current-students
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Algara, Carlos Raised in Tacoma, WA, I was attracted to Oregon for their unique and innovative approaches to public policy. After graduating from Washington State University in 2009 with a degree in Political Science, it was imperative that I find a graduate school with an applied approach to public policy. With a focus on social policy, I interned in the Washington office of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) to get a bird's eye view into the policy process at the federal level. While interning for the U.S. Senate, I was able to apply what I learned in the classroom to real-world situations. It was an eye-opening exerience witnessing how federal public policy is crafted and the role of stakeholders across the country. My policy emphasis at Oregon State University is social policy, with an emphasis on immigration patterns and criminal outcomes. I enjoy traveling across the Pacific Northwest, sports, Congressional politics anf public policy.
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Anselm, Marie I was born and raised in Rochester, NY but left the area after high school to attend Clark University in Worcester, MA. Originally an undeclared major, I quickly discovered and fell in love with the field of Geography. After earning a B.A. in Geography, in which I concentrated in human and economic geography, I decided to take time off from my studies and live/travel overseas. Rural development and sustainable agriculture are my main areas of interest, which has led me to work on a number of farms, as well as a farm market coordinator. While at OSU I plan to continue to focus my studies on the development of sustainable agricultural systems - both domestically and abroad - that benefit small-scale producers and the communities in which they live. |
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Babbel, Breannon After growing up in Corvallis, I ventured to Utah where I completed my undergraduate studies in public health. In 2009, I began the MPH program at Oregon State and concurrently entered the Public Policy program in the summer of 2010. My focus with these degrees is in international health policy. In November of 2010 I had the opportunity to participate in the First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Switzerland. This furthered my interests in health systems and international policy and strengthened my desire to achieve universal health coverage, particularly in the U.S. Outside of school, I teach fitness classes in Corvallis and recently starting working for the Marion County Health Department doing tobacco prevention.
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Bene, Heather Policy Interests: Social Major Professor: Brent S. Steel, Political Science Internship: OSU Governmental Relations Awards: Laurels Scholarship |
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Bolick, Zachary Policy Interests: Environment Major Professor: Denise Lach, Sociology Internship: I was born in Chapel Hill, NC but grew up just outside of Nashville, TN. After surviving eighteen years of heat and humidity, I decided it was only appropriate I continue to sweat it out another four years at the University of Tennessee. While in school I majored in Honors Political Science and Global Studies. Additionally, I managed to study abroad in the Czech Republic for one full semester, as well as participate in several summer internships across the country through the Student Conservation Association. Following my graduation I decided to take a break from academia in order to gain some professional experience. Consequently, this led me to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, where I worked as an Interpretive Park Ranger for two seasons. Currently I am an MPP student at Oregon State University focusing on Environmental Policy. As of now, I am most interested in marine and coastal environments and the public administration officials involved in managing these areas. My hope is to come out of the MPP program with an in depth knowledge of the many facets of environmental policy. In turn, this should help me with my eventual goal of becoming an effective agent in natural resource management and policy development. |
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Boyd, Heather I am originally from Oregon and I obtained my B.A. in Sociology from Oregon State University. During my undergraduate career I worked on research projects and co-authored a book chapter on William Chambliss for the Fifty Key Thinkers in Criminology (Inderbitzin & Boyd, 2009). Also during my career as an undergraduate I participated in the regional sociology conference at the Pacific Sociological Association and served as a student voice on department committees and on diversity panels for the Liberal Arts College. I also took advantage of the opportunity to intern at the Department of Human Services Child Welfare, and it was through this experience that I learned about the true importance, and implications, of policy. |
