From Pardee to Policy Impact: Anna Trissa’s Growing Footprint in Global Economic Research
For Anna Trissa (MA GP ’26), the transition from graduate study at the Pardee School to the fast-paced world of policy research has been both immediate and transformative. Now interning with the Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., Trissa is already contributing to substantive policy conversations on economic development, technology, and governance through both her professional and published work.
Trissa’s path to her first post-graduate internship reflects both persistence and the strength of the Pardee community. After an initial round of unsuccessful applications, she turned to alumni and institutional support for guidance,
I had applied for several internships over the summer but was unsuccessful in securing a position. As a result, I began reaching out to Pardee alumni who had previously secured internships to learn from their experiences and seek advice, she explained. During one of these virtual informational interviews, an alumnus suggested that I monitor the CSIS careers page… The alumni I connected with were also generous in reviewing my resume and cover letter… In addition, Sonia [Liang, Director of Pardee Career Services] also helped me review my application materials.
Ultimately, she notes, her Pardee capstone project on Meghalaya, India, proved decisive: “Through the capstone, I had already gained experience analyzing policy challenges and designing practical recommendations at the subnational level, which aligned closely with the work of the department.”
At CSIS, Trissa has deepened her understanding of how academic training translates into actionable policy work. While her research at Pardee emphasized theory and scholarly literature, her work in Washington has required a sharper focus on real-time policy sources and clear, concise communication.
At CSIS… the goal was to communicate policy issues clearly and concisely, explain why action was needed, and provide practical recommendations, she said. Equally important has been her exposure to policy communications: I learned that producing high-quality research is only one part of the policy process. If research is not communicated effectively, it is unlikely to influence decision-makers or contribute to meaningful change.
These insights are evident in her two recent published works, one co-authored for an AI Summit in India, which highlights not only technical policy challenges but also the importance of public engagement, trust, and accessibility.
Her independent article for the Center for Strategic & International Studies, Winning Over the Consumer: Making India’s Smart Meters Work for People, tackles how to ensure public buy-in for India’s ambitious plan to deploy 250 million smart meters by 2028. In the piece, she argues that installation alone is not enough, and that consumer trust, understanding, and engagement are essential for success. Highlighting gaps in digital literacy and billing transparency, Trissa proposes the creation of a national consumer engagement mission, along with targeted outreach strategies tailored to India’s diverse population. She draws lessons from the United Kingdom’s smart meter rollout, emphasizing that sustained, inclusive communication efforts ranging from community engagement to multilingual campaigns are key to driving adoption and maximizing the program’s benefits.
Looking ahead, Trissa is continuing to build on this momentum. She has secured a new internship with the East-West Center, where she will not only be working on trade, data analysis, and economic policy, but expanding her expertise;
I am excited to broaden my regional experience beyond India and gain a deeper understanding of issues affecting the wider Indo-Pacific region, she said. The opportunity to engage with a broader set of countries and perspectives will help me build a stronger foundation for a career in international economic and development policy.
Anna worked diligently throughout the internship application process and consistently made time to improve her job search strategy, interviewing skills, and application materials. Even while balancing classes and a part-time campus job, she stayed committed and followed through. Her experience is a great reminder that students who see strong outcomes are often those who invest time in the process, do not give up easily, and take full advantage of the advising and alumni support available to them.