Learn About the Current Interns

Alison Taetzsch, SFP Network Philanthropic Engagement and Strategic Projects and Initiatives Intern, (she/her)

Alison is an intern with the State Fiscal Policy (SFP) Network Philanthropic Engagement and Strategic Projects & Initiatives teams. She aims to use her direct professional experience in international nonprofit management and marketing to bring policies to life and blend rigorous analysis with effective communications to strengthen donor CBPP’s relations and fundraising.

Previously, she completed a year of independent copywriting and project management for nonprofit fundraising, working directly with top donors and translating year-end results into donor newsletters. She also coordinated philanthropy support at Opportunity International, an international microfinance organization with a mission to empower low-income families in 33 countries to break the cycle of poverty. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in international relations at Wheaton College with a minor in Spanish.

Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Public Policy degree at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University and serves as the Director of Communications at the McCourt Migration and Refugee Policy Initiative.

Ashley Scott, Housing Intern, (she/her)

Ashley is an intern with the Housing team. She is a PhD student in the Department of Public Policy and Administration at American University. Her research interests include equitable community and spatial development, urban policy, racial and social stratification, and policy implications of commemoration and symbolism. Before arriving at CBPP, she conducted empirical and qualitative research on marginalized urban communities as well as organizing and advocating for minority-led grassroots organizations.

Ashley holds an MPA in Public Administration from the Fels Institute of Government and an ML in Law from the Carey Law School, both at the University of Pennsylvania.

Colin Carter, Government Affairs Intern, (he/him)

Colin is an intern with the Government Affairs team. He is a rising sophomore at Brown University, where he studies International and Public Affairs with a focus on Policy and Governance. He grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, before attending boarding school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In high school, Colin was involved in neighborhood and community organizing, National History Day, and student government, and received the F.M. McCallie Award for Community Service. At Brown, Colin serves as the Co-lead for the Brown Initiative for Policy’s Housing Opportunities Made Equitable (HOME) team and has interned for Rhode Island State Senator Louis DiPalma. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, watching movies, and listening to music. He is excited to continue his passion for working toward a more equitable society this summer!

Carla Naranjo, SFP Research Intern, (she/her/ella)

Carla is an intern with the State Fiscal Policy Research team. Most recently, she was a Research Assistant at the Wilson Center for Justice and Science at Duke Law evaluating pre-arrest diversion programs and drug courts in North Carolina. Prior to graduate school, Carla was a seasoned campaigner and political strategist based in Phoenix, Arizona, on issues related to affordable housing, economic justice, and reproductive rights. Part of her economic justice work was in partnership with the AZ Center for Economic Progress, a current member of the State Priorities Partnership network.

Carla graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Political Science and Justice Studies with a Spanish minor from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy degree from the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy.

Gareth Minson, Data Intern, (he/him)

Gareth is an intern with the Data Analysis team. He is currently completing a master's degree in public policy and management at Carnegie Mellon University. Originally from Virginia, Gareth attended Washington and Lee University, earning a B.A. in Politics. Gareth previously interned for Senator Mark Warner and worked as a business data analyst and product manager for Hanover Research. He is passionate about high-quality, data-driven policy analysis that contributes to improving the lives of Americans.

Jake Chang, Outreach Intern, (he/they)

*Returning

Jake is an intern with the Outreach team. He is currently a student at Pomona College pursuing majors in Economics and History and is interested in economic justice and public policy. Jake has previously worked in affordable housing advocacy in California and local campaigns for AANHPI and immigrants' rights. He is excited to aid the Get It Back Campaign in accessibility for underserved communities using his passions in journalism and outreach.

Judianne Meredith, Communications Intern, (she/her)

Judianne is an intern with the Communications team. She is an incoming senior at Wake Forest University, majoring in Politics & International Affairs with minors in Journalism and Anthropology. She plans to pursue a career in political communications and recently completed an internship at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Office of Public Affairs. At Wake Forest, Judianne is a peer tutor in the university’s Writing Center and an editor for her school’s chapter of a national online magazine. She is excited to join the Communications team as an intern this summer and looks forward to contributing to its important work.