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Carroll, Joey I grew up on a small island in the small town of Petersburg, Alaska where it rains or snows all but about 10 days out of the year. I graduated from Oregon State University in 2006 with a BA in Political Science. After that I worked for a non-profit student housing organization. I have two children, now 2 and 4, who are the most fun part of my life. I returned to Oregon State in 2010 and completed my BA in Economics in 2011. My policy concentration is Crime Policy. I am specifically interested in the crime of trafficking in persons. Most of my studies have focused on the commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of U.S. minors within the U.S. However, I am also interested in current slave labor trends within the U.S. Upon graduation I hope to work for a public or private institution to help develop effective national and community based trafficking prevention policy, both at home and abroad. In what little spare time I have I serve as an at-large board member for the local non-profit Corvallis Community Children’s Centers. |
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Clark, Claire Policy Interests: Social/International Major Professor: Internship: Awards: After growing up in Corvallis, I moved to Eugene, Oregon where I completed an undergraduate degree in French and Political Science. I had the opportunity to spend a year abroad studying in Lyon, France where I attended the Institut d'Études Politiques. In pursuing my degree in Political Science I was especially interested in political theory and, more specifically, feminist theory. These interests led me to pursue a Masters of Public Policy here at Oregon State University so that in the future I can make a real impact on gender equality issues I care most about. |
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Clark, Joseph I am interested in studying federal tax policy, specifically regarding changes in federal income tax rates over the last few decades. Tentatively, I would like to focus on how those changes have affected the growth and stability of individual state economies. I enjoy fishing, crabbing, working on cars, exploring new places, and (more recently) sampling the best microbrews the Pacific Northwest has to offer. |
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Cline, Sarah Most of my life has been spent torn between the urban/suburban East Bay of California and the small community of Glide, Oregon along the North Umpqua River. My undergraduate years took me to McGill University, where I studied International Development and History, focusing on development theory, rural food systems, environmental history, Native communities, and collective identity formation. (I also went through a 'Classical' phase; if you love ancient Greek history, let me know) The mountains of Montreal turned into the plains of Montana as I was hired at Rural Dynamics to help run the Northern Plains Initiative, a regional collaborative addressing the program and policy needs of our rural and Native communities. The issues I encountered were diverse, but I found most interest in the interactions occurring at the interface of small towns and reservations, as well as between state and tribal governments. Entering the MPP program, I am hoping to delve further into these issues and locate policies that build the economic and cultural prosperity of rural places.
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Creighton, Jason I grew up in rural Oregon and joined the United States Coast Guard when I turned 18. I was stationed in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast United States serving as a small boat crew member and aviator on board C-130 aircraft. After my final duty station in Tampa, Florida I attended the University of Tampa to major in Sociology. Following this I was accepted into the MPP program at Oregon State. My reasoning for entering the Master of Public Policy program was founded upon my belief in the importance of examining situations from multiple perspectives. I believe that is the largest asset that this program can offer in that you can analyze and prioritize societal problems using social, economic, and political perspectives. I have an innate interest in understanding the merits behind multiple paradigms even if they are contrary to my personal opinions and the contrast has been a good fit for this program. The culmination of these results in the outputs which allow us to come to well reasoned decisions which affect all members of our society. It is my belief that an awareness of these factors should be the root of all decisions used in public decision making. |
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Croom, Howard
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Dickinson, Kelly Originally from north Idaho, I ventured to Hawaii Pacific University where I majored in marine biology. While studying in Hawaii offered amazing experiences and opportunities, I realized it wasn't quite for me so I transferred to Oregon State University to finish my undergraduate career. I received my B.S. in 2003 with a degree in Environmental Science and an option in Natural Resource and Environmental Law and Policy and I've been in Corvallis ever since. I enjoy going to the Saturday Farmer's Market, shopping at locally-owned businesses, going to summer festivals, and cheering on the Corvallis Knights baseball team. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, discovering new music, sewing and knitting, making freezer jam, taking pictures, hiking, and exploring Oregon. I am currently a volunteer on the Environmental Issues Advisory Committee for the Benton County Board of Commissioners. This position confirmed my research interests in environmental policy and sociology, local and state issues, and community participation and engagement. Other areas of interest include local food systems, coastal issues, and Native American philosophy. In the MPP program, I will be focusing on the Environmental track and minoring in Rural Studies.
