Kleppinger intern gains firsthand experience in Pennsylvania public policy

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Alexa Pippy, a third-year Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar dual majoring in international politics and global and international studies at Penn State, spent the summer putting her interest in public policy into practice as a government relations intern with Allegheny Strategy Partners in Pittsburgh.

“I’ve always known that I wanted a career where I could make a meaningful impact on people’s lives,” Pippy said. “I’ve also always had a deep appreciation for different parts of the world and other cultures, which naturally drew me toward international relations.”

As she explored different career paths at Penn State, Pippy became particularly interested in public policy and the tangible impact political decisions can have on communities. Although her internship focused on Pennsylvania rather than international affairs, she said the experience reinforced that her broader goal remains the same: contributing to decisions that create positive change.

Pippy was one of three students selected for the David M. and Joanne M. Kleppinger Pennsylvania Government Relations Internship Program in the College of the Liberal Arts this past summer. The program provides students with opportunities to gain field experience in government relations and public policy, as well as enrichment funding to support their internship experiences.

“Applying for this program and getting selected has given me the opportunity to do hands-on work and realize this is something I want to pursue as a career,” Pippy said.

The enrichment funding helped Pippy cover expenses associated with commuting to downtown Pittsburgh, traveling to Harrisburg and preparing for a professional workplace.

“Having that financial support made it easier for me to take full advantage of the internship without having to worry as much about the additional costs,” she said. “It allowed me to focus on learning, doing my work well and getting as much as I could out of the experience.”

As a government relations intern, Pippy tracked daily developments in Pennsylvania legislation while also completing client-facing work and policy research.

One project she said she was particularly proud of involved work with the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR). During the state budget process, Pippy researched how funding for PCAR-supported services could continue during a budget impasse and explored potential legislative options to stabilize funding. She wrote a memo that was shared with PCAR and used by Allegheny Strategy Partners in budget discussions.

A few weeks later, Pippy learned that PCAR had received a $12 million budget increase, marking the largest single-year increase for rape crisis services in Pennsylvania history.

“I was a very small part of a big advocacy effort,” Pippy said. “Seeing the research that I did, especially for such an amazing cause like Pennsylvania’s rape crisis centers, contribute to getting that funding was really rewarding.”

Pippy also traveled to the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg twice during the summer. During one visit, she worked alongside the Pennsylvania Zoo Council as its members advocated for increased funding and discussed proposed legislation addressing unlawful entry into zoo animal enclosures. The experience allowed her to observe how organizations advocate for themselves during the state budget process and connect with members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

“It’s been great to get all those different perspectives from different legislators,” Pippy said. “They always have really great advice, especially about getting into the field of public policy.”

Pippy also researched public sentiment around policy issues by attending a community workshop focused on data centers and their environmental impact. She listened to community members discuss the issue and compiled her observations into a memo for her team.

“I was able to go to a real-life event, analyze it, write about it, send it back and see how that information could help keep the Allegheny Strategy Partners team and its clients informed about an emerging Pennsylvania policy issue,” she said.

Pippy said her two liberal arts majors have given her complementary perspectives that proved useful as she considered the relationship between policy and the people it affects.

“While my international politics major has given me a stronger understanding of the systems and structures behind international politics, global and international studies has allowed me to focus more on the human side of those issues,” she said. “Having both perspectives has been valuable as I explore public policy because it has taught me to think not only about how political systems work, but also about how decisions within those systems affect the people and communities they serve.”

Her ENGL 137H Rhetoric and Civic Life courses also provided direct preparation for her internship, she said. Through assignments focused on civic engagement, advocacy, writing and public speaking, Pippy developed skills she later used at Allegheny Strategy Partners. An issue brief she wrote on fossil fuels in Allegheny County was particularly relevant to the Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh-area policy issues she encountered during the summer.

“I think those experiences gave me a foundation that I was able to apply directly to the research, writing, communication and advocacy-related work I did for my internship,” she said.

Pippy said her experiences as a Schreyer Scholar and Paterno Fellow have also encouraged her to pursue opportunities beyond the classroom. The Paterno Fellows Program played a role in her decision to add a second major, and both programs have encouraged her to challenge herself academically and apply what she learns through real-world experiences.

Through the Kleppinger Internship Program, Pippy said she strengthened her research and communication skills while gaining clarity about her future career path.

“As a life goal, I really want to have a career that will let me make an impact on people’s lives,” Pippy said. “It’s so fulfilling to know the work you’re doing is translating into something that’s genuinely helping people.”