Get to know Adam Maatallah
Why did you choose PPL as your major and what was the appeal of the Lott program?
I decided to choose PPL as my major because I want to create effective policy that uplifts and secures the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ people in the United States, Beyond learning the function and structure of government, I wanted to learn the process of policy formatting and the other factors that go into creating public policy. The Trent Lott Leadership Institute spoke to me because of its small class sizes, one-on-one connection with professors, the great connections formed within the Institute, and the internship opportunities.
What are your career aspirations?
In accordance with majoring in International Studies, I have career aspirations abroad and within the United States. In the United States, I aim to work at non-governmental organizations or non-profits that work toward progressing and securing rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Preferably, working in Washington D.C. is a goal of mine. I also hope to secure more LGBTQ+ rights and other human rights for people in East Asia, particularly in South Korea. Being a part of the U.S. Department of State in South Korea or working at NGOs in South Korea is a major career goal of mine.
Is there a professor that has been particularly helpful to you?
Dr. Yoo from the Trent Lott Institute has been incredibly helpful to me. In her PPL 210, there were only 12 students in my class, so this allowed me to make a great connection with her. She taught me a lot of useful information about South Korea and policy programs abroad. In addition to this, the class taught me the important of research methods and research designs, which will be useful when I write my Honors thesis in my senior year of college.
What is a particularly meaningful way you have engaged in a community either on or off campus?
I have helped clean up trash and bottles alongside a highway in the Oxford-Lafayette area. This event was through Ole Miss Big Event, and the mission of this volunteer project was to make the local, outdoor Oxford area cleaner and safer for wildlife. I have also helped judge local high school Speech and Debate tournaments and organize donations to the Ole Miss food pantry known as Grove Grocery.