My name is Sam Podnar, and I am an incoming junior studying Politics and Philosophy with a minor in Economics. I am heavily involved in local political organizing, which I engage in through the College Democrats at Pitt, and I am interested in working on public policy in the future. I write for the Policy Political Review and am a member of Chi Omega, a social sorority. I have worked for several elected officials in Pittsburgh, including via the IOP Internship and Seminar Program, and I am interning in Senator Bob Casey’s office in Washington, DC after I return from my travels this summer. 

I am participating in Pitt in DC-Brussels, a program focused on transatlantic governance and EU-US relations. I hope to get a better understanding of why the transatlantic partnership is important and what lessons we can take from Europe in terms of implementing a robust social safety net. I also hope to gain a more well-rounded perspective on American government by listening to EU officials speak about it abroad. 

It will be my first time in Europe, and I am curious about the overall differences in culture, attitude, and environment. I am looking forward to the professional development the program provides, as we are meeting with government and NGO officials on the European and American sides. And I’m excited to eat a lot of good food!