Meet Penn Hill Group’s Fall interns, Charlie Hatcher and Sarah Kidd. Charlie will graduate from Claremont McKenna College in December of this year with a degree in Government. Sarah is currently a Senior at Georgetown University, where she is majoring in Government with a minor in Religion, Ethics and World Affairs. Learn a little bit about each of them below!

Charlie Hatcher

Why did you decide to spend a semester in DC?

I had previously spent a Summer in Washington, DC and loved the DC environment. There’s no other city with the grandeur of DC and feeling like I was in the middle of the action was captivating as a government student. I was very excited to come back for my final semester at Claremont McKenna College!

What do you hope to do or learn about in this internship?

I want to peer behind the scenes of Federal education policy and get a sense of how interest groups interact with policymakers. Staff at Penn Hill have such a wealth of knowledge and experience in the education world, and I want to learn as much as I can from them about how they think about and try and influence policy. Additionally, education and workforce policy is a broad area, and I’m excited to learn about niches of it that I haven’t encountered before.

What interests you most about education?

I have past teachers and professors to thank for my interest in education policy. I’m lucky enough to have learned under some exceptional educators, each of whom challenged and expanded my perspective in ways I’ll forever be grateful for. As much as possible through the levers of policy, I want to make that same formative learning environment available to as many students as possible.

What are some of your future goals?

I would love to stay in Washington, DC and continue working in education policy. There is so much I care about advocating for in this space, and I hope to get the chance to pursue it in my early career.

Sarah Kidd

Why did you decide to spend a semester in DC?

Since my school is just up the road, I wanted to find an internship in DC that aligned with my career interests and goals. Fortunately, Georgetown granted me the flexibility to take classes part-time this semester while working full-time at Penn Hill Group. I knew the hands-on experience I would gain from Penn Hill would be incredibly valuable for my professional development, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to pursue both academic and career growth this Fall.

What do you hope to do or learn about in this internship?

I am most excited to learn as much as possible from policy experts in this field. Seeing firsthand how senior members at Penn Hill engage with their networks, develop strategic plans and discuss pressing issues has expanded my content knowledge and reshaped how I think about policy. It is an honor and a privilege to contribute to work that influences policy in meaningful ways, and I appreciate the opportunity to learn all that I can while at the firm!

What interests you most about education?

I was drawn to education policy after a previous internship that focused on implementing legislation related to the science of reading in elementary education. Seeing the real-world impact of this work reinforced my belief that education is the backbone of our society, promoting social mobility and lifelong success. I feel incredibly fortunate that my own educational journey has led me to where I am today, and I am motivated by a strong desire to give back. I believe this goal can be achieved through thoughtful and effective education policy that ensures all children have access to enriching and equitable learning opportunities!

What are some of your future goals?

I have fallen in love with DC after living here for the past three years, and I would like to stay in the area after graduation. Whether I land in the nonprofit, public or private sector, my goal is to make a positive and lasting impact in the policy sphere, hopefully within my areas of passion in education or environmental issues.