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Donin, Daniel
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Dugan, Dennis Policy Interests: Social Policy/Public Policy Theory Major Professor: Andrew Valls, Political Science Internship: I was born and raised in Oregon's Willamette Valley, received a BA in 2006 from OSU in Philosophy and Sociology, and spent so much time in Corvallis I took up disc golf and homebrewing. I'm interested in private property policies, the ways in which normative claims are hidden by the language of public policy, and sustainable local economic development. |
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Erstad, Rachel I grew up on a farm outside of Scobey, MT., a rural community close to Canada and North Dakota. I have lived in the Pacific Northwest for the last four years, and I continue to be impressed by the beauty of this area. I graduated from North Dakota State University in 2008 with degrees in Sociology and English. I then spent two years working for a public advocacy organization in Washington, Ohio, and Michigan, before beginning the Grad school application process. I switched from the English MA program here at OSU after I discovered that my priorities and goals have changed significantly, and public policy is a better fit for me. I look forward to furthering my knowledge of social policy- specifically education policy.
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Fishler, Hillary Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, I was able to see firsthand how economic policy and environmental management (or lack thereof) can have a great impact on the ways in which people live. Before setting out on the Oregon Trail, I received my BA in Writing from Grand Valley State University in Michigan where I specialized in poetry, fiction, environmental nonfiction, and grant writing. During college, I worked as a wilderness outfitter and trip leader in Northern Michigan for inner city girls from my hometown. After completing my Bachelor's, I worked as a rock climbing instructor and grant writer where I became ever more interested in public administration and the ways in which policy and policy networks determine the ways in which communities operate. I was attracted to Oregon State for its interdisciplinary approach to policy and its supportive faculty. In addition, I wanted to find new adventure in a place where the mecca of sport climbing wasn't too far and I could run and cycle to my heart's content. |
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Freeman, Misty I am a second year MPP student studying social policy and minoring in Rural Studies. I am interested in policymaking and policy analysis as it relates to human services programs in rural communities. My main concern is how we take care of our vulnerable populations, and in particular, how we can improve outcomes for children and families. I am studying how we administer social service programs, how we evaluate our success, and how we make such programs better.
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Getchell, Matthew
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Green, Alastair Policy Interests: Social Major Professor: Bill Lunch, Political Science Internship: Oregon Department of Agriculture Awards: Laurels Scholarship |
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Gregory, Sarah Policy Interests: Social/Rural Major Professor: Brent S. Steel, Political Science Internship: Federal Emergency Management Agency I spent the majority of my life in Clear Lake (Houston), Texas, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Dallas, Texas. A seemingly upward trend in civil conflict and natural/technological hazards invoked my interest in social issues and the notion of community resiliency. In 2010, I earned a B.S. in Emergency Management with a minor in Applied Anthropology. From 2007 to 2010, I was a volunteer with the American Red Cross and worked in sheltering and mass care during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. In 2008, I was hired by FEMA Region VI to work in Planning and currently reside in the Operations cadre as a Disaster Action Employee. In the summer of 2011, I interned with the agency to create templates for management plans for Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, Environmental/Historic Preservation, External Affairs and a strategic plan for the Joint Field Office. I came to Oregon State University in pursuit of a Masters in Public Policy to develop the skills to make analytical assessments of policies in emergency and disaster management. My research interests focus on the social aspects of natural and technological hazards precipitated by climate change, land use and natural resource deficiency. |
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Gwin, Sara I grew up in Salem, Oregon and came to OSU on a lost Civil War bet. As hard as it was to be a Duck fan attending OSU, I ended up really liking the campus and the community and decided not to transfer. I received a B.S. in Women Studies with minors in Sociology and Psychology. While I would have loved to go into a graduate program in Women Studies, I was drawn to Public Policy because it would give me a new skill set and a different perspective for addressing social problems. I originally wanted to attend a graduate program in a big city far away from small town Oregon, but the MPP program here was far too impressive to pass up. I plan to concentrate in Social Policy with a focus on health policy, particularly as it affects women.
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Hauser, Daniel Before coming to Oregon State as an MPP Student I grew up in Aloha, Oregon and then got my undergraduate here at OSU. My major was Political Science and my emphasis was on International Relations. I took a year off and worked on Bud Laurent's campaign for Oregon State Representative (Albany). Afterwards, I knew I'd rather spend some time on actual policy before the next election cycle and came back to Oregon State. I am planning to research the effect of education on class mobility. Currently, my MPP thesis will be on the effect of simultaneous reductions in need-based financial aid and rising tuition costs on the accessibility of higher education for low-income students.
