Megha Patel

BA in International Affairs, University of Georgia, 2025

My passion for data policy took shape during my internship with the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the U.S. Department of State last summer. There, I conducted research on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to digital freedom and had the unique opportunity to volunteer at the 75th Annual NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. While at the summit, I coordinated volunteer assignments and facilitated communications with the press and international delegates, gaining firsthand exposure to global policymaking. During my undergraduate studies, I earned a Certificate in Data Analytics in Public Policy, where I developed proficiency in coding languages such as R and Stata. Through this program, I worked with datasets on international conflict, crime trends, and governance metrics to conduct empirical analyses. This summer, I will be interning with ExxonMobil as a Government Affairs intern in Texas, where I look forward to deepening my understanding of the role of energy in both domestic and international policy.