by Grace Hayward, PPS '25
On Friday, September 6th, the Center for Child and Family Policy hosted an engaging panel with three current Duke Master of Public Policy (MPP) candidates: Dominique Beaudry, Ana Earl, and Connor Weis. As part of the CCFP Career Series, the event highlighted their diverse early career paths in popular service programs: AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, and Teach for America. Their journeys spanned continents and roles, offering valuable insights for students considering similar trajectories.
Dominique began her career as an English Teaching Assistant in Malaysia through the US Fulbright Program. She was driven by a desire to immerse herself in a different culture and gain a deeper understanding of Islam, after growing up in a community where Islamophobia was pervasive, but Muslims were rare. Over the course of a year, she formed meaningful friendships, traveled extensively, and most importantly, embraced the concept of being in service “with people” rather than “for people.” She learned to center her students, focusing on their needs and wants to shape the classroom environment. Dominique also emphasized the importance of critical reflection on service roles and felt fortunate to be part of a supportive Fulbright cohort that engaged in discussions about this sentiment. After completing her Fulbright program, Dominique earned her master’s in teaching and subsequently taught high school social studies in the Durham Public School system for 6 years. Now, she is pursuing her third Duke degree, aiming to influence education policy at a systems level. Dominique’s career underscores the value of immersive experiences, thoughtful community engagement, and diverse involvement in education, from teaching to policy.
Ana Earle’s path similarly led her to teaching. After completing her undergraduate studies in international development at McGill, she was motivated to return to Idaho and serve her home community. Eager to be in a school and work with kids daily, she chose Teach for America (TFA), as it offered the fastest route to the classroom. Following six weeks of summer training, she jumped into teaching social studies to sixth through tenth graders in rural Idaho, creating her own curriculum from scratch. Ana spoke about the steep learning curve and the profound highs and lows of her TFA experience. She found the experience to be both rewarding and exhausting, demanding her full commitment every day. She described putting her “whole self” into the work. Ana spent 2 years with TFA, where her time in the classroom motivated her to address the broader systemic issues affecting education. Here at Duke, she is focusing on K-12 policy and hopes to do system-level work. This past summer, she interned at the Rennie Center in Boston, a nonprofit organization committed to the full spectrum of education reform, from research to policy to in-school implementation.
In a different way, Connor Weis’s transformative experience with the Peace Corps in northern Ghana highlights another facet of service. His background in biology from St. Lawrence University, combined with studying abroad in Nairobi, Kenya during his junior year and conducting independent research at a hospital in Tanzania, broadened his perspective on the world and inspired him to explore more of it. After speaking to Peace Corp alumni, he decided to apply to work as a health volunteer in Ghana. He spent two years working in a community of about 10,000 people with intermittent electricity and no running water. He talked about the concept of "Participatory Analysis for Community Action," a term introduced by the Peace Corps. This approach involves collaborating with the community, utilizing available resources, and working together to address and solve problems. Connor’s role involved projects ranging from water sanitation to agricultural development and youth education. His reflections on the complexity of international service offered valuable lessons on the nuances of service work and the importance of community-led initiatives. After the Peace Corps, Connor continued his service as an AmeriCorps VISTA service member in Vermont, focusing primarily on poverty alleviation. Now, here at Duke, his involvement with Duke’s campus farm illustrates his ongoing commitment to community engagement and development.
For those considering early careers in community service, these stories serve as examples for the complexities and rewards of such paths. All three candidates emphasized the importance of talking to individuals who have participated in the programs you’re interested in to understand how experiences can differ based on location and context.
Grace Hayward is a senior majoring in Public Policy with a minor in Journalism. She is passionate about education policy and using research as a tool to drive improvements in the education system.
Grace Hayward is a senior majoring in Public Policy with a minor in Journalism. She is passionate about education policy and using research as a tool to drive improvements in the education system.