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Householder, Sydney I was born and raised in Ohio, in a small town on the Ohio River. My interest in public policy began during my senior year of high school, when I began working on the Primary Election campaign of Barack Obama. I went on to study Political Science and Racial Conflict at the University of Akron. During my undergraduate career, I interned with Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio, working under the state legislative director doing policy research. The summer following my undergraduate graduation, I worked on a community organizing project with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) that was focused on creating neighborhood organizations whose purpose would be to empower local people to produce change in their communities. I have a strong interest in social and economic justice, and I am excited to be part of a program that will give so many opportunities to act on my interests!
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Kawanaka, Emi
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Kloepfer, Daniel My name is Daniel Kloepfer and I am from Cincinnati, OH. I received my B.A. in Political Science and Spanish at Ohio University in Athens, OH. While at Ohio University I was a member of the Men's Crew team and studied abroad in Pamplona, Spain. After graduation I joined Americorps and worked for the Nevada Conservation Corps. After taking a few years off to be closer to my family I decided it was time to get back to school. I am interested in Environmental Policy and am passionate about conservation. I love the West but am very fond of Cincinnati, especially the Cincinnati Bengals and Reds, and my home state of Ohio. |
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Lanfear, Charles I was born in Seattle, WA, but raised in Florence on the Oregon coast. A Corvallis resident since 2004, I graduated from OSU with a B.A. in Sociology in 2010. My positive undergraduate experiences with faculty in the Department of Public Policy, in addition to an interest in research and policy, led me to join the MPP program at OSU. While my overall focus is in law and crime in the United States, I am most interested in drug policy, disparities in crime enforcement and sentencing, and the causes and consequences of our disproportionate penal system. I hope to leverage the skills and connections gained through OSU's MPP program to effect positive change in our criminal justice system and society in general through scientifically informed policy.
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| [no picture] | Marsubian, Michael Policy Interests: Environment/Energy Major Professor: Brent S. Steel, Political Science Internship: Corvallis Environmental Center |
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Martin, Marisa I chose to complete my undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) because I wanted to understand development, psychology, systems of inequality, family systems, and address social problems. After I graduated, I decided to change my focus to either counseling psychology or international policy and development. After a great deal of exploration on both topics, I realized that studying public policy, specifically international and social policy, was the path for me. I've always been a highly idealistic person, and this program, grounded in research, empowers me to pursue my ideals by searching for real and tangible solutions to global problems. The students in the program have diverse interests (the environment, crime, international issues, women's issues, social policy, fiscal policy, etc.), but I think what binds us is that we all share a similar passion for the betterment of our world. |
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Mattison, Chrysanthemum Before starting the MPP program I graduated with a degree in Political Science from Allegheny College. After graduation, I spent the summer in Pittsburgh and then packed my car and drove cross-country to serve as the AmeriCorps member for Corvallis Parks and Recreation's Youth Volunteer Corps 2009-2010. I felt like I found my home in Oregon and was excited to go back to school at OSU. My concentration is education policy, which is a subset of social policy. The issue that most interests me in K-12 education is the achievement gap and I plan to do research around funding models and their effects on that gap. I also enjoy my graduate assistant position assisting in the Student Affairs Research and Evaluation department. Outside of MPP work I like to play hard, too. Oregon has helped bring out my inner adventurer. I think my favorite things from this summer were camping at Crater Lake, biking pretty much everywhere, and swimming down the Willamette River with my friends. Volunteering is also important to me and I have a lot of fun cooking at the soup kitchen once a week. I am so happy to be somewhere that fulfills and challenges me both academically and personally.
