Meet Barbara Esuoso, a junior at Cornell University, who has joined Penn Hill Group as an intern for this fall/winter. With an interest in education inequality, Barbara is a Government major with minors in Business and Africana Studies. See our interview with Barbara below to learn more about her and all that she brings to our office. Welcome, Barbara!

Why did you decide to spend a semester in D.C.?

D.C. is America’s politics and public policy hub. After spending the summer interning at a local political magazine, covering protests and tracking political news that often occurred several blocks away, I knew that there was no better place to learn, ask questions and gain an immersive experience in American politics and policy. I am participating in the Cornell in Washington Program—spending the fall semester interning in D.C., taking public policy courses and working on an independent research project.

What do you hope to do or learn during this internship?

I am very excited to be a part of Penn Hill Group’s fast-paced and highly collaborative environment. Simply speaking, I hope to engage in the process of problem-solving and strategic consulting for Penn Hill Group’s diverse range of clients in the education and workforce policy fields. I also look forward to learning more about the legislative process and its stakeholders, politicians and lobbyists included.

What interests you most about education?

Depending on where you are in America, education quality can range from exceptional to extremely poor. It is a very foundational social inequality that policymakers and education advocates have a wide range of opinions on. During this internship I hope to gain a better understanding of the nuances involved in trying to create policy that alleviates education inequality.

What are some of your future goals?

In the future, I hope to continue to work with advocates against social inequality, whether that be in a consulting role or a legal role. I also plan on pursuing a law degree to learn more about the nature and functions of the American legal system.

What’s something exciting you’ve recently gotten to do?

I spent last summer in an intensive Spanish language immersion program at Middlebury College. The program had a strict Spanish-language only policy, which was incredibly challenging and fun at the same time. After I completed the program, I was able to help my parents’ real-estate business by communicating with their Spanish-speaking clients.