Aii Welcomes Largest and Most Diverse Intern Class

The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) is excited to share the induction of its largest and most diverse class of summer interns to date. This year’s cohort brings together a group of passionate, dedicated, and innovative individuals all across the United States. From different academic backgrounds and educational institutions to varying career aspirations, interest areas, and personal backgrounds, you won’t want to miss out on the works we have on the horizon!

This year’s interns are participating in three different research or educational tracks within our public policy internship program. These include our general research support internship, our collaboration with The Fund for American Studies (TFAS), and our newly developed law and policy track helping Aii bring new eminent domain research to the public. Let’s meet them!

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Abigail Owen
Abigail Owen, a rising senior at Texas A&M University majoring in International Studies and minoring in Cybersecurity, is excited to join Aii as a policy intern. She emphasizes the importance of innovation in developing resiliency at every level of the nation’s infrastructure, bringing a unique blend of international perspective and cybersecurity insight to her role.

Aleah Yundt

Aleah Yundt is a third-year student (or 3L) at the University of Idaho College of Law. She is passionate about creating a sustainable quality of life through healthy infrastructure and environmental practices. At Aii, she aims to leverage her legal expertise to address and work on critical infrastructure and environmental issues.

Anthony Kelly
Anthony Kelly joins us with a deep passion for public policy. His ambition to become a legislator one day fuels his dedication to working on policy proposals related to infrastructure. Anthony understands the pivotal role infrastructure plays in our daily lives and is eager to address these issues within the political system.

Grace Mower
Grace Mower is a rising junior at Arizona State University, studying Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity. She is eager to learn about the people side of engineering, including policy and social impact, through her internship at Aii. Grace’s background in innovation at ASU and in the engineering industry position her to make significant contributions this summer.

Isaac Oh
Isaac Oh, a rising sophomore at Amherst College, is fascinated by the economic importance of infrastructure and the transformative power of innovation. His interest in these areas drives his enthusiasm for researching and contributing to Aii’s projects this summer.

Mollie Blahuta

Mollie Blahuta is currently working towards a Masters of Public Service and Administration with an emphasis in public policy analysis at Texas A&M University. She has spent the past academic year helping with original law and policy research into eminent domain for Aii and will continue into the fall term. Her interests in U.S. innovation and infrastructure include the varied and nuanced approaches towards infrastructure issues that each state takes on and how that reflects in policy, statutes, and the concerns of state residents.

Nicholas Cheyne
A recent graduate from Southern Methodist University, Nicholas Cheyne believes that robust infrastructure is crucial to the economic and social well-being of the United States. He recognizes the significant role Aii plays in influencing change in both the public and private sectors, advocating for the implementation of best practices and the rebuilding of the nation’s infrastructure.

Nora Priede von Herber
Attending Mount Holyoke College, Nora Priede von Herber is passionate about understanding how public policy affects everyday life. She is particularly interested in exploring new methods of innovation in housing policy across the United States, bringing a fresh perspective to our team.

Tabetha Bowes
Tabetha Bowes from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota is excited about her internship at Aii due to her keen interest in international studies. She understands the crucial connection between infrastructure policies and sustainable development, and is eager to explore this intersection further.

A Rich Fusion of Interests and Expertise

This summer, our intern class brings together a rich tapestry of interests and expertise. From public policy and legislative aspirations to cybersecurity, international studies, housing policy, and the economic impacts of infrastructure, our interns are poised to collaborate and innovate in meaningful ways. They each bring a unique perspective that will help shape the future of infrastructure and innovation, making this summer a promising and exciting time for Aii.

We are immensely proud to have such a talented and diverse group of interns this year and look forward to the incredible contributions they will make. Be sure to stay tuned! Welcome, Aii Summer Interns of 2024!

Intern Developments Ahead

Be on the lookout for the work these students are doing at Aii and how they engage with their peers going forward. By the end of the summer, brand new resources will be available at Aii.org that these students helped bring to life. Also, one more intern update will be coming in July that we can’t wait to share. Stay tuned!

Written by Andrew Jefferis, Media Coordinator