Before returning for his second year in the Master of Public Affairs program at the LBJ School, Dylan Driscoll (MPAff '27) is spending his summer in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, Ireland, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable food and agriculture policy.
Driscoll is interning with two sustainable food organizations, Cultivate and Talamh Beo, where he helps research and write policy recommendations related to food systems and agriculture. His projects include finding ways to strengthen local food economies, supporting more sustainable farming practices, and researching how history continues to shape agriculture in Ireland today.
This experience has allowed him to apply what he's learned in the classroom to real-world policy challenges.
"Without the kind of deep and nuanced global context I've gotten from my LBJ coursework so far, it would be nearly impossible to understand this landscape, or why it exists as it does."
Driscoll's interest in food policy comes from more than a decade of professional experience in retail, distribution, waste, and anti-hunger programs. While he joined LBJ with a strong understanding of food access issues, he wanted to learn more about agriculture firsthand, making Ireland the ideal place to do that.
With guidance from LBJ School faculty members, including Raj Patel, Erin Lentz and Kate Weaver, Driscoll learned about Talamh Beo from Patel, a food systems expert, before reaching out to the organization himself.
This internship has given him the opportunity to explore the issues he's passionate about and experience firsthand how policy, history, and food systems are connected.
"I've been able to examine all of these issues both broadly and deeply, in the context of a relatively small island nation with a complex food history. In that way, our work is not only about policy but also about history and about justice."
Over the summer, Driscoll worked alongside farmers, growers, and community members to better understand how policy decisions affect people's everyday lives. This experience also helped him learn how to communicate policy ideas with audiences outside of government and academia.
"Ireland has been invaluable practice for me in translating my policy skills not only to 'non-policy' people, but to people with a very different national and cultural context to mine. Amy Leff's communications course has helped a lot, in particular reminding me to put my audience first and always have the bottom line up front."
Outside of his internship, Driscoll enjoys exploring the local Irish culture and connecting with the local community. His favorite part of living in Ireland has been getting to know the people of Cloughjordan. Whether attending traditional music sessions (seisiún), watching hurling matches or helping with community harvests on local farms, he's enjoyed experiencing everyday life in Ireland.
Looking ahead, Driscoll hopes to continue working in the nonprofit space and focus on food systems policy after graduating from LBJ. As the Professional Development Director for GPAC, he also encourages fellow students to reach out to him if they have questions about internships or are looking for advice as they navigate their own internship search.
Learn more about the LBJ School's Master of Public Affairs program. Applications open September 1.