Careers in public policy/legislation are elected positions who represent their various constituencies. Legislators enact laws, make policies, prioritize funding and allocate resources. Advocating and influencing public policy or reform to address the problems impacting the people they serve and securing the funding required to improve the condition of the issue is a critical part of their role. Legislatures are challenged when they are up against competing interests and have to work to persuade, influence, and negotiate to be effective.
The panelists below will share more about how they got interested in their field and provide advice and insight to UNL students looking to break into these fields.
Adam Morfeld (he/him/his)
State Senator, Nebraska Legislature
Executive Director and Founder: Civic Nebraska
What sparked your interest in this field?
My life experiences along with volunteering and internships in political, policy, and public service fields.
How did you gain experience when you were a student completing your undergraduate degree?
I took any and every opportunity to volunteer and intern while in undergrad in fields that I was interested in but was not sure that I would like. Rarely is there another time in life where you get to work somewhere for just a few months and leave on good terms (while still gaining valuable experience)!
Who is someone that influenced your career and professional development?
My community college professor Jim Smorada taught me to be curious, not fear failure, advocate for others than myself and seek knowledge.
What is one important skill you’ve had to acquire and hone as you’ve grown in your career?
Perseverance – the ability to succeed, fail, learn and continue on.
