As a Program Analyst in the Child Nutrition Division at the Food and Nutrition Service, I focused on the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program. My tasks included updating policy guidance, providing technical assistance and policy clarification to state agencies, and reviewing requests from states to participate in demonstrations projects or receive program waivers. I also worked on regulatory tasks related to rulemaking and information collection requests.

I served as co-manager of the Welfare Rules Database project (anfdata.urban.org/wrd). My primary responsibilities included managing the tracking of State TANF policy updates, creating the annual Welfare Rules Databook, verifying data with State TANF administrators, and hiring and managing summer interns.Other major work included conducting statistical analysis to estimate WIC eligibility across the U.S., states, and territories; simulation work on UI's Transfer Income Model (TRIM3), a comprehensive microsimulation model that simulates the major governmental tax, transfer, and health programs; and research on streamlining and integrating health and human services program enrollment under the Affordable Care Act.

As a Research Assistant at the Urban Institute's Income and Benefits Policy Center I became a master of details, databases, and Excel. I was responsible for coding policy data for the CCDF Policies Database and the Welfare Rules Database projects. I created data tables, graphs, and policy maps for numerous outputs (research reports, policy briefs, memos, presentations, etc.) for just about every major safety net program. Additionally, I assisted on both a statistical analysis project to estimate WIC eligibility and policy simulations under UI's Transfer Income Model (TRIM3). I also provided logistical support for several policy events (panels, round-table discussions, etc.), including communications, travel reimbursements, and note-taking.

During graduate school, I interned in GAO as an Analyst in the Education, Workforce, and Income Security mission team.

I worked in the Business Attraction department on the Solar and Wind Energy "teams." I performed a variety of research tasks, including: gathering/organizing data on economic indicators, employment, businesses and population for Michigan and specific regions within the state; monitoring news sources on relevant companies and industry news; tracking relevant policy changes; composing briefing documents and summaries of data, news, and other business information; performing internet research on various solar and wind energy companies; and maintaining a database of Michigan-based solar/wind energy and related companies.

Assisted MSU students in introductory and intermediate micro- and macroeconomics coursework.

I performed a wide variety of duties, including: running the cash register, answering and directing telephone calls, assisting customers in person and over the phone, processing phone/internet orders and resolving related problems, receiving new merchandise shipments and entering them into computer inventory system, performing semi-annual store inventory check, training new employees and much more!