Katelyn Hetrick, Federal Fiscal Intern, (she/her)

Katelyn is an intern with the Federal Fiscal Policy team. She recently graduated from Pennsylvania Western University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She’s soon to be a graduate student at George Washington University, pursuing a master’s degree in public policy. She is passionate about assisting people affected by poverty and low incomes through analyzing trends in the level of federal revenues, income distribution, and tax burdens. These interests stem from her previous roles as a research intern at the Foundation on Economic Trends and the Democratic National Committee, where she delved into national fiscal policy trends through research and analysis.

Kaylin Hewitt, Health Intern, (she/her)

*Returning

Kaylin is an intern with the Health team. She is a first-year Master of Public Policy student at American University. A Wisconsin native, Kaylin recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Global Health and certificates in Public and Health Policy. She is interested in improving equitable access to healthcare and to public programs like SNAP and WIC — these interests stem from previous work in a rural Wisconsin health department, constituent services experience in the Office of Governor Tony Evers, and health policy coursework surrounding these topics. Kaylin also has experience as a research assistant with the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative, where she worked on surveys and data visualization related to teacher and student educational outcomes. Before joining CBPP, Kaylin interned with the US Government Accountability Office, where she contributed to an engagement focused on the processes for citizens and federal employees to change their names with various government agencies.

Maria Manansala, Housing and Income Security Intern, (she/her)

Maria is an intern with the Income Security team and is a second-year Master of Public Policy student at the University of Michigan. She boasts an extensive background in policy research and a demonstrated passion for poverty alleviation. She recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned degrees in Political Science and Sociology, along with a certificate in Public Policy. Throughout her undergraduate career, Maria served as a researcher (and eventually, policy manager) for a Wisconsin-based think tank; a research assistant for Baby’s First Years (a study assessing the impact of unconditional cash transfers on family life and child development); and an intern for the National Partnership for Women and Families’ Economic Justice team, where she researched policies related to fair pay, paid leave, paid sick days, and pregnancy discrimination. Currently, she works as a research assistant for RxKids — a novel program that distributes unconditional cash transfers to all pregnant mothers in Flint, MI. Thanks to both her professional and personal experiences, Maria has developed strong interests in social policy, family policy, and labor policy, with a focus on low-income immigrant families and families of color.

McKenna Goetz, Food Assistance Intern, (she/her)

McKenna is an intern with the Food Assistance team. She is a second-year Masters of Public Affairs and Public Health student at UW-Madison's LaFollette School of Public Affairs. Born and raised in Wisconsin, McKenna is passionate about enhancing access to vital government programs that promote health and well-being, such as SNAP and WIC. These interests stem from her previous work with the Wisconsin Medicaid program, research experience, and health policy coursework surrounding these topics. McKenna also has experience as a Quantitative Research Assistant with the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative — an organization that evaluates education program across the state.

Megan Valmidiano, Equity and Inclusion Intern, (she/her)

*Returning

Megan is a returning intern with the Equity and Inclusion team. She is a trained dialogue facilitator and has led students through multiple dialogue sessions on topics regarding gender identity, racial disparity on college campuses, and diversity in business. Currently part of a dual-degree program at the University of Maryland, she is working toward a Bachelor of Science in Government and Politics, coupled with a Master of Science in Applied Political Analytics.

Paige Lawrie, SFP Network Organizational Effectiveness Intern, (she/her)

Paige is an intern with the State Fiscal Policy (SFP) Network Organizational Effectiveness team. Prior to joining CBPP, she interned with APCO Worldwide where she helped develop and implement a global upskilling initiative, established partnerships with global APCO leaders to expand internal training, and vetted companies for the Learning & Development Team. She has also worked as an administrative intern for Uplift Hospice and developed Columbia's Community, Action, Responsibility and Engagement incoming students' program. Paige is pursuing a B.A. in Sociology and English from Columbia University.

Sara Johanson, Human Resources Intern, (she/her)

*Returning

Sara is an intern with the Human Resources team. She is a recent graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor's degree in Learning and Education Studies, specializing in Workplace Training and Development. With a background in human resources gained through previous work and internship experience, Sara is enthusiastic about applying her skills to make a positive impact at CBPP. She has a deep passion for helping people and is particularly excited about this opportunity, where she looks forward to further contributing to the field of human resources.