The PAF program’s most recent graduates, Tim Savoy, Michelle Suarez, Allison Rohde, Chelsea Ullman, Jessica Fern, and Cameron Smither have all passed their first big post-graduation milestone: securing full-time employment. Whether starting their own businesses or putting roots down thousands of miles from DC, our newest PAF alumni are thrilled about their new professional opportunities.
As owner of Savoy Real Estate, Tim Savoy is a full-time real estate agent affiliated with Coldwell Banker Dupont Circle. He has found his position to be “fast-paced” and “full of interaction with others around me”. After selling his first listing earlier this month, he is most looking forward to “understanding how real estate is interdisciplinary with other functions of the city; that is, how is the concept of place and home ownership related to other services in the city (for example, how property intersects with health, income, policy, etc.).” Despite a busy schedule, he still makes time for spoiling his puppy, Lucy.
Jessica Fern made a big move shortly after graduation to Denver, Colorado where she now serves as a policy analyst with the Colorado Health Institute (CHI). CHI provides evidence-based, nonpartisan data and analysis for health care leaders in the state to guide health care policy debate, development, decision-making and implementation. As a policy analyst, she primarily contributes to their community health and workforce portfolios. Most notably, CHI was just awarded a large health-related grant to develop an evaluation framework for assessing gaps in health care across the state. Jessica is “excited to see how the skills I developed through my MPP program evaluation course and pro bono consulting projects translate to this large-scale longitudinal evaluation. While work has been an exciting part of her new life in Colorado, she is learning the culture and with it the value placed on enjoying the afternoon sunshine with her new coworkers.
With the unique privilege of transitioning her PAF placement into a full-time professional role, Chelsea Ullman is a policy associate at the GW Global Women's Institute (GWI). At GWI she translates research on advancing the status of women and girls worldwide into policy recommendations. Specifically her work involves research, communications, and policy. As GWI was founded as Chelsea was beginning PAF, she is enjoying “watching it grow from its inception and take on new projects”. This semester is off to an especially exciting start as GWI moved into a new building all their own. Although Chelsea remains on campus for work she is taking full advantage of DC’s cultural scene as she discovers new restaurants and takes time to dance in her U Street neighborhood.
Allison Rohde is capitalizing on her MPP coursework as a middle school math teacher for KIPP DC: WILL Academy, Math CTR. Her work with KIPP is allowing her to innovate and problem solve while helping prepare students for a career in the STEM field. Allison notes that “DC is notorious for its underachieving schools” and is subsequently passionate about improving the lives of students here in the District. She looks forward to participating in he celebration of KIPP's 20th Anniversary, beginning her certification coursework, and beating her students at laser tag.
Heading off for Tijuana, Mexico in February, Michelle Suarez was officially sworn in as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State. After completing training here in DC, Michelle will serve at the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana as a Consular Officer. Specifically she will work on Special Citizens Services, processing and identifying Mexicans citizens who are eligible to visit the United States, and working with other U.S. agencies such as DEA, DHS, and CBP to ensure U.S. interests and security are represented in the region. This will be Michelle’s first experience living and working abroad for a two year time period. With this opportunity for immersion, she is excited about this “amazing opportunity to learn all I can about the culture and history of Mexico, while getting in depth experience in the many complex issues focused on the U.S. - Mexico border.” She is also looking forward to serving “Americans in their time of need while I rotate through the Special Citizens Services unit.” In her first few months she has come to appreciate the “great sense of service, purpose, and community” at the State Department.
Cameron Smither recently began his work as a research associate at the American Institutes for Research where he provides research support for the postsecondary education team in AIR's education research practice. Current areas of research for the team include postsecondary models of competency-based education, alternative student and institution performance analytics, and adult non-cognitive skill intervention and assessment. He is most looking forward to “hands-on experience with data and statistical analysis in an education context” while learning to utilize programs like STATA. Although he is still in DC, Cam is looking for tips and tricks for decorating his apartment.