UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Maddie Shanafelt, a third-year student in the Penn State College of Education, has been selected for a summer research internship with MDRC. Based in New York City, MDRC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization focused on education and social policy.
Shanafelt, who is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in education and public policy and political science and is enrolled in Penn State’s integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) program in educational theory and policy, said the opportunity aligns closely with her academic interests and long-term goals in policy research.
“I am looking forward to doing research that I know has the potential to help people,” Shanafelt said.
MDRC facilitates research on programs and policies that aim to improve economic mobility, educational outcomes and well-being for individuals and families across the United States. Shanafelt said she hopes to work within the organization’s K-12 division, where she can further explore her interest in social studies education.
“I’m interested in how different states teach U.S. history based on political ideology, particularly in areas like slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement,” Shanafelt said.
Shanafelt said the internship will provide an opportunity to build on her academic training while gaining experience in applied research.
“I want to get my doctorate in educational theory and policy, so the ability to do research like this during the summer will allow me to explore this further,” she said.