Penn State School of Public Policy
MPP Washington, D.C. Career Day
March 14, 2024

During SPP Career Day in Washington, D.C., current Master of Public Policy students had the chance to meet and network with Penn State alumni working in the Public Policy space.

The day’s programming began at Baker Hostetler, our hosts for the day, with a panel of policy professionals sharing their experiences working in the public and private sectors. Channell Autrey, Ben DeAngelo and Josh Tzuker led the discussion and Q&A with students covering a broad range of topics. One of the main themes from each panelist was the long and winding road their career paths had become. Many of the MPP students commented that it was helpful to realize their careers may not follow a singular straight line. “Hearing about these professionals’ career journeys, from their beginnings to current positions, provides insight into unexpected paths and opportunities in public policy careers.” 

After the panel, students were given the opportunity to network with the professionals in small groups and in one-on-one sessions. Professionals in attendance represented the private sector, public sector, and government. The sessions allowed the students to create more meaningful connections while learning directly from the professional’s experiences. “The networking sessions provided me with an opportunity to connect with influential alumni and professionals working in various capacities within policymaking.”

Networking sessions participants included:

• Chanell Autrey, Director of Government Affairs, Target Corporation
• Tony Christino, Director, Foreign Policy Division, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Ben DeAngelo, Deputy Director, Climate Program Office, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Nyla Holland, Policy Analyst, Research to Action Lab, The Urban Institute
• Sam Loewner, Senior Manager of State and Local Government Business Process Outsourcing (SLGBPO) & Customer Experience, Deloitte
• Christian Marrone, Head of Global Intelligence and Security, Standard Industries
• Anthony Mitchell Vice President of Federal Affairs, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
• Sean Terrey, Public Policy and Government Affairs Analyst, Nomura

• Josh Tzuker, Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice
• Olivia Umoren, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, USAging
• Dennis Jackman, Retired Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, CSL Behring
• Mark Jinks, Retired City Manager of Alexandria, VA

After a full day with the professionals, the MPP students visited Washington, D.C, including the President’s Park. The trip allowed our MPPs the chance to gain valuable insight into policy careers from professionals in a variety of policy fields. “Attending the DC Career Exploration Day was a great experience that provided me with valuable insights into the world of policymaking and public service.” 

Thank you to all those involved in the planning and execution of this successful event.