Morgan Bryson first came to the University of Pittsburgh not as a student, but for work. Born and raised just outside of Seattle, she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Washington and moved to Pitt to pursue a career in psychology research.
“It was through my experiences in that position that I realized I wanted to directly impact policies and communities I cared about,” she said. “I also wanted a deeper understanding of systems that specifically impacted child wellbeing and people with mental health challenges.”
Today, Bryson is back in the classroom in a big way, working towards not one but two master’s degrees. She began the Master of Social Work (MSW) from Pitt’s School of Social Work in the fall of 2023 and joined the School of Public and International Affairs as a dual-degree student in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program the following year. She’ll graduate with both degrees in the spring of 2026 and looks forward to how her academic journey will shape her future career.
“Together, both programs have informed my understanding of government systems, social welfare, and best practices for implementing policies,” Bryson shared. “I am hoping to bridge social work and public administration ideals in my future career, bringing a new perspective to local government.”
But Bryson isn’t waiting until graduation to dive into the world of local government. This summer, she’s interning with the Planning Department in Washington County’s Peters Township, helping with the township’s comprehensive plan update, creating layouts and geodatabases in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to drive township operations, and working with the Planning Director on new fee ordinance.
Bryson’s experience was made possible, in part, by funding from SPIA’s Bond/WAPMM Local Government Internship Program. Established in 2024 thanks to generous support from Pitt alumnus Marshall W. Bond (MPA ’69) and the Western Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Management (WAPMM), the Bond/WAPMM Program is designed to give SPIA students first-hand experience in municipal management, economic development, and public policy. The initiative provides financial support throughout the student’s summer internship and allows them to develop a deeper understanding of the public sector, network with local government officials and experienced professionals, and make tangible contributions to projects that directly influence the region's growth and development.
Bryson is grateful for the wide range of opportunities she’s had thanks to her internship this summer and confident that this experience will complement her academic work as she steps into her eventual career.
“Every day felt different, and I got to observe many other parts of local government beyond my work,” she said. “Some of my unexpected favorite moments were sitting in on different types of meetings and seeing how lessons I learned in SPIA applied to the real world. The township staff cared a lot about my learning and took the time to teach me various parts of their positions that could help me in the future… I feel very lucky that I was able to watch this up close and learn from leaders in local government.”
Learn more about SPIA’s internships and funding opportunities through Career & Professional Development.