Undergraduate student Sydney Neal '24 knows how to stay busy at SPP. She's an intern with the Social Justice School in Washington, D.C, a member of UMD's Black Student Union's Freshman Council, and is also a 2021 Maryland Municipal League Fellow.
We recently connected with Sydney Neal '24, a freshman public policy major, to learn why she came to SPP and her current work.
Why did you want to study public policy? Where did your interest in education policy come from?
I wanted to study public policy because I wanted to work in a collaborative, innovative setting where I felt that I was able to engage in social change. Public policy provided the perfect opportunity to learn in great detail about the most pressing social issues of our time, while also learning about the ways in which our government, society, and organizations work together to better our larger community. I have been blessed to receive an amazing public and private education but realized quickly that this was a privilege that many students in marginalized communities are not afforded. I recognized my privilege to have access to such a high quality of education and wanted to pursue a career in education policy to ensure that all marginalized students have access to a public education system that will support them. I truly believe that creating an equitable public education system is an integral first step in achieving a just society for all.
Why did you choose the School of Public Policy?
I chose the School of Public Policy for many reasons. Firstly, I found that it provided me the strongest academic enrichment opportunities and a clear path to my chosen career field. Secondly, I found a sense of community that was unmatched at every other institution I looked into. From my very first prospective student open house, I saw the investment that faculty and staff made into each and every student, prospective and current. I saw the sense of community that I was seeking from my first introduction to SPP. I felt that SPP would be a place for me to grow intellectually, but also a place where I could find solace and feel that I was a part of a larger community of change-makers.
How has SPP helped you pursue this interest and prepare you for a future career?
SPP has helped me to pursue my policy area of interest and prepare me for a future career in many ways. The wide range of policy classes that are offered to me have allowed me to learn about education policy through many different lenses, and has allowed me to be introduced to professors/faculty who have worked in the education policy world in a variety of ways. The wide range of classes that I have access to have expanded my perspective on policy issues and further impassioned me to pursue a career in education policy. SPP has also supported me in my internship search, which has allowed me to have an internship as a first semester freshman. Through the SPP, I was selected to be a 2021 Maryland Municipal League Fellow, and will have an internship this summer in a local municipality. This opportunity will diversify my experience in local government policy, and will provide a foundation for my future endeavors.
Are there any fun facts that you would like to share about yourself?
I work in a teaching kitchen, and love to cook in my free time. I am also on the UMD's Black Student Union's Freshman Council. I am an ambassador for the CIVICUS living/learning community as well!