For Valerie Ferguson (MGPS ’26), this summer was all about putting her LBJ School training into practice. From Austin, she completed a remote internship with Good Energy Collective, a policy research organization focused on nuclear energy as a solution to the climate crisis, sustainability and environmental justice.
“I'm particularly passionate about finding solutions to environmental justice issues, and it was great interning with an organization that shares the same values.”
The role allowed her to dive into the policy and community side of nuclear waste storage, examining how both domestic and international siting processes are shaped by public policy. Collaborating with fellow LBJ student Sofia Mendoza (MGPS ’26), who also interned at Good Energy Collective this summer, made the experience even more rewarding.
“This internship taught me how to do community-centered work, which is a skill that can be applied to a host of occupational specialties,” she said.
Her coursework at the LBJ School also prepared her to make the most of the opportunity. Ferguson pointed to Professor Amy Leff’s Policy Communications class as especially useful, saying, “It really helped me learn how to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively, while keeping the audience engaged.”
Those communication skills proved invaluable as she worked to translate technical research into policy insights designed for broad audiences.
While her internship was rooted in Austin, Ferguson also had the chance to expand her horizons abroad. Through the U.S.-Japan “AI in Work and Society” class, supported by the LBJ School and Texas Global, she traveled to Japan with LBJ classmates and Professor David Eaton. There, the group studied at the University of Hiroshima, attended the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, visited the Great Torii Gate at Itsukushima Shrine and explored many other cultural and historical sites.
The trip offered Ferguson a chance to reflect on how technology and policy intersect in international contexts, and she credits Professor Eaton for ensuring the experience was impactful and thought-provoking.
Ferguson’s summer demonstrates the breadth of opportunities available to LBJ students: the ability to work with cutting-edge policy organizations, contribute to solutions for pressing global challenges and gain international perspective—all while building on the academic foundation of the LBJ School.
Learn more about our Master of Global Policy Studies. Applications open September 1.