Brooks School Spotlight: Hattie Seten, Policy and Advocacy Fellow
Meet Hattie Seten, Policy and Advocacy Fellow
Seten joined the State Policy Advocacy Clinic at the Brooks School this spring.
Q. Tell us about your role!
I serve as the Policy and Advocacy Fellow at the State Policy Advocacy Clinic. In this role, I help research, design, and advocate for state and local policy initiatives. This includes meeting with legislators, executive branch officials, community organizations, business leaders, academics, and concerned citizens to ensure that public policy efforts reflect community needs.
A major component of my work is conducting backend research. When a legislator or community advocate approaches the clinic with an idea, I help provide the policy and data analysis to evaluate their proposal. I also work with the clinic’s 24 undergraduate and graduate students, guiding them as they pursue their diverse policy objectives. Recently, this has included helping students prepare to testify before the Tompkins County Legislature, pitch ideas to the Ithaca School Board, write op-eds, or work with organizations to improve New York State’s school-based health centers.
Ultimately, I see my role as a conduit between students, community partners, and elected officials. We work on policy issues like rural equity, health care, children’s rights, immigration, and consumer protection. It’s exciting to wear several policy “hats” and engage in so many important conversations across the political spectrum.
Q. Could you speak about your past experiences? What motivates you?
My interest in politics began when I was in high school in South Dakota. My neighbor and mentor, Representative Karen Soli, was running for state legislature and recruited me to serve as her campaign assistant. I canvassed, mailed flyers, and attended town halls. It was just the two of us, and that experience opened the door to addressing societal issues through systematic policies.
From there, I became a legislative page working at the South Dakota State Legislature and later founded the High School Democrats of South Dakota and led a state campaign to improve South Dakotan K-12 teachers’ compensation. These efforts paved the way to national-level roles, and I also served as the National Communications Director for the High School Democrats of America and the Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council.
I then earned my undergraduate degrees at South Dakota State University (Go Jackrabbits!), where I triple-majored in political science, Spanish, and global studies. I also participated in three U.S. State Department-sponsored programs, completing Arabic fellowships in Morocco and Jordan and working at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. Additionally, I served as a fellow to the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship at Princeton University, where I conducted empirical research on the Coronavirus’ disproportionate impact on immigrant communities.
During my senior year, I served as South Dakota State University’s student government president and focused on creating a state-funded, needs-based higher education scholarship program—the state’s first—to support low-income students. The campaign was successful, and I was invited to deliver a speech at Governor Kristi Noem’s ceremonial bill signing. This experience was meaningful, especially as a former Pell Grant recipient and the only person in my household to attend college.
I am very proud to be from South Dakota, and I am even prouder to have been the first Rhodes Scholar from South Dakota State University in 68 years. Through the Rhodes, I earned an M.Phil in politics (comparative government) at the University of Oxford. Afterward, I worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, where I supported efforts focused on the well-being of refugee youth.
While I’ve had some incredible international and federal experiences, my time in intergovernmental affairs made me realize I wanted to return to the local level, where I could more directly engage with people affected by policy. That’s what brought me to the State Policy Advocacy Clinic.
Q. What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to draw, paint, cook, and explore modern languages. I come from an artistic family, and I have a small following on my art Instagram. I also enjoy mountain biking, swimming, hiking, trying new restaurants, traveling, and spending time with my friends and loved ones.
Music is also a big part of my life. I’m working my way through Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. I have a spreadsheet to track my progress. I also love watching documentaries and often read a mix of fiction and nonfiction.
Q. Do you have a favorite spot on campus yet?
I haven’t picked one yet, but I love the Brooks School and the Coffee Club at Martha’s. I’ve been meaning to explore more of the campus, including the botanical gardens and the Lab of Ornithology.
Q. Do you have any advice for policy students who want to work at the state level?
State-level politics is all about relationships! Don’t be afraid to send cold emails, and remain open to starting with any position to get your foot in the door. Every internship or task, no matter how small it seems, can teach you valuable skills and put you in touch with people who may change your life. Building relationships early will serve you well throughout your career in public policy.
State Policy Advocacy Clinic Application Reminder
Applications for the State Policy Advocacy Clinic are due on April 23. Selected students will be notified by April 25.