Jane Wright is a Master of Public Policy (MPP) student at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Jane graduated from O’Neill in May 2023 with her honors degree in Policy Analysis, and she is a Career Hub Alum!
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
A: I’m a first-year graduate student at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy pursuing my Master of Public Policy. Having graduated from Indiana University in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in policy analysis, I am pursuing further education to gain more advanced quantitative and research skills. I am passionate about issues regarding democratic reform and civic engagement and believe that tackling polarization, miscommunication, and uncivil discourse through data analysis and dispersion is key to meaningful policy change in the U.S. I am currently a Graduate Assistant for the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service. I am also a Junior Editor for the Georgetown Public Policy Review, where I work on the Data Visualization team.
Q: What drives you to be successful in your studies every day?
A: Even when studies and school assignments can feel tedious or challenging, I am motivated by the sense that I am investing in my long-term success and ability to achieve goals that are bigger than myself. I feel driven to understand and tackle some of the great policy problems of our day, and I know that hard work (even tough homework assignments) will make me well-equipped to do so. It is certainly easy to lose sight of the bigger picture sometimes, but it is a privilege to be educated and to be able to use my time to serve the public. I am also constantly motivated by my friends, family, and role models, including my past and current peers and professors whose drive and experience is truly inspiring.
Q: Our school’s motto is “Lead for the Greater Good,” what does this mean to you?
A: To me, Leading for the Greater Good describes a commitment to helping others and solving public problems. For me, it is a drive to pursue work in public policy so that I can make a positive difference in people’s lives by improving how the government distributes resources and makes decisions. Even though I am not at IU anymore, I carry this motto with me throughout my professional career!
This interview was conducted by Peer Educator Sophia Hottois.
