Why Wait to Make the World a Better Place?

As a first-year student at Washington College, Emily Ulizio ’25 never imagined she would accomplish as much as she has in such a short time. An international studies and political science double major with a minor in international economics, the senior is reflecting on her time at Washington and preparing for life post-graduation. Through numerous internships, semesters abroad, and impactful research experiences, Ulizio has made great strides to change the world for the better.

While she always knew she wanted to pursue international studies, Ulizio began her journey at Washington College majoring in environmental studies. However, she decided to make the switch to political science after realizing that, as she puts it, “if you actually want to change things, you have to do it from a political perspective.” 

In the spring of 2025, she is a research assistant intern at Princeton University. Previously, she interned for the League of Women Voters, Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Maryland General Assembly, and most recently at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). As a public education and research intern at HRC, she contributed to several projects focused on LGBTQ+ issues, conducted open-source research, and created educational materials, including a published report titled “Dismantling a Culture of Violence.” 

Ulizio hopes that through translating her research into accessible educational materials, she can help to drive meaningful change.

“The issues that we're writing on [at Human Rights Campaign] are really important,” Ulizio said. “A big thing for me is I want to contribute positive change to the world, you know? So, I think by educating people through research, like the public research team at HRC does, that's really important, and an important step that we need to take. It felt really good to have my name attached to something that I feel really strongly about, and I think that it's important for the world to know about.” 

Her professors have also played a pivotal role in shaping her time at Washington, she said, assisting her in internships, writing numerous letters of recommendation, and giving advice.

“I've gotten to know [the professors] over the past couple of years, and they've been very supportive in any of my endeavors that I choose to do. I'm just really thankful for them.” 

As graduation approaches, Ulizio is exploring opportunities that will allow her to continue her work in advocacy and research, be it in the work force, a graduate program, or law school. Her time at the College has been defined by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a commitment to making a difference. From a semester of field hockey and working in the Campus Gardens to spending a semester studying at the American Business School in Paris, France, she has accomplished more than she could have imagined. Moving forward, whether in policy, research, or activism, her dedication to making a difference perseveres, and her future looks bright.  

Looking back on the twists and turns her path at Washington College has taken, Ulizio embraces her journey. “I was like ‘you know what?' I'm just going to try and do as much as possible,” she said. “I'm not going to try and limit myself, and I've gotten to do so much.” 

Whatever she decides to do next, the sky is the limit. 

— Evelyn Lucado '26