IAS students help shape policy in Olympia

A group of students from University of Washington Bothell’s School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences spent winter quarter in Olympia, working alongside lawmakers during the legislative session. They responded to constituents, attended hearings, tracked bills, supported advocacy efforts, and navigated the realities of public policy work in real time.

For Jennifer Ramirez and Hiro Hirano-Holcomb, this opportunity offered an inside look at the fast-paced world of policymaking — and helped shape what comes next.

Ramirez, a senior majoring in Law, Economics & Public Policy and minoring in Human Rights worked in the office of Sen. Lisa Wellman as part of the Washington State Legislative Internship. Her day-to-day work included responding to constituent concerns, attending meetings with advocates and lobbyists, tracking legislation, and researching a bill focused on regulating AI chatbots. Her time in Olympia provided a deeper understanding of how policy decisions impact communities and people.

“Instead of learning about issues through social media or news articles, I came face-to-face with the people directly affected,” Ramirez said. “This experience has deepened my interest in public policy and helped me see how decisions made in Olympia impact the people of Washington.”

Hirano-Holcomb, also a Law, Economics & Public Policy major with a minor in Human Rights and the ASUWB Director of Legislative Affairs, spent winter quarter advocating on behalf of ASUWB while earning academic credit for their lobbying work.

“I loved the pressure and the fast-paced environment. I saw how attorneys work in the legislature, and that would be an incredible way to be involved in both the law and the legislature,” they said.

One of the most meaningful parts of the experience for Hirano-Holcomb was advocating for House Bill 1316, legislation aimed at expanding support for postsecondary students experiencing homelessness. While HB 1316 ultimately did not pass, the state student emergency housing funding is now temporarily allowed to be distributed to UW Bothell due to an amendment Hirano-Holcomb lobbied for to be included in the budget.

“I learned to take creative approaches to solving problems and getting right back up after initial failure,” Hirano-Holcomb said, reflecting on the amendment.

Both students credit the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences with helping prepare them for the internship through policy coursework, experiential learning opportunities, and programs like the D.C. Human Rights Seminar.

“IAS really values hands-on learning, and that has been incredibly valuable to me,” Hirano-Holcomb said.

After graduation, Hirano-Holcomb will attend the University of Washington School of Law, while Ramirez plans to continue pursuing opportunities in public policy before eventually attending law school.