Community

Kaisey is a Junior PPL major with a minor in Journalism. She serves on the Lott Student Advisory Board as Chair, was Vice Chair the previous year, and was the Pi Beta Phi Director of Service and Philanthropy. She will be interning with the Republican National Committee this summer.

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Q&A with Kaisey

Why did you choose PPL as your major and what was the appeal of the Lott program?

I chose to major in PPL because of the opportunities and experiences I knew the Lott Institute could provide me. Since it is a small program, you get a lot of one-on-one attention from your professors and get to closely collaborate with your classmates. Being at such a big school like Ole Miss, it is so nice to be in a tight knit academic environment.

What are your career aspirations?

After graduation next spring, I want to work in Washington DC either in party politics or for a lobbying or consulting firm. I have always had a passion for politics and helping improve our great nation, but now having knowledge in Public Policy I have a better understanding of why politicians and our government do the things they do.

Is there a professor that has been particularly helpful to you? (preferably a PPL professor)

Every PPL class and Professor I have taken has helped me grow as a student in some way. PPL 101 with Dr. Bass helped me understand why Public Policy is such an important field to study and understand while also giving me an incredible foundation in writing. PPL 212 with Dr. Vereb pushed me in my debating and argument skills and PPL 300 with Dr. Fritz made me look at so many Public Policy topics in a new light.

What is a particularly meaningful way you have engaged in a community either on or off campus?

I organized the Champions are Readers program with Bramlett Elementary School where Ole Miss students would read to a class of Kindergarten and First graders. Each student was also gifted a book that was donated by people throughout the Oxford and Lafayette community. Through this program, 600 students were able to receive a new book and get one on one reading attention.

Molly Bowen is a junior Public Policy Leadership major with minors in History and Political Science. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Lott Student Advisory Board for the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, she is a member of the Luckyday Scholarship program, the Associate Director of ASB Freshman Year Experience, and a student worker in the College of Liberal Arts. During her summers she has interned in Mississippi's District 4 Congressional Office, worked on her small commissioned based art business, and shadowed in her local law offices.

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Q&A with Molly

Why did you choose PPL as your major and what was the appeal of the Lott program?

As a senior in high school I got the opportunity to tour the Lott institute. I sat in on a class and I still remember what the topic the students were discussing. A student in the class approached me, introduced himself, and explained to me why he loved Lott. I quickly realized from a few conversations that the Lott Institute was a tight knit community that I wanted to be a part of. Moreover, I felt Public Policy Leadership was a major that could point me in many different career directions, therefore it was an easy choice to make.

What are your career aspirations?

Presently, I am hoping to get into law school. My long term goal is to become a practicing attorney in Mississippi, where I can work on the betterment of that state. Eventually, I can see myself working on policy pertaining to education.

Is there a professor that has been particularly helpful to you? (preferably a PPL professor)

While all the Lott professors have been more than helpful, I feel that my experience in Dr. Vereb's Critical Thinking, Communication, and Public Policy class was extremely beneficial. When I finished the class I could tell that I was smarter in a logical sense. He does a great job of helping you approach policy issues, which is foundational for much of what we do in Public Policy Leadership.

What is a particularly meaningful way you have engaged in a community either on or off campus?

In the summer of 2023, I got the opportunity to intern in the Mississippi District 4 Congressional office. Here I was able to connect to the constituents and be a part of answering their needs. From this experience, I was able to better understand what the wants and needs of the general population of Mississippi really are.

Elsa is a double-degree seeking junior studying both PPL and Finance with a minor in French. She serves as the Treasurer of the Lott Student Advisory Board, is a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, and she also serves as the Head Deputy Comptroller of the SAF in the ASB’s Treasury Department. In her three years at Ole Miss, Elsa has studied abroad twice, and she is a Global Ambassador with the Ole Miss Study Abroad Office.

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Q&A with Elsa

Why did you choose PPL as your major and what was the appeal of the Lott program?

The Lott program is genuinely what drew me to Ole Miss. I participated in Lott’s summer program for rising high school seniors, after which I realized the potential the Lott program and Ole Miss as a whole provides. While I am passionate about working in the realm of policy in my future, I believes that the analytical, critical thinking, and research skills taught by the Lott Institute are invaluable in any field of work.

