W&M Public Policy Program

10/22/2026

Meet Gabi, a first-year BA+MPP student from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Her policy interests center on education policy, specifically early childhood education (ECE).

This summer, Gabi interned at UnidosUS as a Policy Advocacy Intern, where she researched ongoing legislation that impacts the ECE workforce. As part of her internship, she traveled to Los Angeles to attend the UnidosUS 2026 Education Summit. There, Gabi interviewed students, parents, and leaders and attended the Committee for Education Funding’s Hill of Advocacy Day, where she spoke to Congressional offices. In her free time, she enjoys intramural soccer and catching up with her family in Maryland and Kansas City!

This year, Gabi is excited to get closer to her cohort, develop her quantitative skills, and take her research skill set to another level.

10/21/2026

10/15/2026

Meet Mary, a first-year BA+MPP student from Fairfield, Connecticut. Her policy interests include tax and economic development policy. Recently, she had the opportunity to intern in DC for a US Senator and in her district for a House Representative, which allowed her to explore the legislative and constituent service sides of policy. In her free time, she loves to bake, cross-stitch, and line dance!

This year, Mary looks forward to broadening her policy interests and gaining a better understanding of different policy areas, particularly law.

10/08/2026

Meet Austin, a second-year MPP student from Rustburg, Virginia. His policy interests are centered on local government, education, economic justice, and law. This summer, he interned at the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the largest nonpartisan, interfaith advocacy organization in Virginia that advocates for economic, racial, and social justice. In his free time, Austin likes to read, write, spend time outside, and play bluegrass.

This semester, he is looking forward to developing his skills and seeing more of his peers!

10/02/2026

In Professor Joosse and Houck’s fall class in the Global Scholars Program, students participated in a US-Canada bilateral trade negotiation in class to wrap up their unit on global trade policy. Good news – they came to an agreement! Solving the world’s problems, one class at a time.

10/01/2026

This Tuesday, the Public Policy Program celebrated Exploration Week with coffee and donuts at Chancellors Hall. It was wonderful to have conversations with so many students and answer their questions about the program! ☕🍩

10/01/2026

Meet Mai, a second-year MPP student from Midlothian, Virginia. Their policy interests include education policy, election policy, and environmental justice. This summer, they interned at the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, which focuses on statewide environmental justice advocacy. On campus, Mai is a member of the Cheese Club, serves as Events Coordinator for Salsa Club, President of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), and Vice President MPP representative in the Graduate Student Association.

This semester, Mai is excited to explore as many policy and advocacy opportunities as possible!

09/24/2026

Meet Francesca, a first-year BA+MPP student from Glastonbury, England. Her policy interests include health and foreign policy. This summer, she had the opportunity to work for her local Member of Parliament in Bath, England. In her free time, she loves to play tennis (or any other sport) and is on the varsity tennis team at W&M!

This year, Francesca is looking forward to connecting with her cohort and to the great networking and career events that the program has to offer.

09/17/2026

Meet Peerawut, a second-year BA/MPP student from Alexandria, Virginia (and Bangkok, Thailand). His policy interests include international development, national security, immigration, foreign assistance, higher education, and constitutional issues. This summer, he interned at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Global Development Department. On campus, Peerawut serves as a Student Affairs Graduate Assistant, and he is also involved in Student Assembly and The Flat Hat.

This semester, Peerawut is excited to take international law at the W&M Law School!

09/14/2026

The Global Scholars Program kicked off the year with the Global Policy and American Statecraft cohorts!

W&M's Global Scholars Program offers students a unique, cohort-based experiential learning opportunity that cultivates creative thinkers, principled decision-makers, and compassionate global citizens, and prepares them to become leaders in global policy and research roles across the government, non-profit, and private sectors.

Students from the Global Policy cohort will explore the intersection of academic research and public policy to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Concurrently, the American Statecraft cohort will explore the past, present, and future of American statecraft, with a focus on coordination of the U.S. instruments of power.