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McGie, Darrell |
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Meuse, Paul Policy Interests: International Major Professor: Sarah Henderson, Political Science Internship: From Medford, Oregon, I graduated from Willamette University in Salem,OR with a B.A. in Politics. After graduating Willamette in 2008 I landed a job teaching English in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan, for 19 months. I became interested in the MPP program after talking with Brent Steel and learning about the research orientation of the program, as well as its great practicality given the current job market. The more I learn about the program and talk to my cohorts I realize how much I agree with the spirit of it as well: cooperative, skills-based, research-oriented, and interdisciplinary. As an MPP student I am currently interested in international development, gender issues and human rights. A current research project I am starting deals with the relationship between the subordination of women and authoritarian regimes among Islamic countries.
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Miaso, John Policy Interests: International Major Professor: Hua-Yu Li, Political Science Internship: Institute for Natural Resources Awards: Laurels Scholarship I grew up in Florida, and I also have family ties in the greater Chicago area. I received a BA in International Studies from the University of South Florida in Tampa, specializing in Asian studies and American foreign policy, including a term at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Japan. Shortly after, I came to Oregon State University and entered the MPP program. Though my interests in international and foreign policy remain, I have been immersed in a number of different fields since my studies here began. Most notably, I participated in an internship for the Oregon Transportation Commission conducting agenda analysis and researching best practices for state commissions. I have also developed a keen interest in copyright and internet policy--the focus of my current research. I am especially drawn to initiatives to expand low end-user cost IT infrastructure to economically depressed rural areas. |
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Miller. Alethia Policy Interests: Social (Education) Major Professor: Mark Fermanich, Education Internship: While obtaining my undergraduate degree at Willamette University, I was able to experience policy-making in Oregon firsthand as a student commissioner for the Oregon Student Assistance Commission. As a commissioner, I helped allocate the largest state need-based grant in Oregon (the Oregon Opportunity Grant). I also interned for Congressman Kurt Schrader in Salem, where I learned about Congressional districts and federal legislation. I graduated from Willamette University with a Politics degree-international focus. I wrote my thesis on three welfare policies implemented by Prime Minister Lionel Jospin (France), and researched the third-way debate and the renewal of social-democracy. I would like to continue researching the renewal of social democracy, specifically focusing on international political parties and their policy-making. However as a native Oregonian, I remain interested and committed to Oregon policies and politics.
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Miller, Stacey As a young child growing up in eastern Pennsylvania, I had dreams of swimming with dolphins and saving ocean inhabitants from the detrimental effects of human activities. This dream led to the pursuit of an undergraduate degree in environmental biology from Millersville University (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) and a semester abroad with the School for Field Studies in Puerto San Carlos, Mexico. During the field school, I experienced the intimate connection, dependency and respect in which individuals and fishing communities have with, on and for, their marine resources. These experiences, along with the completion of a MS degree in Marine Resource Management from OSU, promoted a strong interest for investigating resource management problems from a multidisciplinary approach. I began my career in fisheries as a fishery observer in the Bering Sea and now work as a fisheries biologist for NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center as the west coast groundfish stock assessment coordinator. I coordinate fishery research activities and our scientific peer review process, which require me to work closely with fishery scientists, social scientists, economists, and fishery managers. Over the course of my career, I’ve realized that I’m not only a “fish head” but I also love understanding, thinking about, and researching the social and economic conditions which motivate human behavior, the incentives (sometimes perverse) created by well-intentioned public policies, and how scientific uncertainty affects decision-making and is translated into public policy. I’m excited to join the MPP program to expand my understanding of environmental policy but even more importantly, I’m excited to learn the skills to make a difference in our ever changing world. |
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Moon, Ruby I grew up in a fishing community. I spent a good portion of my childhood on the back of a fishing boat. My dad was a deck hand until he retired recently. I spent 16 years of my life as a Head Start Lead Teacher/Family Advocate working with children and families in my community. I loved what I did. I was good at it. I could have stayed there and been happy, but I got this unbelievable opportunity to go back to school thanks to the generosity of the Ford Family Foundation. So I quit my job, loaded up a backpack and headed off for Oregon State University. It was the scariest thing I ever did. I am a mother of 5 and it had been 20 years since I was a full time student, but I refused to let my fear hold me back. I took a chance and gambled on myself. I guess it was a good bet, because I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS degree in Human Development and made it into graduate school. I now have the opportunity to study the things I’m interested in and take that knowledge back to my community. I live in a rural portion of Lincoln County. Ocean issues are a very real topic currently impacting the area. I have been a student intern with Sea Grant/ Extension since March of 2010 and plan to continue working there through graduate school. I’ve been learning about the relevant fishing issues, while actively working in the field. I plan to use my time in the MPP program studying environmental policy with a minor in rural studies.
