Meet Penn Hill Group’s Summer interns, Alysha Bold and Lucy Colangelo. Alysha is a rising Senior at the University of Georgia studying Economics and Political Science and is also pursuing a Nonprofit Management and Leadership Certificate. Lucy is a rising Junior at Duke University studying Public Policy, Spanish and History.  Learn a little bit about each of them below!

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

Alysha Bold

Alysha: I believe D.C. is the best city for young professionals today, especially if you are interested in policy. It has a rich history, culture and community. There are always things to do and everybody is hustling in their own way. Kind of like Penn Hill Group, D.C. is this unique microcosm of the private, public and nonprofit sectors. I plan on moving to D.C. when I graduate in December, so I suppose this summer was a trial run of sorts. I thought a summer in D.C. would be the perfect opportunity to diversify my experience and expand my professional network.

Lucy: I’ve always seen myself moving to a big city, and DC aligns perfectly with my interests. It’s exciting to walk through the city and know that so much important work goes on all around you. DC is also a hub for Duke students over the summer, so I’ve loved getting to spend time with my college friends here, something that would have been harder to do at home in Austin, Texas.

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

Lucy Colangelo

Alysha: For a while now, I’ve known that I wanted to work on education issues; however, I wasn’t sure in which capacity. I’ve had some nonprofit experience in fundraising, but I knew I needed to explore policy and advocacy before I graduated. I hope this summer I learn more about education policy, advocacy strategies, the interests of various stakeholders, and the reality of a career in education policy. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do all these things and more with Penn Hill Group this summer!

Lucy: So far, my interactions with Federal policy here have taught me so much about how the sausage gets made in DC. My public policy major has exposed me to how government works more broadly, but getting to see it in action, and through the lens of a policy area I’m passionate about, has been incredibly interesting. Additionally, I’m grateful for all the opportunities Penn Hill has provided me to learn from industry experts and expand my network of career knowledge. This experience is unique in its encouragement of its interns to constantly ask questions and make the most of their summer in DC.

What interests you most about education?

Alysha: Growing up the daughter of an elementary school teacher, I’ve always appreciated the education system; yet, it was not until my internship with an early childhood education (ECE) provider that I realized the transformative power of education in driving social mobility. Inspired by this experience, I knew I wanted to learn more about education policy and advocacy. I am especially interested in the effect of social-emotional learning, out-of-school time, and ECE on our most vulnerable populations.

Lucy: Education touches the life of every person. I think even the most politically apathetic people have complex opinions about the American education system, which fascinates me. Additionally, I think education is a policy area that has historically seen bipartisan agreement and has the unique potential to do so in the future. Education and education policy are spaces full of passionate innovators who work tirelessly to improve the lives of students and teachers every day.

What are some of your future goals?

Alysha: I believe young people are society’s most valuable resource, worthy of extra care and attention. Whether in the private, public or nonprofit sector, I am excited to use the skills and knowledge I gained at Penn Hill Group to make a positive difference in the education space.

Lucy: I’d like to move back to DC after college to work in the education policy sector. Further down the line, I can see myself getting a law degree or a Master’s in public policy. Most urgently, I hope to become fluent in Spanish after studying in Madrid next semester!