Kevin Woram is a 6th year PhD candidate in the Department of History at the University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. His dissertation looks at marketplaces in the provinces of the Roman empire, particularly the moral understanding of commerce shared by elites and non-elites.
Kevin was an intern at the Center for Economic and Policy Studies in the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Policy.
Q. What are your post-PhD career aspirations?
I hope to be an educator, whether that be as a professor at a college or university or as a teacher at a secondary school.
Q. Please summarize your PhD Plus internship
I applied for the PhD Plus internship because I wanted to try something other than teaching this past semester. I wanted to do an internship where I could use my skills as a researcher in service of the public good, so I applied to work at the Weldon Cooper Center. One of the center's main goals is to help Virginia meet its goal of switching to renewable energy by 2050. To that end, I analyzed the solar development permitting process in Virginia and tried to find ways to streamline that process. My work consisted of examining permitting timelines and public records to determine potential inefficiencies as well as ways to facilitate dialogue among various stakeholder groups. I concluded my internship with a final report detailing potential policies for the state. I enjoyed most working with and learning from my supervisor, Elizabeth Marshall. It was very rewarding to dive into a new field of knowledge, and she was always there to provide guidance and insight.
Q. What professional skills did you develop during your internship?
My internship has taught me how to write up my research in an entirely new way. I had little experience communicating to a broad audience or incorporating visual data into my work. For example, I learned how to consider and balance the various interests of the groups that would read my work. Now, I feel much more confident in applying my research skills to fields beyond my own and conveying my work to audiences outside academia.
Q. How did the internship support your career development?
This internship has opened new potential career paths for me, such as working in the green energy sector. With this experience, I can market myself to a much wider group of potential employers.
Q. What advice would you give peers on utilizing PhD Plus internships for career development?
I would highly recommend the PhD Plus program to future students. The reality of the academic job market is that few of us will be able to secure a worthwhile position at a college or university. We need to prepare ourselves to seek other employment options, and PhD Plus supplies you with the experience, mentorship, and confidence to apply your skills outside of academia.