountability and transparency through Freedom of Information Law requests, analyzes public data to assess policy outcomes and contributes to immigration research on labor markets, civic integration and related urban policy issues. He also handles foreign policy analysis for the Manhattan Institute. Beyond his role, Calvo is pursuing a PhD at Texas A&M University and serving as a Stand Together fellow at the Koch Associate Program.

Calvo highlights how McCourt equipped him with strong data analysis skills that he uses to evaluate spreadsheets, interpret quantitative evidence and support policy research. The program also trained him to approach problems through an economics and public policy lens, helping him think systematically about incentives, tradeoffs and how government decisions affect institutions, labor markets and city outcomes.

His advice to upcoming grads: “Stay open-minded about your first step and focus on building skills that travel well across roles, especially strong writing, data literacy and clear analytical thinking. It is also worth looking for positions where you can learn how institutions actually work in practice, because early career experience that teaches you how to frame problems, work with evidence and communicate clearly will pay off over time.”

Moritz Ludwig (MPP’25)

Moritz Ludwig (MPP’25) serves as protocol officer and social secretary to the ambassador at the German Embassy in Washington, DC, where he supports Ambassador Jens Hanefeld with organizing weekly events at the residence that draw up to 2,000 guests.

His path into diplomacy and policy was paved at McCourt, where he served as the events graduate assistant in Georgetown University’s Office of Strategic Communications and as president of the European Policy Organization. Courses like “The Art of Diplomacy,” fellowships in Doha, Qatar and Tokyo, Japan, in addition to a semester abroad in Singapore, gave him the foundation for his current role.

Ludwig highlights the importance of optimism for graduates seeking employment. “The job hunt can be overwhelming sometimes, but it’s important to stay optimistic and strategic,” he says. “Use your network and talk to as many people as you can — they might not have a job for you, but can keep an eye out for openings.”

Holt Cochran (MS-DSPP’25)

Holt Cochran (MS-DSPP’25) is a senior data scientist at Humana in Washington, DC, where he works on a health policy team conducting impact analysis on the health insurance company’s Star Ratings program in Medicare Advantage’s healthcare plan.

McCourt, Cochran says, challenged him to think critically about solutions to complex policy problems. “More than the valuable analytical skills that I learned, McCourt taught me how to apply them in constructive ways,” he says. “That practical approach has directly benefitted my career.”

Cochran emphasizes that his path to Humana was not without its obstacles and encourages job-seekers to persevere through setbacks. “I had my initial job offer fall through the week before graduation; I didn’t get my current job until months after that. Keep your head up and stick with the job hunt: it all works out in the end.”

Maleeha Hameed (MIDP’25)

Maleeha Hameed (MIDP’25) is a senior policy analyst at the Center for Global Development in Washington, working with the organization’s president, Rachel Glennerster, in the Education and Child Well-Being Program. Her work focuses on two main projects. She helps produce the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel’s upcoming Smart Buys report, conducting systematic reviews and cost-effectiveness analyses to identify what works in education policy. She also helps develop open-access tools for measuring learning outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Both projects aim to give policymakers and donors better evidence for their education investments. 

Hameed credits the MIDP program with equipping her with a strong analytical foundation through rigorous training in econometrics and applied economics, which enables her to assess the quality and relevance of evidence. Capstone and research opportunities at gui2de allowed her to apply those skills to real-world policy questions, while the program’s global cohort broadened her perspective.

Hameed’s advice to the Class of 2026: “Try to focus on roles that feel like a meaningful next step, even if they’re not your ‘end goal,’” she says. “ Put in the time to really prepare for applications and interviews — it makes a big difference. And don’t do it alone — lean on your peers and the McCourt community (faculty, staff and alumni), especially during periods of uncertainty, because having that support genuinely helps.”

Abril Hunter (MPP’25)

Abril Hunter (MPP’25) is chief of staff to the vice chair of the Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee in the Maryland General Assembly. She oversees day-to-day operations, including scheduling, communications and overall office coordination, and helps manage a 27-bill legislative portfolio. Hunter also serves as the senator’s primary advisor, supporting strategy, briefings and the execution of key legislative priorities.

McCourt, she says, helped her better understand how important it is to use evidence and data to guide policymaking, and how that becomes even more powerful when it is paired with real-world experience. “The program reinforced that collaboration, analytical problem-solving and open-mindedness, along with diverse perspectives, are what make policy solutions actually work in practice,” she says.

For the Class of 2026, Hunter offers a reminder that there is no single timeline for success. “Trust that everyone’s timing looks different,” she says. “The job market, especially in policy, can feel scarce right now, but McCourt really prepares you to be an absolute asset in any organization because of how it builds your skills in real-world problem solving. Stay open, stay persistent and trust that the right opportunity will come together.”

Gabriel Soto (MS-DSPP’25)

Gabriel Soto (MS-DSPP’25) is based in Washington, DC,  and works at the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Independent Evaluation Office. At the IMF, he evaluates the effectiveness and timeliness of the organization’s policies and programs. Using text analysis and machine learning techniques, he extracts insights through mixed methods of econometrics and quantitative data and identifies patterns that reinforce recommendations to improve the IMF’s role.

McCourt, he says, gave him the foundational knowledge to hit the ground running in his current role. 

Soto’s advice for the Class of 2026 is rooted in optimism: “If you flew from very far away to be here and to graduate with your colleagues, you are in the top one percent of people your age, professionally,” Soto says. “ Tell yourself that every day when you are looking for a job and believe it.” 

Talia Stringfellow (MPP’25)

Talia Stringfellow (MPP’25) works for the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Digital team on Take9, a national consumer protection public awareness campaign focused on combating online fraud and scams by empowering people to take their digital safety into their own hands. Based in Washington, DC, she serves as a senior associate on the campaign and primarily handles stakeholder management.

Stringfellow describes how McCourt is where she developed her passion and expertise in technology policy, consumer protections and digital safety policy. The school sharpened her writing and public speaking skills, both of which she draws on daily. The data interpretation training also left a lasting mark. While her current role does not always call on that skill set, she put it to work in a blog post analyzing the Take9 research for Aspen Digital.

Her advice for 2026 graduates: “Keep your network,” Stringfellow says. “The community I made at McCourt are still my key people professionally and in my personal life in Washington, DC.” “The people you meet are incredible resources, and it’s important to support and uplift each other. My cohort is still in touch and works together to get each other jobs, opportunities, invites and connections.”