Public Policy (PUBP)

This program combines political, social, economic, and ethical approaches with practical problem solving in a technology-infused way.

Blurb / Gallery Set

Abbie Gould

PUBP | 4th Year | Campbell High School
 
What activities are you involved in on campus?

I am involved in Greek Life and am a member of the Ivan Allen Student Advisory Board.

What internship, job, research, study abroad, or other academic experiences do you have?
In Summer 2023, I studied abroad through the Georgia Tech Oxford Program, traveling throughout Europe and studying at Oxford University. In Spring 2024, I participated in the Georgia Legislative Internship Program (GLIP), working for the Speaker of the House at the State Capitol. In Fall 2024, I interned at the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, supporting research on budget and policy initiatives. During Spring 2025, I worked with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Government Relations team during the legislative session. Most recently, I interned in Washington, D.C. with Regions Bank's Government Affairs team.
 
What do you like best about your major?
II love Public Policy at Tech because of the intersection between STEM and policy. As a student at Georgia Tech, I’m exposed to groundbreaking STEM advancements that are fascinating to study through a humanities lens. The curriculum equips students with real-world problem-solving skills and technical knowledge that translate seamlessly into practice. Being in Atlanta also provides direct access to state and local policy work, which makes it easy to get involved and have a meaningful impact on the community.
 
What do you love about liberal arts at Georgia Tech?
I adore the Georgia Tech liberal arts community, and through the Ivan Allen College, I truly get the best of both worlds. I benefit from all the resources and prestige of a top-tier research university while also enjoying the tight-knit community that IAC fosters. Smaller classes have allowed me to build strong relationships with both professors and peers since my first year. Ivan Allen is a growing program, and its alumni are eager to support and connect with current students. The community within Ivan Allen has been a bright and meaningful part of my Georgia Tech experience.

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Kaeli Lawrence

PUBP | 3rd Year | Sustainable Cities & History Minor| Glynn Academy High School
Pre-Law Certificate
 
What activities are you involved in on campus?
I am currently the Joint Vice President of Campus Organizations for the Student Government Association (SGA), the Vice President of Internal Relations and Recruitment for Student Center Programs Council (SCPC), the Director General for GT MUN and TechMUN Conferences for Georgia Tech Model United Nations (GTMUN), and a part of the IAC Ambassador Program.

What internship, job, research, study abroad, or other academic experiences do you have?

I completed a Summer 2025 internship through the ScORE program at Tech. I interned at a sustainability nonprofit called PlantLanta, focused on sustainability education and youth development.

I also completed a VIP through the Serve, Learn, Sustain program. Our project focused on sustainable development in Rwanda.

What do you like best about your major?
Georgia Tech explores not only how policy was made, but also why this policy was made and what its effects will be. This technological approach to developing policy, combined with learning about the societal implications of policy, sets the Tech PUBP program apart from other programs! There are several paths (clusters!) to explore to learn about niche interests, such as science, health, and urban policy, which allow students to have specialized knowledge in their chosen clusters.
 
What do you love about liberal arts at Georgia Tech?
I love how we can find community through our peers, professors, staff, and faculty in the liberal arts program. Everyone is super accessible to take for coffee, grab lunch with, and stop by their office to talk about their research. Every person in IAC loves to learn, and the staff and faculty truly enjoy getting to know students and helping them grow.

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Audrey Ferguson-Brown

PUBP | 2nd Year | Decatur High School
 
What activities are you involved in on campus?

Honors Program, Allocations Committee (Georgia Tech Student Foundation), GT 1000 Team Lead

 
What internship, job, research, study abroad, or other academic experiences do you have?
None Yet!
 
