Hobart and William Smith Colleges

17 September 2010 A Passion for Environmental Action

This summer, William Smith student Caroline Spruill 12 spent much of her time interning with the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming in Washington, D.C. As a double major in political science and international environmental policy,Spruill has a strong interest in the environmental policy process.

I am most interested in ocean policy, and the need for a comprehensive ocean policy framework in this country, says Spruill, who has previously interned at Ocean Conservancy. Her time there provided a valuable counterpoint to her time on the Select Committee in that it allowed her to see the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) side of environmental policy action. Her mother, Vikki Spruill P12, is president and CEO of the Ocean Conservancy and was a Presidents Forum speaker on campus this spring.

Spruill learned of the internship through William Smith alum JillianOberfield 01, who is a legislative assistant for Congressman Edward J. Markey, the current chair of the Select Committee. Spruill met Oberfield during theHWS Day on the Hill winter break program, which serves as an opportunity for HWS students to network with a variety of alums and gain more knowledge about politics and policy in Washington.

Much of Spruills work centered around oil spill in the Gulf. My office was literally ground zero for all of the incredible work that Congressman Markey did on the spill. I couldnt have asked for a better opportunity.I got to sit in on the entire Tony Hayward hearing before the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee, (where Texas Republican Joe Barton apologized to BP). I also helped put together briefing material for the Congressman to make the many TV appearances about the spill that he made over the summer. Our office was operating at such an incredibly high level, and it was so exciting to be a part of it, she says.

Her other duties with the Committee includedperforming environmental research, writing memos, attending hearings and briefings and doing prep work for the hearings. Spruill also worked with the Committees communications team, updating its website, managing its Twitter account and monitoring its Facebook page.

On campus, Spruill is the president of William Smith Congress, a member of the Colleges Chorale, Cantori and Three Miles Lost. She is also a tour guide at Admissions.

AfterHWS, Spruill plans to go to either law school ora J.D./M.A. program where she can continue to explore issues of environmental policy.

In the photo above,Spruill (right) is pictured with Jillian Oberfield01 and Congressman Edward Markey.