Katie Drais ’26
I chose to major in PPA/Politics because politics matter to me, and public policy gives me the tools to turn passion into change. PPA is unique because although everyone has different concentrations, we all want to positively affect our field of interest through policy.
Through courses I have taken—such as the U.S. Presidency, Foreign Policy, Security Studies, Arab Politics, and Constitutional Law—I’ve examined how power is structured and constrained. The PPA core curriculum has strengthened my skills in research methods, quantitative analysis, and policy writing. With this combination, I’ve learned how important policy evaluation and implementation are. Senior seminar showed me that it is as crucial in politics as in such fields as medicine, education and environmental protection.
During my senior fall internship with the L.A. County Supervisor’s Office, I supported constituents recovering from the 2025 Altadena fires and worked across departments to connect residents with DHHS services. This experience gave me firsthand insight into how local government operates and how policy directly affects people’s daily lives.
Overall, PPA/Politics has provided me with both a strong analytical foundation and meaningful experience at the state level. It allows me to understand the government not just in theory, but in practice. I am grateful to be part of a department filled with such thoughtful peers and faculty.
Hadley Johnson ’26
I chose to major in PPA/EA because it offered me a route for combining my interest in environmental studies with my natural inclination towards problem-solving. The Public Policy Major is unique in that all of our work is in the context of addressing real world issues that extend beyond just theory, and impact the lives of the communities, individuals and environments around us.
The interdisciplinary nature of the PPA Major provides a holistic and widely applicable approach to all areas of study. My favorite classes have ranged from Natural Resource Economics and Policy with Professor John Jurewitz, to Environmental Science courses with Professor Marc Los Huertos. The PPA Program’s collaboration with Claremont McKenna’s Washington Program allowed me to spend a semester working on Capitol Hill, an experience which pushed me to a new understanding of public policy.
The PPA faculty are supportive instructors and wonderful people, and my classmates are some of the most well-rounded and passionate people I have met at Pomona. Majoring in PPA has left me with many different post-graduate paths and hands-on skills for entering a career in environmental policy.
Camille Green ’26
I chose to major in PPA/Econ because I wanted to combine my love for math and problem-solving through economics, with a more hands-on, policy-focused academic experience through public policy. When I first discovered the PPA Department during my sophomore year, it was a small class of about 15 students—now, my graduating class has grown to almost 30! Despite our different policy interests, we are united by a common desire to contribute meaningfully to society through policy work, whether that be through government, research, healthcare, law or something else entirely.
PPA beautifully reflects the interdisciplinary, liberal arts education that Pomona aspires to, while also being one of the most practical majors. Courses such as Policy Implementation, along with the senior internship program, give students hands-on research and professional experience. In Professor Menefee-Libey’s Policy Implementation course, for example, I worked on a semester-long research paper about bus shelter installation in the City of Los Angeles, interviewing city officials and private stakeholders.
I love the PPA major because it has allowed me to take classes across different disciplines, while also allowing me to walk away with tangible skills and a tight-knit group of peers, faculty and alumni!
Hannah Hughes ’25
I chose to major in PPA/EA because it seamlessly combines my passion for environmental conservation and my interest in politics.
This interdisciplinary program has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of environmental policy from multiple angles. Through my coursework, I have gained crucial knowledge in economics, biology, political science, and history as they relate to the environment. Examining environmental threats through these various lenses has allowed me to appreciate the nuances and complexities of creating and implementing effective environmental laws and regulations. I am fascinated by the way science, economics, ethics, and law all intersect to inform environmental policy decisions. The environmental analysis concentration equips me with the critical thinking skills to dissect multi-faceted environmental issues and develop innovative solutions. The program also emphasizes practical policy analysis skills such as research methods, statistical analysis, and policy memo writing.
It is especially rewarding to apply these tangible skills to the internship component of the major in which I work to tackle pressing environmental challenges on a local level.