Meet our interns
Posted on 02/15/13
Meet the interns in our Cleveland and Columbus offices. They do some heavy lifting for our research projects! Check out our internships page for more information about how to join our team.Derek Dissell
I am in my last semester of the Urban Studies program at Cleveland State University and specializing in Public Administration. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at CSU and in Cleveland and plan on being here for a long time. After I finish my undergraduate degree, I would like to pursue a JD/MBA/MPP/MPA program, starting in the fall of 2014.
I would like to pursue a career in politics and doing rigorous, focused research with Policy Matters will make me adept in policy. Being a policy junkie, this is also the ideal place to become an expert on state, local, and even federal issues.
My areas of research and interest are quite broad but include: 3rd party politics, higher education, rehabilitation for returned citizens, and tax policy, among many others. At school, I am doing an independent study on the causes of tuition rises at public universities in Ohio and what students can do to become an organized group around these. I also do some organizing with the Ohio Student Association and look to help expand that in the Greater Cleveland area.
I am active with the Cleveland Toastmasters Club, am the LGBT affairs commissioner with the Cleveland Young Professional Senate, participate in Cleveland State Model United Nations, and edit and write a bi-montly column for Cleveland State’s Cauldron newspaper. I have also worked with the No Cuts Coalition, the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, and Cleveland Move to Amend.
Casey Andersen
I am originally from Cleveland, returning after graduation with a B.A. from Bates College in Environmental Studies, Global Environment and Social Change. My personal and professional interests revolve around the protection of human rights and justices to ensure that our society will continue to thrive well into the future, and I believe that this can ultimately be achieved through successful political cooperation. As a Cleveland native, working to ensure these rights are protected for all people in Ohio is an issue that is particularly close to my heart.
These passions and ideals steered me towards Policy Matters Ohio. As an intern, I enjoy being able to work with staff on policy education and research that ultimately helps Ohio. I look forward to continuing to learn valuable policy research and advocacy tools as a means of achieving social justice for all people in Ohio. I hope to be able to use what I learn about research, policy, group work, and advocacy at Policy Matters Ohio as I continue through my career and life.
Phuong Q. Le
I was born and grew up in Vietnam, went to college in Connecticut, backpacked in Europe and am now learning to be a social worker/macro practitioner in Ohio. This internship is part of my graduate school’s