Rachel Widom

Degree: 2022, MPA and 2021, B.A.

Job Title:  Research Project Coordinator at RAND

Rachel Widom is a Research Project Coordinator at RAND in their Proposal Development Services Department. Rachel assists researchers in submitting various proposals (e.g., NIH, NIJ, AHRQ, IES, NSF, etc.) by tracking organizational records, conflict of interest, financial conflict of interest, and opportunity funding sources. 

In 2021, Rachel earned her BA in Public Policy with a minor in Business Administration, and in 2022, she received her MPA with a concentration in public management from the Biden School. As a student, Rachel had the opportunity to engage in several internship opportunities at the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), ICMA Local Government Summer Program, and Legislative Fellows. At IPA, she worked with her mentors, including Chris Kelly and Kelly Sherretz, on transitioning College Application Month to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachel credits IPA with developing her skills in policy analysis, project/process coordination, and communication.

In the summer of 2021, Rachel served as a Human Resources Local Government Management Fellow at the Town of Smyrna, where she developed a compensation pay scale analysis, formulated complaint job descriptions, and crafted newsletters. Through this experience, she honed skills in human resources management and local government. Lastly, Rachel served as a Legislative Fellow in the House Majority Caucus, where she staffed House committees and prepared memorandums for legislators/policy staff. The mentorship and internship opportunities she received at the Biden School were instrumental in shaping her career path.