International Opportunities to Work in Child and Family Policy

This session will feature Jessica Au, senior policy analyst with The Hunt Institute and former Fulbright English Teacher in Taiwan, and Maria Castrillon, currently a dual degree student, MPP/MBA at Duke and former health volunteer with the Peace Corps. We will learn about opportunities to work in child and family policy in other countries, what it's like to live and work abroad, and how their experiences have influenced their career paths. Jessica Au leads the COVID Constituency initiative and conducts research and analysis on K-12 education policy issues at The Hunt Institute. Prior to joining The Hunt Institute, Au attended Duke University, where she earned a master's degree in public policy. At Duke, she centered her work on education policy issues, including college access and affordability and dual enrollment equity. Au also served as a board member of Girls on the Run of the Triangle, helping to advance their DEI initiatives by conducting qualitative research on participant diversity and retention. Prior to Duke, Au was as a Fulbright English Teacher in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, working with local Taiwanese teachers to implement project-based teaching strategies. She holds a bachelor's degree in international studies and Chinese language and literature from Vassar College. Maria Castrillon is a dual degree student, MPP/MBA at Duke. She is a proud first-generation graduate, earning her BA in public policy at UNC-Chapel Hill. After college, she joined the Peace Corps as a health volunteer in Senegal where she worked with community leaders to facilitate maternal and child health education programs. Upon her return, she worked at charter schools in Manhattan and the Bronx, managing student data, testing, and special education services. Most recently, Castrillon worked at a foundation where she oversaw a new initiative to enhance fundraising and development strategy for over 60 schools. This speaker series is for Duke students who want to learn more about careers in child and family policy. Meetings are designed to help students explore the wide range of job opportunities and careers available in the field of child and family policy while creating a network of students who share their professional interests.