Graduate Program in Public Policy Alumni Profiles
Andrene Castro
Summer 2016 Archer Fellow
Internship: White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans
Education
The University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. Educational Policy and Planning; expected 2019
University of South Florida
B.S. English Education, B.A. Africana Studies; May 2005
Summer 2016 Archer Fellow
Internship: White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans
Education
The University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. Educational Policy and Planning; expected 2019
University of South Florida
B.S. English Education, B.A. Africana Studies; May 2005
“I was able to leverage my role as an Archer Fellow to intern at the White House Initiative on Education Excellence for African Americans as well as produce and engage with research to inform policies. Ultimately, my internship experience bridged my research interests with policy initiatives for African American educational issues and allowed me to gain a unique insight into federal-level policy making."
Q & A with Andrene
What has been your general career path?
Education – I worked as a teacher, school leader, and instructor.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
One of my main goals was to get some clarity about my professional pathway working in academia or directly in policy making and I am grateful that I was able to get the insight I needed to continue my graduate studies.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
There are so many valuable experiences and learning opportunities I gained as an Archer Fellow. One of the things I value most is the access to various organizations and opportunities the Archer Center provided. I was able to leverage my role as an Archer Fellow to intern at the White House Initiative on Education Excellence for African Americans as well as produce and engage with research to inform policies. Ultimately, my internship experience bridged my research interests with policy initiatives for African American educational issues and allowed me to gain a unique insight into federal-level policy making.
What was the most important thing you learned as an Archer Fellow?
While the policy process is complex, I learned that policy decisions are made through everyday relationships and the day-to-day interactions between various people, ideas, and organizations. And I appreciated the Archer Center's commitment to integrating a host of networking opportunities, guests, and policymakers who offered these insights about the intricacies of policy making in D.C.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumna?
As an Archer Alumna, I feel most proud about the work we commit to within the community. Raising money, awareness, and sharing our time to helping others is an aspect of being an Archer Alumna that fulfills the Archer Center's mission of giving back. In addition, I value the strong network other Archer Fellow graduates have formed to create a vibrant, giving, and welcoming alumni community.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
While there are many great memories, my favorite memory while in the program was attending the United State of Women Summit and learning from, listening to, and meeting with a diverse and talented group of women from around the world. I was inspired by their leadership and tireless work in various fields such as education, health development, and economic opportunity. Of course, a highlight of the Summitt was Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey conspiring to take over the world!
Do you have advice for prospective students?
This experience will only be as useful as one makes it. I encourage future Archer Fellows to be clear and communicate with Archer Center staff about their expectations. Having several end goals will guide fellows to make use of the Archer Center's networks, the learning experiences, as well as the internship process within D.C.
What has been your general career path?
Education – I worked as a teacher, school leader, and instructor.
How has being an Archer Fellow influenced your professional path and goals?
One of my main goals was to get some clarity about my professional pathway working in academia or directly in policy making and I am grateful that I was able to get the insight I needed to continue my graduate studies.
What do you value the most about your experience as an Archer Fellow?
There are so many valuable experiences and learning opportunities I gained as an Archer Fellow. One of the things I value most is the access to various organizations and opportunities the Archer Center provided. I was able to leverage my role as an Archer Fellow to intern at the White House Initiative on Education Excellence for African Americans as well as produce and engage with research to inform policies. Ultimately, my internship experience bridged my research interests with policy initiatives for African American educational issues and allowed me to gain a unique insight into federal-level policy making.
What was the most important thing you learned as an Archer Fellow?
While the policy process is complex, I learned that policy decisions are made through everyday relationships and the day-to-day interactions between various people, ideas, and organizations. And I appreciated the Archer Center's commitment to integrating a host of networking opportunities, guests, and policymakers who offered these insights about the intricacies of policy making in D.C.
What do you value the most about being an Archer Alumna?
As an Archer Alumna, I feel most proud about the work we commit to within the community. Raising money, awareness, and sharing our time to helping others is an aspect of being an Archer Alumna that fulfills the Archer Center's mission of giving back. In addition, I value the strong network other Archer Fellow graduates have formed to create a vibrant, giving, and welcoming alumni community.
What is your favorite memory from the program?
While there are many great memories, my favorite memory while in the program was attending the United State of Women Summit and learning from, listening to, and meeting with a diverse and talented group of women from around the world. I was inspired by their leadership and tireless work in various fields such as education, health development, and economic opportunity. Of course, a highlight of the Summitt was Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey conspiring to take over the world!
Do you have advice for prospective students?
This experience will only be as useful as one makes it. I encourage future Archer Fellows to be clear and communicate with Archer Center staff about their expectations. Having several end goals will guide fellows to make use of the Archer Center's networks, the learning experiences, as well as the internship process within D.C.
