I am a PhD candidate in American politics at Penn State University. My research focuses on the interaction between bureaucratic policymaking and interest group attention, bureaucratic control mechanisms, and institutional responsiveness with a particular emphasis on education policy.  Prior to my graduate career, I held numerous positions across the U.S. government, including four years at the White House as a staff member within the Domestic Policy Council.  Additionally I served as Deputy Director for the U.S. Department of Education’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education as well as staff positions in the U.S. Senate and the Department of Health and Human Services.  I hold a BA, cum laude, from Carleton College and an MBA and MA in political science from Penn State University.