“I’ve always had many different interests, but civil rights and economic justice are my core passions. I hope to build systems that treat every person with dignity, including closing the racial wealth gap, ensuring gender equality, and protecting LGBTQIA+ rights. I feel a personal connection to these issues, and I view them as fundamental problems we must address to realize the promise of the American Dream and opportunity for all people. In college, I tried to learn from every corner of the public sector, including through 13 internships about reproductive freedom, environmental justice, voting rights, and federal policymaking on the Hill. I interned with the @aclumo to change Missouri’s HIV criminalization law, worked on gender equity and anti-discrimination protections at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and The National Women’s Law Center, and assisted individuals seeking visas and refugee status to enter the U.S. After graduation, I worked in local government and at @brookingsinst, researching how to expand opportunities for people historically shut out of economic mobility. I also co-founded @outvotehq, a nonprofit dedicated to LGBTQIA+ youth civic engagement. In just two years, we’ve reached over one million voters and built a national network of fellows and partners bringing this work to their communities. That has been a transformative experience because I’ve gotten to do fulfilling work with an incredible team and community while also learning so much about how nonprofits operate and the LGBTQIA+ equality movement. I always feel grateful to be at @PrincetonSPIA because it’s an opportunity to think critically about the world and to learn from the best professors and classmates, each of whom brings unique experiences and perspectives to the table. My life has been so deeply enriched by our incredible friendships and conversations, which restore my faith that there are so many good people out there doing impactful, important work.” Ranen Miao, MPA ’26.