Congrats to Research Assistant Deven Patel
Having completed his Master of Public Policy at the Trachtenberg School in May, RSC Research Assistant Deven Patel is moving on to an exciting new chapter as a Regulatory Analyst at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC! In this role, Deven will manage the Federal Reserve’s information collection efforts and ensure that the Board’s efforts are aligned with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act and other federal guidelines. He will also monitor and analyze legislation and policies that may impact data collection efforts and coordinate with other agencies.
The opportunity to develop a focus in regulatory practice and process was key for charting his career path, Deven says. His internship with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), supported by RSC, was indispensable. “At OIRA, I was able to see and directly participate in its approach to working with regulatory agencies. I was involved in the ‘passback’ process on a few pretty big rules OIRA was reviewing at the time, helping reconcile comments from multiple agencies and stakeholders. There is a significant amount of people management alongside ensuring the rule is solid as OIRA has to make sure that the priorities of many agencies and stakeholders are as respected as possible and that the rule aligns with the President’s agenda.”
Gaining hands-on experience at the Center working with the Federal Register and RegInfo databases to enhance data collection and analysis for our popular RegStats series was another highlight. “One of the biggest benefits of being at the RSC is that the Center’s finger is always on the pulse on the latest developments in federal regulation. That combined with the access to the top experts in the field creates a great environment to constantly learn about the important issues in regulation. The vast wealth of knowledge on the intricacies of the regulatory process at the Center has helped me become more familiar with how the government crafts regulation and this knowledge will be directly applicable to my future career.”
Several MPP courses were uniquely valuable in preparing for his future career. “Susan (Dudley)’s Regulatory Comment Clinic provided a ton of foundational knowledge that was really important for the rest of my classes. The Public Administrative Law class (to be taught by Roger Nober beginning in Fall 2024) built on this by exploring the most important laws and legal cases that influence the regulatory state."
Throughout his six years as an undergraduate and graduate student at GW, the faculty members provided an unparalleled learning environment. “Most of my professors either are or were active practitioners of the very things we were learning in class. I had professors whose day jobs were at the International Monetary Fund, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Management and Budget, and plenty of other places. When it comes to international affairs, economics, and public policy, there really isn’t anywhere else where this is possible.”
After two years of full time study and multiple internships, Deven is looking forward to having evenings free from class! He plans to revive hobbies of watching/reading science fiction and fantasy, visiting new restaurants, and cheering for beloved but often beleaguered sports teams (Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Vikings, and Everton F.C.). Deven is based in the DC area with his wife, Nora, and miniature goldendoodle, Penny.
The RSC team is proud to see another of our research students make it onto the ‘big stage’ and begin what will surely be an impressive career! Congratulations to Deven and to the Trachtenberg Class of ‘24!