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Mooney, Carla Born in Bolivia, a country that is well known for its diversity in cultures and geography, I was raised Santa Cruz de la Sierra, a city known for its vast natural resources, green landscape, and entrepreneurial activities. Spending my time in the rural countryside during my summers in high school and then working for a private non-profit organization made me aware of the big gap in the access of knowledge, resources, and services between rural areas and cities. Before leaving Bolivia two years ago, I joined a recycling project in a rural town. That experience triggered my interest in issues related to the environment, conservation, and sustainable development in my country, in particular in rural towns and peripheral areas of cities. I feel strongly that the MPP program can provide me with the knowledge and experience that I need in these matters. I plan to focus on issues related to climate change, adaptive capacity and development of communities, and comparative policies. My dream is to earn experience here and some day work around the world in environmental/conservationist issues in particular in developing countries like Bolivia. Besides academic activities, I enjoy the idea of exploring Oregon, learning new cooking recipes, watching foreign/independent movies, reading literature, planning backpacking experiences, and practicing poi spinning. |
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Nainggolan, Yossa AP I started my career as a researcher in the National Commission of Human Rights in Indonesia 6 years ago. Over the years, I got a lot of research experience in human rights issues including the basic rights for food, education, health, housing, and occupation by poor people. Although regulations exist in Indonesia, policies are not implemented and people suffer. I have made up my mind to explore these problems more deeply and am hoping we can design some solutions. I was awarded a USAID scholarship to pursue the MPP at Oregon State University. I feel privileged to be a part of MPP Program under the guidance of experienced faculty at OSU. I am interested in Rural Policy and Social Policy. Personally, I love making large circles of good friends and am fond of travelling. I like to get updated with news, I love reading historical stories and I always wanted to be a sports person in tennis, swimming and badminton. I have come to this diverse country with an open mind and I hope to take all the good things back to my country after 2 years.
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Nash, Michael
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Osborne, Megan Born and raised on San Juan Island in Washington State I moved down to Corvallis in 2003 to attend Oregon State University. After graduating in 2007 with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science I got a job working for State Senator Diane Rosenbaum. Over the past few years I have had some amazing opportunities to work on many important policy issues, including the creation of a state paid family and medical leave program, an expansion in eligibility and access for low income women to breast and cervical cancer services, and an increase in Oregon’s Earned Income Tax Credit. I was interested in OSU’s Public Policy program when I finished my undergrad but figured a break for work was a good idea. Now I am interested in expanding my understanding of the many social policy issues our society is faced with and look forward to combining my experience working in the legislature with my work pursuing an MPP in Social Policy.
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Olson, Jarrod I attended the University of Washington and studied Near Eastern Languages and Civilization. After graduating from college I took a job at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory working as a policy analyst on issues including nuclear nonproliferation, human trafficking and emergency response and recovery. I came to this program because of its strong focus on conducting research. I am working to identify the impact food insecurity has on conflict at the country level with an eye towards better predicting conflict and more effectively preventing it.
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Overholser, Michael
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Palm, Matthew I am "quantoid" who enjoys pouring over endless piles of information. The trunk of my car and my closet are both full of old NYTs, WSJs, and issues of the Economist, The Nation, the National Review, and Mother Jones magazines. I live to learn this kind of stuff. I studied History at UC Santa Cruz before spending a year working in China. Every new stage in my life brings me further north from my old home in San Diego, and I couldn't be happier to be in a place as cutting edge as Oregon. I am interested in the growing movement in local decision making towards supporting "localization" or sustainable, local economic development. This interest include studying local and regional efforts to change individuals transportation and consumption choices. For example: campaigns to promote "locavorism," local sourcing in businesses and the implementation of urban bike shares. These efforts all fit broadly under the topic of energy use reduction and the development of a "low-carbon economy." Do these efforts work? Which work best in the broader political and economic framework of our world? Why? I am eager to find out.
