Alumna Describes Working on the Hill as ‘Deeply Fulfilling’
March 28, 2024
A congressional policy advisor, Miranda Peterson earned an executive master’s degree through Maxwell’s Washington, D.C., programs.
As a policy advisor for U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., Maxwell School alumna Miranda Peterson provides analysis and recommendations on top issues like energy, the environment and disaster preparedness.
“You never know what you are going to get each day,” says Peterson, who earned an executive master’s in international relations in 2023. “You might be doing deep research for a bill to further one of the congressman’s long-term goals, meeting with colleagues to form a response to the news or troubleshooting constituent casework with a federal agency.”
Peterson says the expertise she gained from the Maxwell School helps her excel in the position. She was working as a legislative assistant on Pallone’s staff for just over a year when she decided to begin her studies through Maxwell-in-Washington, based at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
“Maxwell has a serious reputation for its high-caliber focus on foreign policy and security studies, so I knew it would be the right school to help me put a lens on the problems that matter to me,” says Peterson. “I made all of my course work about energy, climate change and natural resources, and it really worked for me.”
She adds, “What happens out in the world affects our domestic politics, but also what we do here at home affects America’s standing in the world and ability to lead. This degree program helped me feel like I have better context for the choices our leaders make, whether I support them or feel that they are shortsighted.”
Flexible scheduling enabled Peterson to complete her academic work while continuing her position on the Hill. She appreciated that, and the perspectives and expertise offered by the unique mix of scholars and practitioners who teach in Maxwell’s D.C. programs. They include Danica Starks, senior U.S. commercial liaison and advisor to the World Bank’s U.S. executive director; Robert Daly, director of the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States; and Bejoy Das Gupta, chief economist for eCurrency.
“The climate and biodiversity crises are terrifying and counting myself as part of the community of people here in Washington and around the world working toward a better future is deeply fulfilling,” says Peterson. “I’m a big believer in using your powers for good.”
Miranda Peterson '23 E.M.I.R., policy advisor
“If you let me, I could honestly say positive things about every class I took,” she says.
Peterson also appreciates the access she and fellow students had to experts at the highly regarded think tank CSIS, which has partnered with Maxwell for just over 10 years. For instance, policy and communications strategists provided her with feedback to shape her capstone project that examined India’s climate strategy and suggested ways the country’s leaders could develop state-level green banks to augment country-wide action to spur new, more inclusive clean energy financing.
Environmental issues have always been important to Peterson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Virginia Tech in 2010. Before going to work in the Capitol, she worked on infrastructure protection at the Department of Homeland Security and on climate change and environmental justice for the Center for American Progress, a think tank based in Washington, D.C.
While working in advocacy, Peterson developed a greater interest in policymaking. She counts herself “incredibly fortunate” to be part of Pallone’s staff, especially as he serves as the lead Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Her colleagues include Maxwell and Newhouse alumnus Andrew Souvall ’95 B.A. (PSc), director of communications, outreach and member services for the committee.
One of her most memorable moments came in August 2022 when Pallone joined President Biden at the White House to sign into law the Inflation Reduction Act; the historic legislation includes climate provisions originally authored by Pallone or advanced through his Energy and Commerce Committee.
“The climate and biodiversity crises are terrifying and counting myself as part of the community of people here in Washington and around the world working toward a better future is deeply fulfilling,” says Peterson. “I’m a big believer in using your powers for good.”
By Jessica Youngman
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