MPP Spotlight: Tatum Bingham

I was born and raised in Yuma, AZ, where I learned and came to love the realm of agriculture and all its faucets. As a first-generation college student, I decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Economics from the CALS Agricultural Resource Economics program. After graduation in May 2023, I quickly realized I was not finished academically. I applied to the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program where I am continually working to combine my economics degree with real world policies. I am a proud member of the Young Farmers and Ranchers collegiate club on the U of A campus and try to stay active beyond my academic endeavors. I am fortunate to have an amazing family who has supported me throughout my entire academic career and will continue to support me in whatever comes next after graduation. After graduation this coming May, I hope to find a position in Agricultural Policy or Governmental Affairs. I truly believe the analytical skills learned in the MPP program have set me up for great success in these areas. 

Currently, I work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for an Introduction to Statistics course (SBS 200), where I teach excel lab sessions, host office hours and offer guidance in statistics to undergraduate students. I love to interact with students and offer support, especially since I was just in their shoes as an undergraduate student. I also work as an Intern for the Business Service Department for the City of Tucson, where I am working on some Internal Policies to better serve the department and city.  In my internship with the City of Tucson, I developed a personnel policy workbook and started up a mentorship program in order to facilitate a greater foundation and communication amongst the Business Service Department. 

Some past accomplishments I am still very proud of are serving as a Research Assistant in a Grant Application process looking at Food Insecurity on the U of A campus, serving as an Applied International Developmental Economics (AIDE)  Intern, and a Government Relations Intern at the Arizona Farm Bureau, all of which eventually led me to apply to the Master of Public Policy program because I wanted a more analytical approach to economic policy and to develop the quantitative skills necessary to assess a policy's effectiveness. I wanted to combine my passion and knowledge for agricultural policy and gain the skills to serve the 1% of the population who feed and clothe the world. The connection between economic theories and policies to the conversations I’ve had with farmers and ranchers is not coincidental, and I am so grateful I found the right fit. 

The MPP program has challenged me to think deeply and more critically about things outside of policy. Never in a million years did I think I would be utilizing statistical software to determine if a policy was effective, but I have loved every obstacle that has come with it. I can confidently say that when I enter the workforce I will be prepared. After graduation, I hope to have a smooth transition into the job market. I will most likely remain in the state of Arizona but of course will go wherever the wind takes me. One of my biggest goals is to find a job that I am passionate about and I hope to achieve this post graduation.