A gifted student with exceptional academic abilities, outstanding verbal and written communication skills, and demonstrated leadership and initiative, Ayana Russell is a talented young lady by every measurable standard.

TeachersBox had the opportunity to sit down with the former recipient of the College of William and Mary’s Leadership Award and Carnegie Mellon graduate student for a Q&A on her academic and career pursuits.

TBox: Good afternoon Ayana.  Tell our readers a little about yourself.

AR: Thank you. I’m a graduate of the College of William and Mary and I’m currently enrolled in Carnegie Mellon’s Master of Science in Public Policy and Management program on a full tuition scholarship. This summer I’ll relocate to Washington D.C. to take part in an exciting program that will combine my coursework at Carnegie Mellon with real world policy experience in the nation’s capital.

TBox: Congratulations.  You’ve always had a passion for public policy.  In fact, your peers elected you to serve as Co-chair of William and Mary’s undergraduate Student Conduct Council.  Can you describe that experience for us?

AR: My role was to preside over hearings for students who’d committed Honor Code infractions. The process emphasized education over punishment as a means to help students understand the impact of their violations on the broader campus community.

TBox: That sounds very interesting.  Talk to us about some of your most rewarding academic experiences.

AR: William and Mary placed a great deal of emphasis on service and experiential learning, so for two years I conducted research as a Planning Intern for James City County and coordinated canvassing activities, organized phone banks, and facilitated student debates as Regional Political Director for the College Republicans.  Putting my coursework to practice was exciting, but perhaps more than anything I enjoyed serving as a Rites of Passage Mentor for Williamsburg-James City County middle school students and as an AVID tutor with the Newport News Public Schools system.

TBox: Can you discuss your long term career aspirations?

AR: As an intern I helped county administrators develop a comprehensive plan to prioritize strategic objectives in response to changing citizen demands. Because developers, politicians, and interest groups tend to ignore issues that are not political, profitable, or press-worthy, one of my long term goals is to equip policy makers to more effectively address constituent concerns such as economic development and community outreach. That’s why I’m so excited about my upcoming paid internship with MITRE.  While I complete Carnegie Mellon’s Master of Science in Public Policy and Management program next year, I’ll be working 32-hours a week at MITRE’s client location in Washington, D.C. The job will involve some program management and technology implementation with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

TBox: That is very exciting news, Ayana.  But I’m not at all surprised by your success.  As a high school student, you served as Junior Class Vice President, Senior Class President, and Secretary-General of an award winning Model United Nations Team, but were there other experiences in high school that sparked your interest in a Public Policy career?

AR: There were several.  The Advanced Placement Comparative Government class comes to mind, as does my participation in Virginia Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary.  Arguably most important, however, was securing funding for our team’s New York trip to visit the United Nations. That was an incredible experience.

TBox: What role has TeachersBox had in your preparation for these types of opportunities?

AR: Six years ago, TeachersBox’s Chief Academic Officer taught my Higher Level International Baccalaureate History of the Americas I and II course and he subsequently supervised my service to middle school students during his tenure as an Assistant Principal in Williamsburg-James City County. TeachersBox recommended internships and fellowship opportunities and provided feedback on my Personal Statement for graduate school. Their systematic approach has been instrumental to my academic career since I was a junior in high school.

TBox: Thank you for those kind words, Ayana.  We have every confidence that you will excel in your graduate program and wish you all the best in your future endeavors. 

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