Shannon McAndrew
The Office of State Sen. Jo Comerford
Degree program: Master’s in Public Policy and Administration
Hometown: Chicopee, Massachusetts
Where I interned: Office of State Senator Jo Comerford, Hampshire Franklin, Worcester District
What I did there: I worked on a variety of projects and tasks that often changed daily. I consistently worked with constituent engagement, in which I would log emails from constituents in a database that allowed Jo and her team to respond in a timely manner. I worked on several different research projects, branching from the Commonwealth’s fiscal and supplemental budgets from the past year, racial justice policy, education policy, and more.
The most important thing I learned: The most important thing I learned was that constituent advocacy has a major impact on elected officials' offices, especially Jo’s office. Jo and her team work tirelessly to communicate with constituents on matters ranging from trouble with unemployment benefits, to calling for racial justice and police reforms, to a street light being out. No matter the problem or topic, big or small, advocacy makes a huge difference and connection between constituents and their representatives.
The most challenging part of my internship: The most challenging part of my internship may have been the virtual aspect of it, which was of course due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While many have been transitioning to online learning and working from home, it was more difficult to make more personal connections with the folks I was working with. That being said, we absolutely made the best of it with Zoom and Slack for communication forums and held weekly seminars for the interns to learn about different aspects of the office and connect with one another.
What surprised me the most: The most surprising aspect of the internship was the sheer volume of constituent emails and phone calls that the office received regarding a wide range of topics or problems. As Jo is a senator at the state level, I was not expecting the volume to be so large. However, Jo believes strongly in empowering the people, so it makes perfect sense that folks in the district feel so comfortable reaching out to the office!
Why I’m studying public policy: I am studying public policy because the bottom line is, I am passionate about helping other people. I am interested in such a wide variety of policy, from social justice, environmental justice, Internet policy, and more. I am so grateful for the opportunity to study with SPP at UMass and receive a well-rounded education from great professors.
Future plans: After having such an amazing experience with this internship, I am hoping to pursue joining a team for a senator or representative, either on Beacon or Capitol Hill. While I am still young in my career, I think I would enjoy the fast-paced work environment and the many connections that can be made in the field of work.