The tenth cohort of graduate students in the LBJ School of Public Affairs’ unique and accelerated DC Concentration are half way through their summer semester and have fully integrated into their Policy Apprenticeship organizations.
While in DC, these Master of Public Affairs and Master of Global Policy Studies students take evening coursework as well as their required, simultaneous six-month (June–December 2025) Policy Apprenticeship at a public or private policy organization throughout the city, before graduating early in December 2025.
Reflecting on their first weeks in DC, students noted the substantive nature of the work they were given:
"I was not expecting to dive in headfirst on my first day or first week as much as I have. I am grateful for the trust the office has placed in me to be so involved so quickly and it has been a positive change from my undergraduate Hill internship."
"All of the work has been very substantive, and they have given me a lot of responsibility thus far. They have mentioned the possibility of giving me even more responsibility as I learn more about the process."
2025 Policy Apprenticeships
Veronica Alcantar
Policy Area Interests: Civil rights, Latino educational outcomes, Native American/Indigenous affairs and representation
Policy Apprenticeship: Partnership for Public Service
Abdullah Alsawfta
Policy Area Interests: National security, intelligence, diplomacy
Policy Apprenticeship: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Yu Ting Chen
Policy interests: Taiwan-China security studies, maritime strategy, Indo-Pacific affairs
Policy Apprenticeship: American Enterprise Institute (AEI)
Omar Gamboa
Policy Interests: Public perception of public schools, special education reform, higher education, tax policy
Policy Apprenticeship: Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Sarah Gawron
Policy interests: Diplomacy, national security, and international development
Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. Representative William R. Keating (D-MA)
Mara Luz Gomez
Policy Interests: Transportation, infrastructure
Policy Apprenticeship: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
Audrey Harris
Policy Interests: Government accountability, environmental policy, public finance
Policy Apprenticeship: The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress
Megan Hart
Policy Interests: Reproductive health policy, healthcare access, family policy
Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. House of Representatives
Raj Kishore
Policy Interests: Taxpayer service, tax audits, criminal tax investigations, and revenue generation
Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee
Minh Ly
Policy Interests: US-Sino security/relations, US-East Asia diplomatic development, US intelligence analysis
Nitish Mirchandani
Policy Interests: Asia-Pacific security, diplomatic relations with South Asia, South Asian finances
Policy Apprenticeship: The Chamberlain Network
Serin Mubarak
Policy Interests: Economic development, international development, AI policy, tech sector
Policy Apprenticeship: Partnership for Public Service
Sofia Odom
Policy interests: Tax, budget, anti-trust, labor and corporate regulatory compliance.
Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. House of Representatives
Mia Paone
Policy Interests: Policy communications, financial services and economic policy, tax policy
Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. House Committee on Financial Services (Democratic Staff)
Benjamin Taulli
Policy Interests: Climate change, decarbonization strategies
Policy Apprenticeship: Venn Strategies
Victor To
Policy Interests: Federalism, intergovernmental relations, democracy, national security, diplomacy
Policy Apprenticeship: U.S. House of Representatives
Madison Wallace
Policy Apprenticeship: Reproductive Freedom for All