Hometown: Rockville, MD
Current position and employer: National Women’s Law Center, Policy Manger, Nominations and Democracy
Why did you choose McCourt? I chose McCourt because as someone who lives outside of D.C., I was seeking more of a tight knit community in my graduate program to better integrate myself into the DC public policy community. I also liked McCourt’s proximity to capitol hill as someone who is very much interested in federal domestic policy.
What professional/ work experience did you have prior to coming to McCourt? Before coming to McCourt, I worked first in government contracting in the translation industry and then transitioned into working as a policy advocate on civil rights, anti-discrimination, and gender justice issues. I began as a Project Manager working in the private sector on government translation, transcription, and interpretation contacts with the Baltimore City Office of the Public Defender, the Maryland Department of Education, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seeking a career pivot, I transitioned into public policy by working as a Social Justice and Public Policy Assistant at the American Humanist Association. I worked as a public policy generalist supporting voting rights, reproductive rights, and anti-discrimination advocacy. Then, I got the opportunity to work as a Policy Associate at the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) where I supported the organizations posture on judicial and executive nominations, with a gender justice lens. Around the same time, I was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to serve as a Substitute Member of the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Substitute Board Members share nearly identical responsibilities as regular board members, the only different being our inability to vote on motions (in most cases) or serve in leadership positions. I am the young member in known history to every be appointed to this board. Most recently, I was promoted at NWLC to serve as the Policy Manager for Nominations and Democracy where I now manage different portfolios of work.
What has been the best part of your experience so far? The best part of my time at McCourt is taking what I learn in the classroom in the evenings, and directly applying it to day to day work in my full time job. I have found what I’ve learned in the classroom to be extremely beneficial to my professional growth and has facilitated my growth into more complex and exciting responsibilities in my day job. I’ve had some incredible professors who have instilled very practical professional skills and academic knowledge. Additionally, the student community at McCourt is excellent and inspires me everyday to be the best version of myself.
Undergraduate University, degree, and major: Washington College, Political Science and Hispanic Studies
Hobbies/ Interests: My hobbies include weight lifting, antiquing and thrifting, and hanging out with friends. I also like to play guitar and sing. As for interests, my focus is domestic with passion for gender justice and civil rights public policy.
Reach out to me about: Balancing full-time work and being a part-time student, being a commuter (living far outside D.C.), and first generation college graduate. Also returning to school after nearly a decade and that transition as someone who is in late twenties early thirties. I also am a public policy person working in a very legal environment which I can provide some prospective.