What are your career aspirations?

Inspired by my previous internship with an advocacy group focused on small businesses and startups, I aspire to work within government institutions focusing on international and small business development. I would like to utilize my knowledge of financial principles to help others, and working in government institutions would allow me to do so while utilizing the knowledge provided to me by the PPL department.

Is there a professor that has been particularly helpful to you? 

Dr. Christian Sellar has been one of the most influential professors in my time at Ole Miss. I first met Dr. Sellar when I took his Public Policies of the European Union course, and throughout this course I recognized Dr. Sellar as a great resource for my upcoming honors thesis. Dr. Sellar and I have overlapping interests in foreign relations and business, and through this shared interest, Dr. Sellar has been able to connect me to resources outside of Ole Miss for my future career, and he has provided a vast amount of help in constructing my thesis.

What is a particularly meaningful way you have engaged in a community either on or off campus?

During the summer before my junior year, I interned at an advocacy firm and foundation focused on promoting the interests of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups in our nation’s government. I was able to connect with small business accelerators, incubators, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs themselves in order to connect them with areas of support that are most meaningful and helpful to their work. Being a liaison between these entities was such a unique experience and taught me how valuable this work is.

Cate is a Class of 2026 Honors Public Policy Leadership and Public Health and Health Science (Pre-Med) major from Natchez, Mississippi. She is heavily involved on campus serving in leadership positions within the Trent Lott Leadership Institute, Leadership and Engagement Ambassadors, American Cancer Society, Ole Miss Orientation Leaders and more. Previously, she has studied abroad in Europe, participated in Mississippi's Department of Public Policy Leadership Academy, and has extensively volunteered with the Mississippi Mission Acceleration Program.

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Walker is a Sophomore Public Policy Leadership and Rhetoric double major in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. Walker is currently a member of the Associated Student Body, Columns Society, and the Lott Student Advisory Board. Walker currently serves in the role of President’s Chief of Staff for the Associated Student Body and he will serve as the Secretary for the Lott Student Advisory Board this next year.

Alex is a rising senior from Oxford majoring in PPL and minoring in Law Studies, Journalism, and Freedom Studies. She served on the Lott Student Advisory Board as the Secretary last year and is returning as a Co-Chair of Student Affairs. Aside from involvement within Lott, she is also a member of the Honors College, Attorney General of the Associated Student Body, and a Head Recruitment Counselor for Panhellenic. Additionally, she is employed as a Student Researcher at the Mississippi Law Research Institute and will be interning in D.C. this summer.

David Ramsey is a Junior Public Policy Leadership major. He serves as outreach chair for the Lott Student Advisory board, and works for the Trent Lott Institute office. David also has served in numerous positions for Delta Psi including Rush Chair, Merchandise Chair, and Professional Development chair. David is an opinion writer for the Daily Mississippian, in the Talbert Fellowship, and is interning in Washington D.C. with Crossroads Strategies.

Raegan is majoring in Public Policy Leadership and Journalism with a minor in General Business. She serves on the Lott Student Advisory Board as Events and Merch Chair. Raegan is a news editor at The Daily Mississippian and is a member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women. Outside of the university, Raegan works for the Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program.

Ella is a freshman Public Policy Leadership major with a minor in general business. She is an out of state student from Madisonville Louisiana, who is enjoying her first year as an Ole Miss Rebel! She serves on the Lott Student Advisory Board as the social media chair, managing the creation and production of the Lott Institute’s digital media. Along with this Ella is involved with sorority life on campus, the Ole Miss Big Event, ASB FYE, and Cru on campus ministries.

Jensen is a junior majoring in Public Policy Leadership and minoring in Spanish. She serves on the Lott Student Advisory Board as the Print Media Chair. Additionally, she is a part of Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, a residential assistant on campus, and has worked as a photographer for the Daily Mississippian. Jensen is also an intern for the on-campus ministry, Cru, which works to evangelize, disciple, and serve students and staff. In the summer of 2024, she will be interning on Capitol Hill for Senator Marsha Blackburn.