Patricia Lentz

Degree: BA Planning, Public Policy, and Management; BA French

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2021

I’m From: Salem, Oregon

Why I Came to the UO and How I Chose My Major
As an Oregon resident, I always knew that if I were to stay in state for college, I would go to the University of Oregon. This is because I love the programs, the beautiful campus, and the general school spirit and admiration for UO that every student shares. I am extremely proud to be a Duck and to have found a school that feels like my home away from home. When I discovered the PPPM major, I knew that I had found exactly what I was looking for. In my Freshman year, Professor Schlossberg described it best as the major where you actually apply the things you learn to make change in communities, government, and organizations. I am also proud to be a student in the College of Design, because every student is supported enormously and we are encouraged to pursue all of our goals. I am happy to have found a home at the University of Oregon and in the College of Design.

Before attending the UO, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in public service, but I was unsure of which path to take in the field. In the first term of my Freshman year, I took PPPM 203 and became enthralled with the passion that the professor expressed for environmental policy, sustainability, and serving the public. This class helped me realize that I wanted to take more PPPM courses to learn about the realms of planning, public policy, and nonprofit management. Moreover, I immediately loved public policy and knew that my passion for policy could tie into a career that helped and supported people. Ultimately, I chose the PPPM major because I wanted to find a field of study that could lead me to a career of public service, while tying in my love for policy.

Unique Qualities I Bring to My Studies
As a child of two military veterans, I became used to moving around often. By middle school, I had lived in Illinois, Kentucky, Nevada, and finally Oregon, where my parents decided it was a perfect place for us to settle down. I am absolutely happy that we ended up in such a beautiful state, especially after living in the deserts of Las Vegas, NV. I believe that this background has influenced my appreciation for the environment and environmental policy, as I have lived in the desert, the deep woods of Kentucky, and the expansive cornfields of Illinois. Furthermore, I was lucky to have a high school professor completely dedicated to educating his students in environmental science and policy. This teacher helped me realize that I was interested in natural resource management and policy, while encouraging me to pursue a career in public policy. Through one of his courses, I had the opportunity of participating in the Central Western Oregon Science Expo, with a project studying the water quality of local creeks in Salem, Oregon. This project showed the environmental inequalities between different neighborhoods, varying by racial and socioeconomic data. Overall, my experiences and opportunities have led me to have an admiration for environmental policy and public policy in general.

My Influential Professors
At the University of Oregon, there are so many incredible professors that have shaped me to be who I am today. Professor Geraldine Poizat-Newcomb in the French department has shaped my French education immensely, but I will say that my most influential professor has been Professor Jessica Matthiesen in the PPPM department. In her course, PPPM 412, I learned so much about being a leader, a professional, and an impactful student. I have never absorbed so much information from one course and used it in the real world. Although it does not fit basic standards of college courses, it provided me with tangible advice and techniques for becoming a professional in the world of public service. Her guidance helped me become comfortable writing cover letters and emails of inquiry. Furthermore, she has been a great mentor throughout my internship credit course, PPPM 404, as I intern for Congressman Peter DeFazio.

My Extracurricular Activities
I currently work for Willamalane Park and Recreation in Springfield, OR, but I have not had the opportunity to be as active in my role, due to the pandemic. As a customer service specialist, I get the opportunity to interact with the local community and get the chance to brighten their day. I enjoy this role because I get to help and meet new people in the community. In addition, I am a member of the co-ed community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega at the university, where I am able to complete ten hours of community service each term and focus on leadership and service. Over the past year, I have been the fundraising chair of the organization, where I had the opportunity to plan and run fundraising campaigns. This organization is very important to me because I have made amazing new friends and connections, while also being able to serve the community, through organizations like the Eugene Mission.

My Greatest Learning Experience at UO
At the University of Oregon, I have had a great number of exceptional learning experiences, but the most “life-changing” courses I have taken here have been Ethnic Studies 101 and PPPM 203. As I mentioned, PPPM 203 introduced me to the major and I was really enthralled with the professor’s passion for their work. The course was chosen for me through my First Year Interest Group and I could not be more thankful. Finally, Ethnic Studies 101 was the other course in my FIG and it truly opened up my eyes to so much. As a white woman, I was not aware of the world of privilege that I was living in and Ethnic Studies 101 opened my eyes to it. Through the course, I also was able to study some exceptionally interesting topics and write a paper on intersectionality, through which I interviewed a DACA recipient.

After Graduation
After college graduation, I plan on moving to either Los Angeles to pursue government positions in the state or go to Washington D.C. to pursue federal government legislative roles. I hope to get a staff assistant position with an Oregon representative in D.C., but I would be proud to work for any member of Congress. My greatest hopes are to either move up in the federal or state legislative body, drafting policy to serve the public. If I were to work in a state legislature, I would pursue a career in education policy, where I can work to remove inequalities in the education system. Furthermore, at the federal level, I would have the opportunity to work on a vast array of policy areas, like education, environment, and housing. Overall, I hope to use my degree to serve the public on either a state or federal scale.

Your Gift
This scholarship means so much to me personally and academically. As a person from a middle class home, I have not had the opportunity to receive as many financial need based scholarships because of my parents income, even though they do not dedicate any form of financial support to my studies or living. Therefore, as someone entirely reliant on loans, in addition to my part time job, I am extremely appreciative to have received this scholarship.

Thank you so much for making this scholarship possible. It is helping me work toward a career where I will be able to serve the public good.