1. Laura McCulloch ’15 graduated from Durban Girls’ College in
Durban, South Africa. While at Durban Girls’ College, she won
the National Science Olympiad, and received the prize for the
best all-rounded junior. She has been on the South African
Swimming Team and the South African Surf-Lifesaving
team. She was also a member of her State (Kwa-Zulu Natal)
Team for swimming, track and field, cross-country, and
lifesaving. At Dartmouth, Laura plans to double major in
Sociology and Geography modified with Global Health. She is a
member of the Dartmouth Swimming and Diving Team. She
serves as an EDPA (Eating Disorders Peer Advisor), is an editor
for Standpoints Magazine, and is a member of the Dartmouth Coalition for Global Health. After
graduating, Laura hopes to receive an MD/MPH degree, and work in the field of public health.
Laura was funded by the Rockefeller Center for a Spring 2014 Internship, with generous support
from the Class of 1964 Public Affairs Internship Fund.
Executive Summary from Laura’s final report:
New America Foundation is a nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank that is dedicated to
the renewal of American politics, prosperity, and purpose. It is a vibrant intellectual community,
with a wide variety of public policy programs.
I worked directly under Rear Admiral (ret.) Susan Blumenthal who served for more than
20 years in senior health leadership positions in the federal government in the Administrations
of four U.S. Presidents and as U.S. Assistant Surgeon General, the first Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Women's Health, and as Senior Global Health Advisor in the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services. During my internship I have assisted Dr. Blumenthal with various
global health issues and public health policy initiatives.
My main focus areas included: National health policy
and reform implementation under the Affordable Care
Act of 2010, women’s health, the application of health
information technology, health disparities, disease
prevention, obesity prevention, food insecurity, mental
health, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(formerly known as Food Stamps) policy, HIV/AIDS, and
[CLASS OF 1964 PUBLIC AFFAIRS INTERNSHIP FUND
PUBLIC POLICY INTERN PROFILE]
“My internship has grown my
confidence and professional
network more than I could’ve
imagined; and I have learned
lessons and skills that I can apply
to my classes and will use in my
future career.”

2. tuberculosis. My duties included doing research, helping to write speeches and create
presentations, writing grant proposals, company proposals, writing blog articles and Huffington
Post articles, writing reports and memos, attending briefings and conferences, maintaining
Twitter/ Facebook feeds, maintaining the SNAPtoHealth.org website.
My internship has confirmed and directed my career path; I loved every day of my
internship and can definitely see myself pursuing a career in global health and public health
policy. Prior to completing my internship, I was unaware about how much I would enjoy public
health policy; as a result of this internship, I have decided to pursue a minor in public policy at
Dartmouth. The knowledge and experience that I have gained is invaluable, and I can
confidently say that I will use the skills and knowledge that I have learned every day for the rest
of my life. My internship has grown my confidence and professional network more than I
could’ve imagined; and I have learned lessons and skills that I can apply to my classes and will
use in my future career. It is impossible to describe all the experiences, knowledge, personal
growth, and enjoyment that this internship has provided me with. However, this life-changing
experience would not have been possible were it not for the generous grant from the Class of
1964 and the Rockefeller Center - I am extremely grateful.
Laura McCulloch '16 at a demonstration for the New America Foundation.
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