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Department of Public Policy Leadership
University of Mississippi

Dr. Eunsil Yoo

Posted on: January 17th, 2023 by amyevans

B.A. in Political Sciences (International relations), Handong Global University, S. Korea

MPA in Governance, Sungkyunkwan University, S. Korea

Ph.D. in Public Administration, Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg

Specializations: Collaborative governance, nonprofit management, social network analysis, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)

Dr. Yoo’s research focuses on intersectoral collaborative governance for designing and implementing social policies and programs. She is interested in facilitating collaboration and creating collaborative environments in the public sector. She worked for nonprofit organizations and research institutions as a coordinator and researcher in S. Korea, focusing on collaborative networks and citizen participation for social integration and conflict management.

Dr. Yoo has taught government organizations and politics, public administration, policy design and analysis, and research methods.

“I believe that the ultimate goal of learning and teaching is to enrich and improve our lives and society in general. I want to ensure that my students use their knowledge and diverse skills to make better decisions in their workplaces so as to contribute to creating a better society”.

Dr. Zachary Vereb

Posted on: August 6th, 2020 by wtoakes

B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology, University of South Florida; M.A. in Philosophy, University of South Florida; Ph.D. in Philosophy, University of South Florida

Specialization: Ethics, Environmental Philosophy, Kant

Dr. Vereb’s research focuses on the relevance and application of Kant’s philosophy for environmental ethics and climate change, including its political and ethical dimensions. His recent publications concern the philosophical value of aesthetics and political philosophy for the climate crisis, and he is currently interested in exploring future-oriented philosophies of hope for our global predicament. He has published in journals such as Public Reason and Environmental Values, where he aims to reach a wide philosophical audience.

Using a contextual and skills-based approach, Dr. Vereb’s courses bridge philosophy with public policy to strengthen student learning about policy issues and global ethical problems.

Mitchell Palmertree

Posted on: May 21st, 2020 by wtoakes

“To say that my internship at Sunflower County Freedom Project was simply a learning experience is an understatement. The summer was an eye opening and absolutely transformative experience for me. I have long believed that one of the first steps to solving a problem was to have a working understanding of it—knowing how it occurs, who it affects, and the outcomes it brings. I knew the problem my work at Sunflower was addressing very intimately. I grew up and attended school in a town bordering the Mississippi Delta. I knew all too well that the problems that had affected my education were much worse for the children of Sunflower County. What I did not know was how to solve it.

“The Sunflower County Freedom Project taught me how education should be structured to help children grow. Often, we care far too much about the material being taught and not enough about the children learning it. At the SCFP, I learned how education should be devoted to building up the whole child, not just individual subjects. More importantly though, my service inspired me. Sunflower County Freedom Project was founded by a man who loved the community he served and saw a need that was unmet. As I worked with my students, so many of our interactions reminded me of my home and the need that was there. During my exit interview, I spoke with the director about how to bring such a bright glimmer of hope like the Freedom Project back to my home. I’ve always wanted to work to fix the problems that plague the state I call home, and now, thanks to the SCFP, I know where to start.”

Gabi Wells

Posted on: May 21st, 2020 by wtoakes

“I attended the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship College Congress. Students from all states came together to work on a policy problem from the perspective of a specific ideology. We then traveled to Washington, DC, to present our policy findings.

“During the last half of the summer, I interned with the University of Mississippi McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement through their M Partner Internship. I was partnered with the community of Charleston, Mississippi, and helped them with revitalization projects. Both experiences were amazing and taught me how to be an advocate through service.”

Sienna Ottinger

Posted on: May 21st, 2020 by wtoakes

“My role in the office was to take constituent’s concerns and open a case for them. I would input their cases into our system and send them a Privacy Act Consent form, which is a required form that constituents fill out for us to pursue a case with a federal agency.

“This internship was a great opportunity. I met so many influential people and worked alongside people I never thought I would work with. I plan to intern for Senator Marco Rubio again, but in the DC office, which deals with all policy matters. Seeing both sides of what Senator Rubio deals with on a daily basis would benefit me in furthering my degree in public policy and getting a firsthand experience.”

Davis McCool

Posted on: May 21st, 2020 by wtoakes

“I interned at Meet the Press with Chuck Todd on NBC. Located in the historic NBC Washington Studio, I spent most of the summer researching for future guests, preparing for each week’s show through editorial meetings with some of NBC’s best political minds including Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell, Katy Tur, and Hallie Jackson, and entertained some of the nation’s most high profile political stars, including Kellyanne Conway, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, and a slew of Senators and Congressmen. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will surely not forget anytime soon.”

Mallie Imbler

Posted on: May 21st, 2020 by wtoakes

“My favorite outside-the-classroom experiences were provided by the Lott Institute—an internship during the summer for Senator Wicker and I participated in the White House Internship program in Washington, DC. I was placed in the Office of Presidential Personnel. With these opportunities, I’ve applied academics to achieve and excel. While grades are a factor in being selected for such positions, implementation of both academic and leadership lessons learned in the classroom was also important in enabling me to serve in these capacities.”

Bobby Hudson

Posted on: May 21st, 2020 by wtoakes

“As a social media intern, I am responsible for coordinating and executing the campaign’s social media strategy, working across key social media channels to promote the campaign and Representative Anderson’s platform for the congressional race. Additionally, I assist staff by conducting legislative research, developing policy fact sheets, tracking federal legislation, and attending congressional hearings and briefings.”

James Hirsch

Posted on: May 21st, 2020 by wtoakes

“As a member and then co-chair of the Council, I individually presented preparedness information to more than 1,800 children in the span of two years. I worked with local, state, regional, and federal officials in order to implement and evaluate the efficacy of my project, and created materials to measure the impact of my project, seeing an average 11% increase in preparedness knowledge.”

Olivia Heuser

Posted on: May 21st, 2020 by wtoakes

“As part of my fall internship at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, I worked closely with senior fellow Mike Gonzales to assist in research on identity politics in the US. I met some of the greatest political thinkers in DC and all over the world. 10/10 would def recommend taking a semester off and moving to DC.”