Policy Studies alumni discuss their career paths with students

IAS alums Nate Brown (’13), Natasha Hundley (’07), and Brandon Mayfield (’10) recently visited campus to discuss their career trajectories, how they’ve applied policy studies to their professional roles, and resources they maximized as students.

Nate Brown is a Research Coordinator at the Center for Education Data and Research (CEDR). Nate entered education research following several years of experience as a case manager in a community mental health and public health setting. He holds a BS in Neuroscience from Washington State University and an MA in Policy Studies from the UW Bothell. Nate is currently working on projects related to the teacher labor market, teacher licensure, and international comparative education.

Natasha Hundley is a Resident Services Coordinator, Community Builder, and Certified Hearing Officer for King County Housing Authority (KCHA). In her role at KCHA, Natasha manages a caseload of 500+ low-income families across properties in North and Northeast King County, assisting them in achieving self-sufficiency through strategic programming and community resources, as well as one-on-one consultations. Prior to KCHA, she worked in residential services at Mercy Housing, supported children of incarcerated parents through Volunteers of America’s Mentoring Children of Promise program, and served as a Public Policy Assistant for Workforce Snohomish. Natasha holds a MA in Policy Studies and BA in Society, Ethics & Human Behavior from UW Bothell.

Brandon Mayfield is a Senior Grants and Contracts Officer for the U.S. Program at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The U.S. Program works to improve U.S. high school and postsecondary education and support vulnerable children and families in Washington State. In his role, Brandon is responsible for grant and organizational compliance, agreement drafting, amendment management, and ongoing grants support for a portfolio of grantee partners. Prior to Gates Foundation, Brandon worked in regulatory compliance in the customer service industry. Brandon holds an M.A. in Policy Studies from UW Bothell and a B.A. in Political Science and Social Studies from Western Washington University.