Meet Penn Hill Group’s Fall interns, Ariana Jimenez and Ian Akers. Ariana is a recent graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2024. She majored in Economics with concentrations in Business Economics and Public Policy (BEPP) and  Management. Ian is currently a Junior at Claremont McKenna College, Class of 2026. He is majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Learn a little bit about each of them below!

Why did you decide to spend a semester in DC?

Ariana Jimenez

I wanted to immerse myself in the dynamic policy landscape that DC offers. I thought that being at the heart of government and policymaking would provide an invaluable experience, especially this Fall, and the energy of the city and the chance to work alongside experts in the field make it an ideal place to grow both personally and professionally.

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

I hope to deepen my understanding of education policy and to learn more about the challenges organizations are working to address. I’m excited to see how policy is shaped in DC and to learn about the practical realities of working in this field. I also look forward to learning from experts with decades of experience and gaining hands-on learning opportunities that will help guide my career path.

What interests you most about education?

While in college, I ran a nonpartisan civic education after-school program for high schoolers. I absolutely loved working with the students to reinforce and build upon what they learned during the school day. We talked extensively about current events and how to advocate for policies to address issues they identified in their communities. This experience sparked my interest in out-of-school-time programs and the ways in which policies can influence educational outcomes.

What are some of your future goals?

At some point in the next several years I would love to become a teacher, likely specializing in civics or economics at the high school level. Longer term, I’d love to pursue a master’s degree in public policy, and I can envision myself working for a nonprofit organization or in policy consulting.

Ian Akers

Why did you decide to spend a semester/summer in DC?

My school’s Washington DC Program was always something that I was interested in, but I thought it would be especially exciting to be in DC during election season. Career-wise, my interests have always been in working at the Federal government level, but I had no experience living or working in DC before this semester. I’ve absolutely loved it so far, so being here this semester killed a couple birds with one stone!

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

I’ve taken a lot of government classes over the years, many of which taught me about how DC and the Federal government work in theory. With that foundation, I wanted to see firsthand how policy moved and changed in practice. Specifically at Penn Hill, I wanted to learn about the pressing issues in education policy and gain subject matter familiarity with the seminal legislation governing much of the education and workforce policy fields.

What interests you most about education?

The thing that interests me most about education is its transformative power. I attended Title I schools throughout the entirety of my K-12 education, and I saw firsthand the inequalities in educational quality, achievement and opportunity that exist because of something as arbitrary as a zip code. That said, I also saw how my schools did a lot of good for my peers and me, preparing us for whatever came next—whether it was entering the trades, pursuing a four-year degree, or stepping directly into the workforce.  I truly believe that education is the best path to social mobility, and I’m interested in making that feasible for every student.

What are some of your future goals?

After I graduate, I’d like to come back to DC and continue to work in the education policy space. I’d also like to get some teaching experience, so I’ll probably apply to Teach For America or AmeriCorps. Eventually, I might like to get an MPP or MEd, but we’ll see where life takes me.