What do you like best about your major?
Being a Public Policy major means being well versed in all core subjects. From being able to analyze numerical data, to articulating such data and contextualizing it, public policy entails a range of skill sets for its many applications. Public Policy is the perfect major for me because even as a kid, when asked about my favorite subjects, I have enjoyed most of the subjects and been quite indecisive with my answer. There are no limits to my problem-solving interests whether I hope to analyze socio economic data or create solutions to remedying such challenges in an area. I enjoy the diversity of my major and all its possible facets to problem-solving. In virtually every aspect of my life, I can apply public policy to understanding different perspectives, as well as comprehend wide scale issues. Overall, I am fascinated by the ambiguity of public policy in its necessary applications for problem-solving. Whether a policy issue, solution effort, or everyday conversation, my Public Policy 2010 class has emphasized the importance of being cognizant and mindful of all pieces of a puzzle. I am truly excited to explore each and every piece of the puzzles I will encounter.
 
What do you love about liberal arts at Georgia Tech?
As a Georgia Tech student, being a problem solver is a large part of our student identity. Being a public policy major at Georgia Tech takes problem solving to the next level with the enriching, multidisciplinary learning approach that grants students an open-minded and contemporary perspective. As a liberal arts major at Tech, there are so many opportunities to engage with my interests academically and through extracurriculars. For example, there are numerous research opportunities on-campus and abroad as Georgia Tech is a leader in interdisciplinary research. I also enjoy the intimacy afforded by being a smaller college at a larger school, which makes it easier to create a community with other students, but also with the esteemed, industry-engaged professors. Overall, being an Ivan Allen student enables such incredible academic, social, and professional opportunities.

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Emalee Collins

PUBP and BSBA | 2nd Year | Armuchee High School
Minor: Law, Society, and Technology 
 
 
What activities are you involved in on campus?
Outside of Ambassadors, I'm in Greek Life, Christian Campus Fellowship (CCF), Undergraduate Law Review (Outreach Chair), GT Tour Guides, and Ivan Allen Student Advisory Board (Secretary).
 
What internship, job, research, study abroad, or other academic experiences do you have?

Last spring (2025), as part of my POL 2101: State and Local Government class, I worked on a project with the Strategy & Innovation Office for the City of Atlanta. The course, taught by Professor Polak—a former state legislator—pairs students with policy partners to tackle real-world issues. I concluded the semester with a presentation to my policy partner on strategies to combat water shortages and went through validation with other experts in the field.

This summer (2025), I participated in the European Union and Transatlantic Relations Study Abroad program through the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. We traveled across Europe—visiting France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Czechia, and Germany—and learned about EU institutions while engaging with officials (and Georgia Tech alumni!) at NATO, the EU, and various national governments and think tanks.

I'm also currently serving as a Teaching Assistant for PUBP 2010: Political Processes. This is the gateway Public Policy class for PUBP majors, and teaches students all about political institutions and analysis.

I also serve as a college volunteer for the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, contributing roughly 30 hours per semester to support civic programs, mentor students, and assist with outreach initiatives. These programs allow middle and high school students to simulate government by stepping into the shoes of officials and simulating the legislative process.

 
What do you like best about your major?
I love how malleable and customizable the degree is. I have the freedom to choose classes and design projects around specific policy areas I’m passionate about, and the different clusters have helped me both narrow and broaden my scope of interest in meaningful ways. Moreover, almost all of my policy classes are project-based, allowing me to connect in-class concepts with real-world policies and problems. Beyond that, the program’s unique connection to Georgia Tech’s tech-oriented ecosystem enables me to approach these policy areas from a forward-thinking, technology-driven perspective.
 
What do you love about liberal arts at Georgia Tech?
For me, studying liberal arts at Georgia Tech is the best of both worlds. It has the close-knit, supportive atmosphere of a small private college, with small class sizes and professors who are truly accessible and engaged with their students. At the same time, you have access to all the resources of a major research university, from cutting-edge labs and collaborative projects to abundant research opportunities and internships. This combination allows me to build meaningful relationships with faculty and peers while still having the chance to participate in innovative research and gain practical experience that will prepare me for my career.

Contact Emalee