Political science student explores intersection of AI, public policy

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For Penn State student Erin Gregorian, who grew up in England, working in Washington, D.C., had long been a goal. This summer, the College of the Liberal Arts Semester in Washington Program gave her the opportunity to experience life and work in the nation’s capital while learning firsthand how policymakers are approaching artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

A fourth-year student majoring in political science with minors in global security and legal studies, Gregorian was one of 11 students who participated in the inaugural Semester in Washington Program. Housed in the Department of Political Science, the program provides Liberal Arts students with opportunities to complete internships in D.C., connect with alumni, gain professional experience and apply what they are learning at Penn State in the workplace.

“The program was a great way to get my foot in the door, since moving to D.C. for an internship is very competitive and there are lots of factors to consider when moving to a new city,” Gregorian said. “I felt like the program helped make that transition smoother and less stressful than it would have been on my own.”

Gregorian also received enrichment funding through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network that helped cover housing and programming costs associated with the experience.

“Having funding lifted a weight off my shoulders and let me focus on my internship without worrying about funding the experience,” she said.

Through the program, Gregorian was paired with Penn State alumna Emily McDonald, who provided mentorship throughout the summer and helped connect Gregorian with Innovative Future Collective (IFC), where she completed her internship.

IFC is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that works to educate lawmakers about artificial intelligence by bringing policymakers and technology innovators together. Its programming includes Q&A-style Scholar Series events on Capitol Hill and trips that introduce participants to AI innovation hubs.

Gregorian’s responsibilities included event planning, creating promotional materials, attending congressional hearings, managing budgets and helping coordinate educational opportunities focused on AI and other emerging technologies.

“I learned a lot more about the concerns surrounding AI and how lawmakers are trying to address them,” Gregorian said. “I got to see firsthand through hearings how what I have learned as a political science student is being applied to real life and how eager lawmakers are to learn more about AI.”

One highlight was attending the Amazon Web Services Summit, where she heard from professionals about developments in AI, cloud computing and other emerging technologies.

“It was cool to see the companies showcase their innovations,” Gregorian said. “There was a lot of emphasis on the AI race. That’s where IFC steps in by trying to bridge the gap; you can't make regulations if you don't know what's going on.”

Gregorian also attended the Healthcare + AI event with IFC designed to educate congressional staff about the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The experience allowed her to connect conversations taking place in Washington with topics she had studied at Penn State.

“I had taken SODA 110N Social Data, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence, a class about the social impacts of AI,” Gregorian said. “So, it was really interesting hearing about how radiology is one of the oldest areas of medicine that has implemented AI for the past 30 years at this point.”

The experience also showed Gregorian that conversations about emerging technologies require more than technical expertise. As she interacted with professionals working in the field and observed congressional hearings, she saw how critical thinking, communication, collaboration and an understanding of social and policy implications can help inform decisions about AI.

“A liberal arts education teaches you to think critically and consider an issue from different perspectives,” Gregorian said. “Those skills are important when discussing something as broad and constantly changing as AI, especially as policymakers determine how it should be used and regulated.”

Gregorian also put her event-planning and organizational skills to work by helping to coordinate trips that brought participants together to learn about emerging technologies. Her responsibilities included booking flights and hotels, communicating security clearance requirements, coordinating details with attendees and designing invitations and promotional materials.

She drew on skills she had already developed through student organizations at Penn State. Gregorian previously served on the recruitment committee for the Liberal Arts Ambassadors, is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and serves as executive vice president of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council. She also serves as executive director of State of State, a student-run organization that creates opportunities for the Penn State community to discuss issues affecting the University.

“Through State of State, there is a conference every year, and there is a lot of event planning, logistics and programming that goes into it,” she said. “It allowed me to apply what I've learned and what I've done in my clubs to an internship position.”

Beyond her internship, Gregorian said the Semester in Washington Program gave her opportunities to develop relationships with Penn State alumni and the other students in her cohort. Although the 11 participants spent their days at different internship sites, living together gave them a built-in community as they navigated Washington.

“Everyone’s super friendly because we all have Penn State in common — it was a really big highlight having built-in friends,” Gregorian said. “I made a lot of good memories outside of the internship, which I am thankful for.”

While the internship expanded Gregorian’s understanding of AI and public policy, the summer also helped clarify a broader career goal. Living in Washington gave her an opportunity to experience the city while exploring law schools in the area.

After graduating from Penn State in the spring, Gregorian said she hopes to attend law school in Washington and eventually build a career in the city.

“This program really gave me a good opportunity to figure out what day-to-day life is like in D.C., and it confirmed that I really do love being there,” she said.

Applications for the fall 2027 Liberal Arts Semester in Washington Program will open in January. To learn more, visit the program webpage or contact program director Marie Hojnacki, associate professor and associate head of the Penn State Department of Political Science, or program coordinator Molly Inman, Penn State assistant teaching professor of political science.

This is the fourth in a series of stories featuring students participating in the inaugural Liberal Arts Semester in Washington Program.