Clare McGladrigan

Degree program: Master of Public Policy 2019

Hometown: North Andover, Massachusetts

Where I interned: The Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus

What I did there: For part of my time with the MWPC I was working in their office in Boston on a variety of projects. I read endorsement applications, created social media posts, drafted press releases, and so much more. The other part of my time was spent working on a state representative race in western Massachusetts. On the campaign trail I did policy research, created graphics, attended debates, canvassed, and really anything else that was needed.

The most important thing I learned: I spent a lot of time compiling information about the 2018 midterm elections and learned a lot about state politics. Seeing the trends in election data was really eye-opening. A lesson I learned is to pay attention to local races. Every elected official has the potential to create meaningful change in their community, regardless of the position. While presidential, Congressional, and gubernatorial races are exciting, paying attention to state and local elections can bring substantive changes in your community, too.

The most challenging part of my internship: The most challenging part had nothing to do with the work it involved, but rather it was explaining to others why I was so passionate about the MWPC and its mission. Gender equality in legislatures is such an important part of having a representative government, but not all people care about advancing that issue.

What surprised me the most: I always knew the impact MWPC had, but the primary election night was such a welcome surprise at the end of the internship. Eighty-four percent of MWPC-endorsed candidates won their primary and advanced to the general election! Seeing those results after a lot of hard work by myself and the entire team at MWPC was incredible.

Why I’m studying public policy: I want to be an advocate for early childhood education and women’s rights.

Future plans: I think there is an interesting intersection between promoting women's rights and creating quality, accessible childcare. I hope to explore that intersection in the future and help create policy that helps women's ability to have a successful career while being the primary caretaker of their children.

Photo: Clare McGladrigan (back row, third from right) and fellow Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus interns