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Pant, Suman Policy Interests: Rural and Environmwent Major Professor: Brent S. Steel, Political Science Internship: Field Researcher, Annapurna Sanctuary, Nepal I am from Nepal, a beautiful country that has suffered a decade long insurgency, and is still going through political and economic instability. I didn't think much about these issues while growing up, but after working with communities where people were fighting for their survival made me realize that I wanted to be a part of development. I am glad to be a part of MPP in OSU because I think the knowledge and experience I gather here will ultimately help me towards my goal. I am very much interested in international and rural policy, mainly because I believe that's huge need for a developing community. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, and I find spiritual metaphysics quite intriguing. |
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Phillips, Aaron A native Oregonian and born Beaver Believer, Aaron Phillips received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Oregon State University in 2007. After an internship with the nonpartisan and nonprofit voter education organization Project Vote Smart (http://votesmart.org), he decided to continue academically in the Master of Public Policy program at OSU. Aaron recently completed an internship with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, through Portland State University’s Exceptional Summer Internship Program, where he conducted policy analysis and procedure redesign to determine the feasibility of implementing an electronic certification process for the department.
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Reeves, Zachary Growing up here in Corvallis, I lived in an environmentally conscious community. As a result, I was always aware of it, and took an early interest in conservation. It remained in the background of my life, however, until after I was finished with college. After graduating with a degree in philosophy, I moved to Portland, and worked for two sides of the policy arena, the government and a NGO. Doing work for the Forest Service and for Trout Unlimited interested me in policy and how these organizations function. After living in New Zealand for two years, I came home with two interests: policy and the environment. OSU provided the perfect combination of the two, and here I am.
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Rhynard-Geil, Meghann Hi, I’m a first year MPP student with an international and rural focus. I attended Oregon State University for my undergraduate work and received a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Writing. I have worked tutoring international students in writing, volunteering abroad, and promoting international aid organizations here. My interests currently lie with cross cultural understanding and communication – how to best create an international community while still maintaining our unique cultural identities.
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Rubenstrunk, Becky I was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona, which is essentially the opposite of Corvallis! I attended Arizona State University Polytechnic as an undergraduate where I received my BS in Restoration Ecology and a minor and certificate in Philosophy and Ethics, respectively. In addition to my academics, I co-founded and was president of the campus sustainability club; interned as a legislative research intern for the House Committee on Water and Energy at the Arizona House of Representatives; and represented sustainability and student voices at the consensus-based policy retreat, Arizona Town Hall. I am researching the experiences of groups in Canada and the US who are opposing nuclear waste storage facilities in their communities. More specifically, I am using a contentious politics framework to understand how they organize, utilize resources and interact with other groups, the public, and policymakers. |
| [no picture] | Russell, Justin Policy Interests: Social/Energy Major Professor: Rorie Solberg, Political Science Internship: |
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Sigmon, Abigail I was born in Canton, Ohio and completed my undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh where I majored in Environmental Studies. While attending the University of Pittsburgh, I worked as an undergraduate researcher studying late Holocene climate change in Greece and Kazakhstan. After graduating in 2008, I worked at an environmental testing facility as a water and soil chemist. In the fall of 2009, I took a life-changing vacation to visit my best friend in China. Upon my return to the US, I quit my job and headed back across the world to teach English in Tianjin, China. Currently, I am interested in Environmental Policy and hope to focus on sustainable development. |
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Sorce, Evan Born in Glendale California, I moved to West Linn a suburb south of Portland as a child. I graduate from West Linn High in 2006, and decided to go to Western Oregon University. At Western Oregon University I got passionately involved in the student government and student issues often lobbying on the behalf of students at a statewide level. This involvement eventually culminated in my election as the President of the Student Body. I graduate from Western Oregon in June of 2010 receiving a bachelor of science in political science. |
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Vandeventer, Alexia I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Growing up, I enjoyed camping, hiking and going to the beach. For my undergrad, I obtained a bachelor of science in botany at the University of Florida. As an undergraduate, I worked at a research lab, studying plant evolution and molecular systematics. The results were published in (Moore et al., 2011). Despite my love for botany and the joys of plant taxonomy specifically, I feel that I am more suited to liaising between the world of academia and the general public (including policymakers). I decided to pursue graduate education in public policy rather than in botany. My botany degree, has given me a broad background in ecology, biology, and systematics. I chose to attend the MPP program at OSU due to a number of factors. They include the interdisciplinary approach in the program, the strong methodological training we receive, the top-notch faculty and the great quality of living in Corvallis! My research interests include the place of experts in policy making, social learning through policymaking and improving the communication of accurate science to the public and policymakers. My MPP essay focuses on the factors that influence fire-protective behavior by home and small property owners within fire prone regions in Central Oregon. In my free time I like to enjoy the great outdoors (even if its raining), identifying plants on nature hikes (including mushrooms which aren’t actually plants), shopping at the Saturday market, biking and visiting Portland. Oregon is a great place for nature lovers and recreationalists! Last but not least, I am also a voracious reader (when I have free time).
