Taylor Hawk
thawk@udel.edu | 302-540-1633 (cell) | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorhawk
EDUCATION
Master of Public Administration, Expected 2016
University of Delaware
Specialization: Public Policy & Management
Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy (Public and Nonprofit Administration), English (Professional Writing), and
Political Science (Law, Politics, and Theory); Minor: Spanish
University of Delaware, 2015
Cumulative GPA: 3.75/4
Awards: cum laude, Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society
Study Abroad: Italy, Philosophy (Winter 2014)
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Institute for Public Administration, Newark, DE
Public Administration Fellow
Sept. 2013–Present
• Serve as a College Application Month planning team member, an initiative funded by the Delaware
Department of Education to provide assistance to high school seniors during the college application
process.
• Draft quarterly reports for the College Access Grant, detailing project deliverables.
• Develop student and parent resources for the state’s Delaware Goes to College website.
Summer Public Policy Fellow
June–Sept. 2013
• Prepared recommendations and researched volunteer coordination software for College Application Month.
• Created and revised graphics for state dual enrollment/dual credit report.
• Researched best practices for expanding state access to higher education.
Delaware Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families, Wilmington, DE
Intern Management Analyst
June–Sept. 2013
• Researched and presented recommendations on implementing a respite voucher program for high-needs
youth transitioning out of residential treatment, including plans to secure federal funding.
• Analyzed survey data to prepare a report on the physical and behavioral health impacts of early childhood
trauma.
• Prepared department-wide communications informing employees of policy and procedure changes.
University of Delaware Writing Center, Newark, DE
Peer Tutor
Jan. 2013–June 2015
• Facilitated the development of undergraduate and graduate written work including research papers,
rhetorical essays, and dissertations.
• Interacted with students one-on-one to promote confidence and improve writing skills.
• Developed goal-oriented agendas for each session.
Delaware Community Foundation, Wilmington, DE
Communications Intern
June– Sept. 2014
• Assisted with the development of marketing materials, including press releases and social media content.
• Wrote feature articles for the foundation’s annual report and newsletters.
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
• Secretary, Student Association of Policy and Administration
• Editorial Board, New Visions for Public Affairs
SKILLS
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, SPSS, and MiniTab Statistical Software, Adobe InDesign
and Photoshop
Taylor Hawk
thawk@udel.edu | 302-540-1633 (cell) | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorhawk
When I first learned of my selection and placement as a Summer Undergraduate Public
Policy Fellow with the Institute for Public Administration, I was elated. I had read numerous
studies on education policy and its effect on poverty, the economy, and even healthcare. It was
not until I had the opportunity to interact with high school seniors as part of the College
Application Month initiative, however, that I truly witnessed the empowering impact of
educational opportunities in the lives of low-income students. As a member of the planning team,
I visited one of Delaware’s lowest-performing high schools to help students fill out their college
applications during the school day. I am ashamed to say that what I observed in this “lowperforming classroom” shocked me. Every student I talked to had a dream for the future from an
aspiring police officer to a future mortician. What disappointed me was not that the students
lacked the drive and the passion to realize their dreams, but that they lacked the confidence and
support needed to create a plan to reach their goals. When I reflected on the experience, I knew
that I wanted to devote my career to creating solutions for these students, empowering them to
create their own future.
During my undergraduate career as a Public Policy, English, and Political Science triple
major and Spanish minor, I had the opportunity to pursue my passion for public policy,
specifically as it relates to education reform. Through my coursework, I gained comprehensive
knowledge of public administration and the legal framework that influences public policy. Now,
as a Master of Public Administration candidate, I am continuing to develop the skills I will need
to write persuasive and informative policies that expand access and improve the quality of
education in the state of Delaware.
My educational background has led me to pursue professional opportunities that reflect
my passion for education reform. For the last two years, I have been employed as a Public
Administration Fellow at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA). During my time at IPA, I
have worked as a member of the Delaware College Application Month Planning Team. This
initiative, funded by the Delaware Department of Education, aims to expand access to higher
education for low-income students and has provided over 4,000 high school students with handson assistance in planning their post-secondary education. This transformative experience has
been a driving force in my decision to pursue a career in education policy.
Additionally, last summer I had the opportunity to apply my background in public
administration by working as a management analyst at the Delaware Department of Children,
Youth, and Their Families. By working in a multi-divisional government agency, I gained a
greater awareness of the complex challenges that plague Delaware youth. During this internship,
I completed a research report on the impact of community and domestic violence on the
behavioral health of Delaware youth. I was disheartened to learn that children exposed to
violence were more than twice as likely to repeat a grade in school. Before this experience,
unfortunately, I thought of education policy in a vacuum, neglecting the wide array of behavioral
and mental health needs that at-risk youth often have. This experience taught me that complex
problems couldn’t be solved through one-dimensional solutions; policymakers must
communicate across agencies and even sectors.
An internship in a nonprofit organization would give me the tools needed to impact
education reform in both the public and nonprofit sector. I am confident that my diverse
academic and professional experiences combine to give me both the technical skills and unique
perspective needed to craft comprehensive solutions to the complex problems that prohibit atrisk youth from reaching their full potential.