Graduate Program in Public Policy Alumni Profiles
David Wogan
Summer 2010 Archer Fellow
Internship: White House Council on Environmental Quality
Education
The University of Texas at Austin
M.P.Aff., M.S. Mechanical Engineering; December 2010
B.S. Mechanical Engineering; December 2006
Career
Research Associate at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center
Summer 2010 Archer Fellow
Internship: White House Council on Environmental Quality
Education
The University of Texas at Austin
M.P.Aff., M.S. Mechanical Engineering; December 2010
B.S. Mechanical Engineering; December 2006
Career
Research Associate at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center
“I value the opportunity I was given to work in a real policy setting where I actively applied my skills to issues I deeply cared about. It was one thing to talk about issues in a classroom, but another to practice making policy."
Q & A with David
Please give us a snapshot of your current position.
I lead projects that study different elements of how countries in the Arabian Gulf produce electricity. These projects use quantitative modeling of electricity markets and systems to answer policy relevant questions for governments and the public.
What has been your general career path?
I worked in city government implementing an energy efficiency program under the 2008 Recovery Act. I wanted to live overseas and be more qualitative, which is how I ended up living and working in Saudi Arabia.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
As an Archer Fellow I learned that we do not have perfect foresight about our career paths. The relationships and experiences in your past can prepare us for the future. I still draw on a network of peers from my time as an Archer Fellow, even as a researcher in far away Saudi Arabia!
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
I value the opportunity I was given to work in a real policy setting where I actively applied my skills to issues I deeply cared about. It was one thing to talk about issues in a classroom, but another to practice making policy.
What was the most important thing you learned as an Archer Fellow?
As an Archer Fellow I learned that the relationships you develop are critical to the policymaking process. Policies can be made or broken based on the relationships of the people involved. It is a reminder that public policy is ultimately about people.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumnus?
I love being part of a group of driven and passionate peers. In graduate school we tend to become even more focused in a specific subject, so having the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others in different fields is refreshing and rewarding.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
I might be biased, but I will say the dual degree program between Public Affairs and Engineering. I feel there is a pressing need to foster dialogue between those in the STEM fields with policymakers. Policymakers can learn from the technical experts while technical experts can better understand the societal impacts and constraints facing many public policy issues.
Do you have advice for prospective students?
Do it! I still look back fondly on my summer in Washington, D.C. The experiences I had and learned from professionally during my internship, in the classroom at the Archer Center, and with my cohort, I carry with me to this day.
Please give us a snapshot of your current position.
I lead projects that study different elements of how countries in the Arabian Gulf produce electricity. These projects use quantitative modeling of electricity markets and systems to answer policy relevant questions for governments and the public.
What has been your general career path?
I worked in city government implementing an energy efficiency program under the 2008 Recovery Act. I wanted to live overseas and be more qualitative, which is how I ended up living and working in Saudi Arabia.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
As an Archer Fellow I learned that we do not have perfect foresight about our career paths. The relationships and experiences in your past can prepare us for the future. I still draw on a network of peers from my time as an Archer Fellow, even as a researcher in far away Saudi Arabia!
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
I value the opportunity I was given to work in a real policy setting where I actively applied my skills to issues I deeply cared about. It was one thing to talk about issues in a classroom, but another to practice making policy.
What was the most important thing you learned as an Archer Fellow?
As an Archer Fellow I learned that the relationships you develop are critical to the policymaking process. Policies can be made or broken based on the relationships of the people involved. It is a reminder that public policy is ultimately about people.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumnus?
I love being part of a group of driven and passionate peers. In graduate school we tend to become even more focused in a specific subject, so having the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others in different fields is refreshing and rewarding.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
I might be biased, but I will say the dual degree program between Public Affairs and Engineering. I feel there is a pressing need to foster dialogue between those in the STEM fields with policymakers. Policymakers can learn from the technical experts while technical experts can better understand the societal impacts and constraints facing many public policy issues.
Do you have advice for prospective students?
Do it! I still look back fondly on my summer in Washington, D.C. The experiences I had and learned from professionally during my internship, in the classroom at the Archer Center, and with my cohort, I carry with me to this day.
