Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy

From Capitol Hill and the White House to the U.S. State Department and beyond, Heinz College alumnus Rusty Pickens (MSPPM '18) has built a career at the intersection of technology and public service.

A member of the Chickasaw Nation, Rusty's journey has taken him from Oklahoma to Washington, D.C., where he worked on presidential campaigns, modernized government technology systems, and helped shape digital diplomacy efforts around the world. Today, he continues that work through consulting, teaching, and leading conversations around artificial intelligence, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous data governance.

Read more about Rusty's path to Heinz College, the mentors who shaped his career, and the work he's doing to help tribal communities navigate emerging technologies.

https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/media/2026/June/how-heinz-college-alumnus-rusty-pickens-built-a-career-at-the-intersection-of-technology-and-public-service

With apps like FanDuel and Kalshi gaining popularity among a younger generation, lawmakers are looking at how to create guardrails around social betting apps before addiction goes too far. Linda Moya, one of our distinguished service professors, appears in this CBS Pittsburgh news segment discussing this issue.

You can watch the segment here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z10DVLhEBrs

How should federal drug sentencing account for both the quantity of drugs involved and an individual's role in a distribution network?

In a new article published in Federal Sentencing Reporter, Jonathan Caulkins, Peter Reuter, and Greg Midgette propose reforms to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines that could better align sentences with culpability while preserving the overall structure of the current system.

Their recommendations include separate sentencing tables based on a defendant’s role and new approaches to measuring drug quantity, with the goal of improving fairness, consistency, and effectiveness in federal drug sentencing.

Read more here! https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/media/2026/June/researchers-suggest-ways-to-improve-us-sentencing-guidelines

It's a beautiful day to be a Tartan! ☀️

As consumer debt continues to rise across the United States, understanding the factors driving financial strain is more important than ever.

In a recent Business Insider article, Heinz College Assistant Teaching Professor and Certified Public Accountant Jillian Stephenson shared her perspective on how rising housing costs and higher interest rates are contributing to increased credit card debt for many Americans.

Read more about the challenges facing households and the financial decisions shaping today's economy! https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/debt-rises-high-income-good-credit

Applications for the 2026 Policy Impact Lab are closing soon!

Join us in Washington, D.C. for a weekend dedicated to learning, collaboration, and hands-on policy problem solving. The program features a keynote from Jake Day, Maryland’s Secretary of Housing and Community Development and a Carnegie Mellon alumnus, along with a team-based Policy Hackathon where participants work through real world challenges.

Participants will build connections with peers, alumni, and professionals, gain practical experience tackling policy problems, hear directly from leaders shaping housing policy, and receive guidance on careers in policy and pathways to graduate study.

Learn more and apply here! https://www.heinz.cmu.edu/programs/_landing-pages/heinz-policy-impact-lab-2026

A summer internship is a required part of the Heinz College experience because we believe in the power of applying classroom skills in real-world settings before graduation. This summer, our student interns are working across the country at organizations ranging from small nonprofits to some of the largest tech companies in the world, and we want to highlight what they are up to.

Tanya Wang is a Master of Information Security Policy & Management student who is spending her summer interning at Boeing as an IT Project Management Intern.

From a young age, Tanya has been fascinated by planes and spaceships. This early interest led her to pursue an opportunity at Boeing.

Much of her time is spent researching, supporting system migrations and modernization efforts, helping finalize standards to advance initiatives, documenting processes to reduce deficiencies, and participating in demos and brainstorming sessions with colleagues.

We are excited to see our students creating meaningful impact within the organizations they are part of this summer!

Eli Potter, one of our distinguished alumni, has spent her career as an executive and consultant in the business technology space. Throughout that journey, she has championed a philosophy centered on investing in others, elevating ideas, and leading with purpose.

Part of that inspiration comes from the “Big Six,” a group of close friends who met as Heinz College students and have maintained their bond for nearly 30 years.

Learn more about Eli’s career, her commitment to mentorship and sponsorship, and how she continues to support the next generation of Heinz College students! https://www.cmu.edu/engage/news-stories/news/ai-cant-be-what-ai-cant-see-alum-eli-potter-role-models-are-success

Wellness tourism is evolving beyond relaxation and into sleep tracking, longevity programs, and health optimization.

In a new BBC article exploring the rise of modern wellness retreats, Heinz College professor Ari Lightman shares insight into why travelers are increasingly seeking transformative experiences centered around long-term health and wellbeing.

You can read the article here! https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260519-the-evolution-of-the-wellness-retreat

We would like to extend our congratulations to Professor Avinash (Avi) Collis and incoming Professor Brian Jabarian on their selection to the inaugural cohort of global economic scholars in a research program launched by Google AI.

They, along with six other researchers from around the world, will receive funding to support independent research into the transformative impacts of artificial intelligence on labor markets and related economic outcomes.

You can more about the program here! https://ai.google/economy/ai-economy-researchers/