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Vazquez, M. Dolores
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Waddell, Trevor
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Wall, Conor |
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Wang, Hua I come from Hangzhou, a medium-size city near Shanghai known for its natural beauty in China. I finished my undergraduate study with BA in English. After college, I worked as a Chinese Language Teacher in South Korea for one year and then worked in international trade in Shanghai for three years. Growing up in rural China, I could understand the hardship of the less fortunate. And through those years I feel a strong urge to make a difference. That’s why I am on the MPP program to prepare myself for career in public service. Currently I am interested in international development and economic policy. I am excited to be a member in the closely-connected community full of passion, and believe I will have an enjoyable and rewarding experience here! |
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Weisenhaus, Abby
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Whinnery, Jaynie Lynn I am originally from Bay City, a small town on the Oregon Coast. I moved to Corvallis in 2002 for my undergraduate degree at OSU, which is in mechanical engineering with a minor in communication. After graduating I worked as an engineer at Hewlett-Packard for a few years and also began volunteering with an organization called Engineers Without Borders. During this time I became increasingly interested in returning to school to focus on international development. So, last year I came back to OSU to pursue a PhD in environmental engineering with my research focused on low-tech drinking water treatment systems. I decided to also pursue an MPP because of the integral role of society, economics, and policy in international development work. |
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Wornell, Emily Growing up in rural Oregon, I wanted nothing more than to move as far away as possible from sheep and grass seed. After 8 years of living in the city, traveling through 14 countries and working in Latin America, however, I’ve come to realize, that rural life is simply a part of who I am. I graduated from George Fox University in 2005 with a B.A. in Studio Art and a minor in Writing. I also did two years of post-baccalaureate work at Portland State University in Women’s Studies, Political Science and International Studies. My interest has always been in women’s issues, and my time at the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence as Legal Advocate here in Corvallis has helped me narrow that interest to safety issues surrounding domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking in rural environments. I also have an interest in women lead peace movements and reconciliation. Outside of school, my interests are long-distance running, hiking, backpacking and reading. I’ve also recently discovered the joy of digging around in the dirt and harvesting what I manage to grow there. I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to work in and give back to the rural communities in Oregon – the culture I know, the people I relate to and the environment I love.
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Yasuo, Mika I graduated from University of Puget Sound in 2006 with a BA in Business Administration. After college, I worked at Polaris Project in Washington, DC for a short time, and then helped to develop an anti-human trafficking organization in the south of Kazakhstan for the U.S. Peace Corps. Once I returned to the United States, I worked on resource development and grant writing at a Boys and Girls Club. I am currently on the international track in the Public Policy program and would like to focus on anti-human trafficking and human rights issues.
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Young, Ryan I was born in Wyoming, grew up in Colorado, and lived in the Monterey Bay area of California for seven years before moving to Oregon. I received my B.A. in Psychology from Chapman University in California. I am interested in human motivation and behavior as it relates to Environmental Policy both nationally and internationally. |
