She wanted to be a doctor. Public Policy and Law Showed Her a Different Way of Driving Change.
Abbey Basa (MPP-JD’26) is pursuing public policy and law degrees to tackle systemic challenges in education and healthcare.
Abbey Basa (MPP-JD’26) grew up in rural Appalachia, where few of her high school peers went on to pursue higher education. Basa, like many of her friends, held ambitions to become doctors, lawyers, or leaders in their communities. However, guidance on how to reach those paths was limited.
“We didn’t have many upper-level class options or opportunities for career advising, so it was hard to imagine what was possible,” says Basa.
At the same time, Basa watched her mother, a dietician, navigate a variety of healthcare settings in West Virginia – from hospitals to nursing homes. Basa herself worked as an activities director in a healthcare facility. Being surrounded by healthcare professionals opened her eyes to the challenges burdening rural healthcare systems, many of which she believed were rooted in public policy decisions.
She recalls this realization coming to a head during the Covid-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic, there were major shortages of life-saving resources, and I realized how different access looks depending on where you live,” she says.
These experiences sparked Basa’s interest in education and healthcare. Initially, she considered becoming a doctor, and even completed medical school prerequisites during her undergraduate years, but she quickly realized that pursuing a medical degree would not allow her to dive deeper into the systemic challenges she hoped to solve.
Abbey Basa (MPP-JD’26) at the Georgetown University Capitol Campus
Drawn to the intersection of policy and law, Basa applied and was accepted into the McCourt School’s master’s in public policy and Georgetown University’s Law Program to pursue a juris doctor.
Fusing public policy and legal training
As a dual-degree student, Basa sees her law degree as providing her with a foundational layer of how systems work, while her policy degree gives her the context to help serve communities within the law. In her view, policy creates more opportunity for change, as policy priorities shift depending on values and leadership.
Abbey Basa (MPP-JD’26) at the McCourt School of Public Policy on 125 E St.
“Law defines the boundaries. Policy determines priorities and implementation,” Basa explains.
Basa describes one of the most transformative aspects of her dual-degree experience as being a part of a collaborative learning community at the McCourt School, an environment she describes as unlike any other.
“Law school has been incredibly valuable, and I’m surrounded by some of the smartest people I’ve ever met,” she notes. “At the same time, McCourt feels uniquely collaborative. People are constantly debating housing policy, international development and taxes, and are genuinely excited about it. I had never been in a place where people were thrilled to talk about policy just for the sake of learning.”
As a policy student, she’s been encouraged to dive deeper into healthcare and education, inspired by her classmates’ excitement for discussing policy beyond the classroom.
“The excitement for policy really lives within people at McCourt,” she says.
She describes the McCourt School as a place where policy conversations extend well beyond the required coursework. Students regularly gather in common spaces around campus to exchange ideas, and it’s not uncommon to join a policy discussion mid-conversation. “If you don’t know something, you can just say, ‘tell me more about that,’ and people are happy to explain,” she says.
At the McCourt School, Basa has also been involved in several extracurricular activities, including GU Politics, where she served as a student strategist. She has also been involved in the student-led Latino Policy Organization, as well as the European Policy Organization.
Basa also offers advice for students considering a joint MPP-JD. “Before applying, really think about why both degrees excite you,” she says. “Once you’re in school, stay curious. Talk to everyone: lawyers, policy professionals, journalists. Those conversations shaped my path more than anything else.”
Outside of the classroom, Basa also works in a legal role, where she advises healthcare systems and universities on how to respond to policy and regulatory changes. She plans to continue this work after completing her joint programs.
Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and Law Center were both named in TIME Magazine’s 2026 ranking for Best Colleges for Future Leaders.