Samantha McLean, University of Cincinnati
Hailing from the East Coast, Samantha currently calls Cincinnati home while pursuing the Master of Community Planning at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. Samantha received her undergraduate degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.in 2011. Following graduation, she served as a Community Development Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon. After the completion of her service, she worked in Washington, D.C. as a Program Coodinator for an international development non-profit organization. During her first year of graduate studies, she interned with The Center for Great Neighborhoods, a community development organization in Covington, Kentucky. She is eager to apply her past experiences in community development, along with her coursework, as an intern with the City of Cincinnati’s City Planning Department, where she will be assisting with a variety of projects, including the University Impact Area Solutions Study.
Lillian Ramser, University of Cincinnati
Originally from Turner, Maine, Lillian Ramser is a senior at the University of Cincinnati. She is currently pursuing a B.A. degree in both Political Science and International Affairs. Lilly is working in the Human Resources department of City Hall where she hopes to gain a better understanding of the strategic planning process of recruiting for growth, and employee advancement, so the goals and objectives of the numerous departments can be fulfilled. She is looking forward to broadening her understanding of how municipal government works. After graduation, Lilly plans to pursue a JD/MBA.
Taylor Stephens, University of Cincinnati
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Taylor graduated in 2015 with a B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Community Planning at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. Taylor is interning with City Manager’s Office, where she works with the communications team to provide updates on the City’s ongoing projects and events through press releases and social media. Taylor hopes this internship will allow her to strengthen her experience with local government and public engagement efforts.
Olivia Vandervoort, Miami University
Olivia Vandervoort is originally from Pickerington, OH, and is currently a senior pursuing degrees in Political Science and English at Miami University. During her time at Miami she has enjoyed many fantastic learning opportunities, including time spent interning with the school’s Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs, interning at the Champaign County Court of Common Pleas, working in leadership in Miami’s Associated Student Government, and more. Olivia is thrilled to have the opportunity to spend the summer learning more about the government and the City of Cincinnati. Specifically, she will be working with the Office of Performance & Data Analytics, learning about a wide range of municipal operations and helping to use operational data to analyze city processes and find opportunities for efficiency, savings, and innovation. Olivia is looking forward to gaining valuable skills as a part of the team working in this exciting new office!
