Meet Penn Hill Group’s Spring interns, Gabriella Moscardelli and Melissa Hamilton. Both interns are Juniors at the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Gabriella majors in both Political Science and Art History and Melissa majors in both Political Science and Psychology. See below to learn more about all that they bring to the Penn Hill Group team!

Why did you decide to spend a semester in DC?

Gabriella

Gabriella: Since committing to Holy Cross, I have always wanted to participate in the DC “Semester Away” program in order to gain first-hand working experience to supplement my final thesis. Growing up in the New York/Metropolitan area is an entirely different culture, and I knew that I wanted to live in a city that catered more towards my own interests. There is truly nowhere else in the U.S that compares to the rich history and culture of Washington DC, and I feel so fortunate to gain exposure to the heart of our nation’s political sphere.

Melissa: I’ve known since my sophomore year of high school that I would end up in D.C. at some point. It is the center for policy expertise, and it is home to hundreds of thousands of young professionals who try every day to leave the country in a better state than they found it. I am passionate about protecting and bettering the lives of our most vulnerable, and there is no better place to explore that than in the public policy capitol of the country alongside the brightest minds in the field.

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

Gabriella: I know that working alongside a variety of experts in education policy will provide the best possible exposure to the areas of advocacy, government relations and research. It has also been so meaningful to learn about the lives and build personal relationships with individuals in careers that I aspire to have. I am writing my final thesis on disparities among service providers within the sphere of adult education, so I hope to learn more about how public and private organizations interact with the Federal government to enact meaningful change.

Melissa

Melissa: I have already gained many invaluable skills from my internship, including how to research and produce client-facing materials, draft  memos, and organize in-person events. More valuable than those hard skills, however, are the abilities I have developed to clearly communicate with my team, interact with experts and Congressional staff, and take initiative in projects and tasks alike. I still hope to grow as a leader and writer throughout my final month with Penn Hill Group, as I believe those skills are never fully mastered.

What interests you most about education?

Gabriella: Through my own experience as a teacher working with the Worcester Refugee Assistance Project, I have witnessed some of the largest education disparities within my own community. I believe systemic reform is needed across the education system to ensure equity among all populations across the U.S. Working with a variety of groups at Penn Hill has been an eye-opening experience, and I have had the opportunity to deepen my knowledge of many areas of education that I had not previously considered. Gaining first-hand experience not only as a teacher, but as a consultant for organizations in D.C. has been above and beyond what I could have expected as an intern.

Melissa: I have spent the past two years mentoring young women in Worcester, MA who come from low-income backgrounds. These girls have told me horror stories about stolen bags, ignored assault, and shower stalls with no curtains. How can someone focus in school if they are scared for their privacy and safety? I believe that all children should have access to high-quality education, and also believe that it is beyond time to increase public school funding, address mental health challenges, and invest in evidence-based interventions that improve school climate.

What are some of your future goals?

Gabriella: In the future, I plan to continue educational advocacy work, whether it be through the legal field, research groups or through consulting and lobbying like Penn Hill. My goal is to address disparities and enact reform in our educational system through whichever career path that may be. I’m not quite sure exactly where I will end up, but PHG has provided me with the best possible tools and resources to learn, grow, and express my passion for education.

Melissa: I look forward to using my background in research and the skills I have gained from Penn Hill Group to continue working towards the advancement and expansion of high-quality education in some capacity. I am excited to learn more about public policy in my senior year and begin searching for jobs in the field I am incredibly passionate about next year. I hope to return to school at some point to earn a master’s degree in education policy, and ideally write a book one day.