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.”

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. 2