Shaping Change and Policy

Emma Land
Emma Land

Oregon’s School of Planning, Public Policy and Management has a history of producing graduates that go on to shape the world around them. Emma Land, a second year master of public administration student, was recently afforded an opportunity to do just that, while still completing her studies.

Land has been appointed as an intern for the Legislative Policy and Research Office of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. During the legislative session beginning later this month, Emma will provide research support, critical analyses of legislative measures, and support to staff and lawmakers.

Though the session hasn’t started, Emma has already been hard at work.

“Coming into the internship, I anticipated I would be learning extremely important and valuable policy-making procedures, but I had no idea how intensive the experience would be”.

Land hopes to leverage her previous experience working with congressional representatives and community organizations in the public sector, in order to learn as much as she can during the six-month internship.

“To say I am excited and honored to be in this position is an understatement. The experience I will gain as the graduate intern this legislative session is truly invaluable, and I am grateful to be mentored by multiple intelligent women in a supportive and collaborative office!”

She is particularly passionate about fostering community engagement in lawmaking and is excited about the hands-on opportunity to encourage local stakeholder participation in an increasingly important environmental policy process.

Emma’s desire to pursue a career in environmental policy stems from an interest in communicating the impact of legislation to both legislators and the broader public audience.

Through the school’s public administration program, she has been able to develop an ability to evaluate policy alternatives and recommend appropriate courses of action. These skills were integral to her successful internship application, as was the opportunity to practice presenting these insights in meaningful ways.

Interns in the past have assisted on drafting and development of research briefs across a spectrum of public policy areas including natural resources, transportation and education.

“One of the things that drew me to the LPRO office was that it is a nonpartisan research office that plays a major role in the legislative decision-making process”, Emma said. “Already, I am doing extensive research on proposed bills for the house, senate, and joint committees in the field of natural resources.”

Land was selected from a wide pool of applicants across Oregon, and continues a tradition of University of Oregon graduates going on to work in public policy and contribute to the well-being of the state.