Building service close to students
From graduate school pathways to public leadership careers, PPIA leaders are helping students navigate the future with greater exposure and opportunity
Designing Change Through Law and Public Policy
PPIA Board Member Magaly Lopez recently visited the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy to engage students in a conversation about the growing intersection between public policy and law, and why understanding both matters in today’s world.
Magaly Lopez and John Mendoza, Associate Director, Scholarships and Outreach, USC Price School of Public Policy
Magaly discussed how laws may establish the framework for society, but public policy determines how those laws are implemented, funded, interpreted, and experienced by real people every day. Topics such as housing, immigration, student loans, and criminal justice helped students see how policy decisions directly shape communities, institutions, and opportunity.
The session also challenged students to think beyond traditional career lanes by exploring how legal training, policy analysis, advocacy, government service, and nonprofit leadership often overlap in practice. Students learned more about PPIA’s national network, the Junior Summer Institute pathway, and the importance of early exposure to public service careers while still in college.
“Partnerships with schools like USC are incredibly important because they allow us to reach students early, expand their understanding of what’s possible, and connect them to pathways, mentors, and opportunities they may not have previously considered,” said Magaly Lopez.
