Summer Analyst Program Reflections, Part I: Larry Au

Summit’s Summer Analyst Program is coming to an end for the year, and over the next few weeks, Summer Analysts will share their experiences working in the Summit office and enjoying the city for the summer.

Larry Au, an undergraduate student at Brown University, assisted on multiple engagements for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as some litigation work. “I enjoyed the good mix of engagements at Summit; it gave me a broad exposure to what goes into the development of public policy. It was nice to work on projects that combined my skills in sociology and quantitative analysis.” Larry helped to assemble the final evaluation of grantees receiving funding from the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC), a major engagement for Summit. He employed predictive coding, conducted grantee research, and assisted in measuring the overall impact that the funding has had on communities.

Outside of the Summit office, he enjoyed the free events and attractions that attract many people to Washington, DC during the summer. “I went to Jazz in the Garden last week, which was really nice. The weather wasn't as bad as I expected for the summer.” Summit’s growth and welcoming staff also made an impact on Larry’s time in DC. He noted that the staff’s diversity in terms of professional interests and geography was interesting to learn from. “The other Summer Analysts are from schools all over the country and are studying different things. It’s pretty cool to talk to everyone and hear about their experiences.” Larry also noted that the Employee Welcoming Committee and Summit-sponsored activities (such as kickball) helped him adjust to the new surroundings.

The Summit staff was happy to have Larry join us for the summer, and we wish him the best of luck back at Brown!