Rhode Island Deputy Treasurer Kelly Rogers visited the Watson Institute of Public Affairs Wednesday afternoon to talk to students about her experiences in politics after her time at Brown.
The talk was the second in the Rhode Island Politics and Policy Series, which was launched this past semester by the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy to introduce students to the individuals working at the center of policy decisions in state and local governments. Over lunch, Rogers discussed her role in General Treasurer Seth Magaziner鈥檚 鈥�06 office and the trajectory that led her from the University鈥檚 master鈥檚 in public policy program to where she is today. Initially, she worked as Magaziner鈥檚 policy director before realizing she could do more and taking on the role of deputy treasurer.
With an undergraduate degree in environment and energy, Rogers always anticipated that she would end up working in environmental policy on the Hill or back home in Pennsylvania. She never expected to end up in the world of Rhode Island public finance. But now, 鈥淚 can鈥檛 see myself ever leaving,鈥� she said.
In Magaziner鈥檚 office, Rogers feels she has made a greater impact than she would have on the Hill. From her first day on the job, Rogers has been part of major policy decisions related to the RI Infrastructure Bank. She also聽helped to create a debt management reform聽package after the聽38 Studios Bond Deal.
Moving forward, Rogers sees herself pursuing an MBA to study investment and the private sector to complement her public-sector work.
Students in attendance were excited about Rogers鈥� talk. Public policy concentrator Yasmin Toney 鈥�19, who is interning with Rhode Island judge Frank DiCaprio, was interested to learn more about local politics. Erin Wurtemberger GS added that, as a current MPA student, she is interested in 鈥渟tate governments and how they work as individual agencies鈥� and thought Rogers鈥� talk presented a good opportunity to learn more about these agencies within Rhode Island.
As the lunch wrapped up, Rogers offered students advice on finding their path. 鈥淚f you know you want to be in political change or social change, it can be hard to know what role you want to have. The way I thought about that? Think about when you are in the room with a board or a political setting. Who do you want to be in that room?鈥�
Clarification: A previous version this article聽stated that Rogers has been part of major policy decisions related to the 38 Studios Bond Deal. In fact, Rogers helped to create a debt management reform package after the deal. The Herald regrets the error.
