Ally Huang (she/her) is a rising senior at Pomona College studying Public Policy Analysis and Economics. Her international upbringing drives her to analyze global issues through a quantitative, interdisciplinary lens to identify how policies can better reflect the needs of historically marginalized groups and pave the way for a sustainable future. On campus, she is involved in the Asian American Mentor Program, the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company, and the Pomona College Writing Center. She enjoys writing book reviews, watching videos on 2x speed (or higher), and trying non-spicy instant ramen flavors.
Internship Placement: USDA ARS Western Regional Research Center
As a CAPAL scholar/intern, what does CAPAL mean to you?
CAPAL is an opportunity for me to follow in the footsteps of AANHPI public service leaders and discover the various paths I can choose to take next. As a Chinese American who spent 11 years living outside of the US, and the first person in my family to pursue a public service career, I have many questions about the seemingly inaccessible field of US public policy. CAPAL has connected me with incredible pre-professional opportunities, a network of inspiring AANHPI role models, and a community of enthusiastic, supportive peers chasing the same dreams. All of these have increased both my passion for and confidence in public service. Going into my final year of college, I feel more empowered to pursue my ambitions and seek positions that will allow me to make an impact, while never losing sight of the communities that I hope to serve and uplift.
What is an issue or topic within the AANHPI communities that you feel passionate about addressing?
Conversations about data disaggregation have become increasingly common in AANHPI spaces, especially in light of OMB’s revisions to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 earlier this year. Through my economics coursework and research, I have worked with a lot of data that fails to represent the diversity of the AANHPI community, grouping ethnicities with highly varied immigration histories and cultural backgrounds into one monolithic label. Policymakers rely on accurate, comprehensive data to understand inequities, so data disaggregation has important implications for public health, civic engagement, education, and just about every other area of our lives. We must continue to push for increased data disaggregation at the federal level in addition to supporting local community organizations, listening to individual stories, and learning about intersectional experiences.
What are your main responsibilities at your position? What are some of your big projects?
At USDA ARS, I am working under research scientist Dr. James McManus on the initial draft of a perspective paper about recent California legislation related to biomaterials and compostable packaging. USDA ARS has worked with many companies who research, innovate, and produce in the field of biomaterials to find more sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. I have surveyed different companies, analyzed responses, designed presentations, and written sections of the perspective paper draft with the goal of eventual publication.
How does this internship fit with your professional and career goals?
I am deeply interested in finding environmentally sustainable and economically feasible policy interventions to alleviate the climate crisis. Through my work with the research scientists at USDA ARS and biomaterials industry professionals, I have learned so much about the science that goes into policy decisions and how both state and federal policies can affect businesses. I have also learned about the initiatives at large federal agencies such as USDA, gaining an understanding of just how deeply their work touches the lives of every person in the US—even someone like me who previously did not believe they had any clear connections to agriculture. By developing my policy research and writing skills, which will serve me in any future career, I hope to become a stronger policy analyst and more effective communicator. Scientists are finding incredible ways to support the planet, but they require policymakers who can translate their findings to lay audiences and develop effective policy that sparks large-scale changes in order for their research to benefit us all.
What does public service mean to you? What sparked your interest or desire to get involved with public service?
To me, public service is using all of the resources at my disposal to give back to my community and uplift historically marginalized groups. I am so fortunate to have lived abroad, learned from great teachers and professors, experienced a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, gained work experience as a student, and connected with AANHPI role models. Thanks to my parents, my cultural upbringing as a Chinese American and Third Culture Kid has shaped me into the person I am today. However, along with my immense gratitude for my life experiences, I also feel deep anger at the systematic injustices that have harmed countless communities within our country and overseas. Our institutions have a responsibility to address inequities and protect vulnerable populations, and these efforts need to be driven by people from a diversity of backgrounds. I am drawn to public service because I recognize that change needs to happen, and I want to be a part of something greater than myself that will impact people’s lives positively.