For Jenny Tran (MPP '24), the decision to pursue a summer internship at a Washington, D.C. think tank was a natural extension of her passion for sustainable development policy. As an intern at the Center for American Progress, Jenny had the opportunity to contribute to published research on the Rural Partners Network, a USDA program supporting underserved rural communities in the transition to a greener economy. Seeking to gain hands-on experience in policy research and analysis, Jenny found that her coursework at Batten had prepared her well for the challenges and unique opportunity of working in a leading D.C. think tank. As a part of our Student Highlight series we sat down with Jenny to learn more about how her experiences in Washington, D.C. have shaped her future career aspirations. 

Where were you working this summer and what was your position? What did your day-to-day look like?

I worked as an Energy and Environment intern at the Center for American Progress (CAP). At CAP, my tasks included working on my independent project and helping my supervisor with ongoing research and publications as well as briefings prior to important meetings. CAP allowed a hybrid working schedule so I had two go-to routines for my day-to-day. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I would get on the bus to go into the office, have some meetings with the department, my small research team, or with the other interns, and work on my project throughout the day. As interns, we could organize coffee chats to network with people in the organization, so I often did these over lunchtime or in the early afternoon. I closed up my working day by doing a mini wrap-up of the work I did and planned out my next working day. If I didn't go into the office, I would have a check-in meeting with my supervisor and grab a coffee then conduct my own research work, which some days involved talking to multiple interviewees to collect data for my project.

Can you tell us about the published research you contributed to while you were at CAP?

I co-published an article evaluating the implementation process of the Rural Partners Network, a capacity-building program under the USDA to help rural communities develop economic opportunities in the energy transition. The Rural Partners Network places community liaisons in underserved rural areas that have historically faced challenges accessing and managing federal grants and resources. In our article, we analyzed what has been done well and provided recommendations going forward to improve on capacity building work in rural settings as we transition to a greener economy.

What skills and lessons from your time in Batten helped you be successful in your position?

All of the research and writing skills that I have gained from my first year at Batten have been invaluable to my success in this position. Batten’s 48-hour project taught me a lot about how to think quickly on my feet, research effectively, and write succinctly, which are all the skills I needed to finish a very extensive report in about two months. Most importantly, the core classes have provided a foundation for me to be able to critically analyze any policy that I encounter, allowing me to propose a policy analysis plan on the spot in my interview and helping me succeed in my research plans over the summer.

How has this position informed what professional pathway you want to pursue after Batten?

My internship at CAP has further confirmed to me that sustainable development policy, especially those that help marginalized communities, is the area that I want to focus on for my professional career. It has also opened up a world of possibilities for me in terms of careers that I can pursue. It has helped me understand my own passions and strengths better, which certainly helps with my future career pursuits!

This year you were a Teaching Assistant (TA) for the MPP Economics courses. What did you learn from this experience? What was it like to TA for a class you took the year before?

Having the opportunity to serve as a TA for both Econ I and II was such an honor and privilege! I get to learn so much from the Professors and students of the class. Not only did I get the opportunity to truly deeply understand the materials and practice teaching skills, I got to understand different ways of thinking and different perspectives, as well as connect with so many creative, smart, knowledgeable, and kind individuals. I would not trade experience for the world!

Why Batten? What drew your interest in the school and MPP coursework offered at UVA?

Before I arrived at Batten, I was drawn to the friendly and welcoming community and the people here (shout out to Jeff Chidester and Kristine Nelson!). Now that I have been here for almost two years, not only can I confirm that Batten is home and is the best community with the best people you can ask for, but everyone here is brilliant and I have learned so much from my professors, the professional staff, and all of my friends here. The courses that I have taken here have equipped me with many useful skills and resources necessary for my professional success. My professors are my mentors and everyone truly cares about helping me achieve my goals. I'm proud to say I couldn't have made a better choice coming here and being a Batten student.