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PACE Alumni Spotlight: Laura Appelt (BA '13)

PACE Alumni Spotlight: Laura Appelt (BA '13)

Monday, April 3, 2017

What made you choose to be involved with PACE and what did it add to your undergraduate experience?
I transferred to Indiana University in the middle of my freshman year and was excited to get involved on campus right away. I knew that I wanted to study environmental science, and I was happy that the courses in my major were scientifically rigorous. But I also knew that I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to use my knowledge of environmental science to help people solve problems. I saw the PACE program as an opportunity to develop policy and community engagement skills in a way that would complement my studies in my major. Through the PACE core and elective courses and as a discussion leader for the Issues Forum, I gained strong foundations in public policy theory and leadership. And my PACE internship with the Hoosier Environmental Council gave me opportunities to combine policy studies with environmental work.

Tell us about the studies and work you chose after you graduated: why did you want to do that and what has it been like?

I have tried to pursue opportunities to combine science and policy in my work and academics. After I graduated from IU, I joined Teach for America as a corps member in Indianapolis. I taught high school science for two years at EmmerichManual High School and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Marian University. Now, I am in my second year of law school at Duke University, where I am also pursuing a Master of Arts in Bioethics and Science Policy. I spent my first summer in law school working on climate change law and policy research at Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, and I will spend my second summer working in corporate law at a firm in Chicago. After law school, I will spend one year clerking for a federal judge in Raleigh, North Carolina before continuing my legal career. All of these opportunities have been very different from each other, but each has been both challenging and rewarding. 

What would you want to tell current PACE students about engagement and professional development?

I think it's important to take advantage of the variety of ways to engage with PACE--academics, department-sponsored extracurriculars, and student groups. Also, sometimes it can be hard for students to figure out how to get involved off-campus, so I encourage students to use the opportunities created by PACE to connect with the greater Bloomington community. Finally, take advantage of opportunities to connect with PACE faculty--they are incredibly supportive and knowledgeable.

Political and Civic Engagement (PACE)

PACE Alumni Spotlight: Laura Appelt (BA '13)

The College of Arts & Sciences