FTG 0035 – Is This As Good As It Can Be? Program Monitoring & Evaluation with Federal Department Manager Lauren Jowell '04

Overview:

Lauren Jowell ’04 Behrend is the Chief of a Monitoring and Evaluation division in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the US Department of Labor in Washington, DC, though she is appearing on this podcast in her personal capacity, and her views are solely her own. Her team is responsible for strategic planning, independent program evaluations, and collecting and reporting on performance data for executive, congressional and interagency reporting requirements. Lauren shares her experiences at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, where she earned a BA in Political Science with Honors and High Distinction in 2004. She also shares her experiences in the Peace Corps, earning a Masters in International Law and Politics from Georgetown, and using her social sciences background in several federal roles. Lauren provides great insights on navigating the job search for federal jobs and the distinction from a more traditional resume and application process, and the perks of living in Washington, D.C.

Guest Bio:

Lauren Jowell ’04 Behrend is the Chief of a Monitoring and Evaluation division in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the US Department of Labor in Washington, DC, though she is appearing on this podcast in her personal capacity, and her views are solely her own. Her team is responsible for strategic planning, independent program evaluations, and collecting and reporting on performance data for executive, congressional and interagency reporting requirements. Before joining the Department of Labor, she was a senior strategic planning analyst at the Department of the Interior and a program audit analyst at the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. Lauren served in the Peace Corps in Ukraine from 2004 to 2006 where she taught English as a second language in a village in the central part of the country. She earned a BA in Political Science with Honors and High Distinction from Penn State Erie, the Behrend College in 2004. She also earned a MA in International Law and Politics from Georgetown and a Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation from Michigan State University. She is happy to speak further about the growing program evaluation career field and you can connect with her on LinkedIn.

Episode Specifics:

In this episode, Lauren shares her insights on:

· Ethics disclaimers and requirements for federal employees and sharing their own opinions and views

· Choosing Penn State Behrend and a glimpse into the campus culture

· Starting in a campus honors program before joining the College

· Mortifying experiences at milestone moments – like hair dye gone awry

· Joining the Peace Corps after graduation and living & working abroad, as well as thoughts on studying abroad

· Using strong social science skills like writing in the auditing and government oversight fields

· An overview of the program monitoring, assessment, and evaluation field

· The importance of skills and not just knowledge in the social sciences including government, private, and non-profit work

· Skills and opportunities for Scholars to look into and learn while they are in college, including professional associations, writing, and even improv comedy!

· Where the end results of the assessments and evaluations go

· Understanding the differences in resumes and job searching for government careers than other industries

· Details about the Penn State Professional Women’s Network of Washington, DC for both new alumni and current students interning in the District & surrounding area

· Exploring all the things to do in and around DC

· Taking pride in your work and still finding balance

· Developing responsive communication skills that adapt your style to others’