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Where are you from?
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
What sparked your interest in public policy?
My desire to study public policy was inspired by a lifelong goal towards public service and ‘doing right’ as well as the opportunity to marry interests in business, the technical world, and the solution of social problems. I believe that opportunities for great positive social change lie in the intersection of public issues and private interests, and I am fascinated by the changing face of governance and emerging opportunities for the private sector to assume responsibility for and lend valuable knowledge and resources to addressing poverty alleviation.
Why did you choose to pursue a PhD at LKYSPP?
Studying and researching at LKYSPP is an opportunity for me to gain new insights I may have missed in a US program that would have likely offered a world perspective more familiar to me. At the same time, the school’s participation within a network of established, top-tier policy schools illustrates the quality of the faculty, students, and research institutes. Furthermore, the school’s commitment to producing graduates who are both academically accomplished and equipped to actually effect change in the world was very attractive to me.
What do you enjoy the most about your studies or research work at LKYSPP?
I am exposed every day to fascinating people with very diverse perspectives on the world and variant areas of interest – nearly all of whom are dedicated in the end to making a measurable positive difference. There seems to be a tenor of practicality to research interests and an effort to be applicable and relevant to the real world and its real problems. Furthermore, by nature of the diversity amongst the faculty and student body, I’m being continuously enlightened about fields of research I’d never before considered.
Want to share any highlights such as awards, special events, professional presentation of your work?
I was awarded the Brown-Rudder Outstanding Graduate from Texas A&M University and received the Craig C. Brown Outstanding Senior Engineer award.
What are your career goals?
I aim to be both an academic and practitioner in the fields of water and sanitation policy and hope also to maintain a connection to the corporate world through consulting on related issues. | 
