Before she ever stepped inside a congressional hearing room, Lucy Mbanaja was already paying attention to how policy shaped the world around her. Growing up in Maryland as the daughter of two public school educators, she watched how differences in school resources, food access and neighborhood investment affected predominantly Black students and communities across the state. Through her parents’ work, she began to see how education differences were closely tied to broader determinants of health and opportunity. She did not have to look far to see the impact. “I chose to major in public policy to equip myself with the tools to advocate for communities that deserve fairness and opportunity,” Mbanaja said.
Mbanaja, a junior in the School of Public Policy, has begun to turn that motivation into action. In her PLCY201: Public Leaders and Active Citizens class, Associate Professor Cullen Merritt introduced her to the mechanics of public administration and how ideas move from discussion to implementation. His real‑world experience and approach to leadership pushed her, she said, “to think more seriously about the kind of public servant I want to become.” She also credits the School’s emphasis on engaging different perspectives and communicating clearly through writing with preparing her for work beyond the classroom.
I chose to major in public policy to equip myself with the tools to advocate for communities that deserve fairness and opportunity.
On campus, Mbanaja has focused much of her research on mental health and the structural barriers facing marginalized communities. That work carried into her internship with the House Committee on Appropriations. There, she saw how testimony from advocacy groups, including organizations working on housing for older adults, funding for tribal communities and proposed changes to SNAP directly informs legislative priorities.
Mbanaja’s time on the committee sharpened her understanding of how change happens in government. “It exposed me to how much change happens through careful funding decisions rather than public debate alone,” she said. The appropriations process determines how federal agencies receive their budgets, and she saw firsthand how those choices affect both federal workers and communities like her own in Maryland. The experience shifted her view of change from public pressure alone to the detailed, behind-the-scenes work that shapes legislation.
As Mbanaja looks ahead to graduate study and a career in public service, she describes her time at the School as formative. Beyond policy training, she credits faculty and mentors with helping her think intentionally about her next steps. “SPP provided an environment where there are opportunities to hear from professionals and connect with individuals working in the federal government,” she said. “I now feel confident that I am prepared to take the next step.”
