Prior to attending Johns Hopkins SAIS, Aurelia had originally planned on being a mechanical engineer after college. However, through her experiences as a trans woman during her undergraduate studies, she realized how policy can be a powerful tool to help — and hurt — her community, and she wanted to give back. The Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance (MIEF) program at Johns Hopkins SAIS offered her a perfect opportunity to pivot into the domain of public policy.

Now a student at Johns Hopkins SAIS, Aurelia has enjoyed being introduced to so many different perspectives from both professors and classmates. She came to the school with only a minimal policy background, so she has learned a great deal and has had her own views truly enriched and strengthened through the MIEF program. She also discovered recently that she is the first openly trans MIEF student, which was a nice thing to celebrate!

Outside the classroom, Aurelia has been interning for the Johns Hopkins Poverty & Inequality Research Lab (PIRL). In her position, she will be composing editorials, compiling research for policymakers, and promoting the PIRL’s work on social media.

After graduating, Aurelia is hoping to start her career in policy working on Capitol Hill, at a think tank, or even directly at a federal government agency.