The Movers & Change-Makers series highlights some of the upcoming graduates of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs who are set to make an impact in both their policy areas and communities. These leaders exemplify The University of Texas at Austin's core values of learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility, gaining the Know-how to change the world through their studies at the LBJ School.
Rania Sohail, an international student from Lahore, Pakistan, is a dual-degree Master of Global Policy Studies at the LBJ School and a Master of Science in Information Studies at the School of Information prepared to graduate during our May 11 commencement ceremony. The dynamic leader honed her negotiation, advocacy, communication and quantitative skills through her studies at LBJ and is poised to take these skills to the World Bank upon graduation.
Policy Interests: Social Impact and Data Science for Policy Analysis
“I had personal hardship at the start of my degree when I lost my father back home, and the LBJ School and the community really helped me survive and supported me in a way that helped me thrive through these years.”
“I am extremely grateful and proud of having achieved this milestone that means so much to me and my family,” said Rania Sohail. “I am so inspired by my peers and the wonderful work they do and want to push for, and I am in awe of the generosity and kindness extended towards me by the LBJ community during my time here, especially through one of the toughest losses of my life.”
“When I was making my decision, LBJ alumni, professors, and current students were the first to respond and get on a call with me. As an international student applying from Pakistan, I felt so supported and knew this was the community I wanted to be a part of. Three years, one internship, several on-campus jobs, multiple Connect [Data Consulting] Fellowships, three Bollinger trips, many lifelong friends, and two Masters later, these people are the most favorite part of my experience. I met some of the kindest, most wonderful people during my time at LBJ who supported me from day one and even more when I really needed it in the face of personal loss."
How was your professional and/or personal life impacted by attending the LBJ School?
I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for this opportunity. I did my dream internship at World Bank, studied with some of the best professors, made friends that became my backbone here, and through the fellowships and alumni network, I have done some great projects that have led to important recognition, connections, and job opportunities. Most importantly, it gave me clarity over my career trajectory, and I am so much more confident in my next steps and opportunities right now!
"I better developed my negotiation, communication, and advocacy skills like many of my peers but am really happy that I was able to considerably improve my quantitative skills and develop hard skills such as using R and Tableau for statistical analysis."
Academic and Professional Journey
I graduated with a BSFS in International Economics from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Following graduation, I worked for the Provincial Health Department in Pakistan for two years. During this time, I also consulted with organizations such as DFID, the Gates Foundation, and Adam Smith International on projects related to public service delivery reform and public healthcare. Subsequently, I pursued my master's degree at the LBJ School.
Highlights at LBJ
The courses and the community I built here as a dual-degree international student were invaluable. The CONNECT fellowship experience was extremely rewarding and led to a wonderful relationship with the NGO [non-governmental organization]. The connections I made with professors and the friends I made here were pivotal in helping me get through my first year and ultimately contributed to my success today as I reflect on the various endeavors I pursued.
I really enjoyed most of my courses, such as Impact Evaluation, Gender and Development, Statistical Analysis and Learning, and the opportunity to cross-register and take courses like Data Storytelling and Texas Venture Labs. My favorite thing about LBJ is the community I built and the Professors – Dr. Lentz, Dr. Rai, and Dr. Bixler were really pivotal in my graduate degree and were so kind and compassionate. I am so inspired by the work they do and the value they created for me!
I am happy about all that I am taking away from here, both in terms of academic excellence, community, and belonging and in terms of experiences. I am really happy about the intercultural and exchange experiences I got here through the Bollinger fund, which I used to travel to NYC and California and a trip to Seattle with at least six different nationalities represented. I also feel prepared to enter my next role and continue to explore other opportunities.
Life After LBJ: I have been consulting for Boldly Go Philanthropy this semester and will continue post-graduation. I have also been recruited for a role at the World Bank for a short-term contract. These involve strategy, partnership building, client engagement, data analysis, and policy analysis roles and duties.
Learn more about the Master of Global Policy Studies and our upcoming 2024 Graduation ceremony.