

Natasha Raman


PBPL 5: Introduction to Public Policy
One of the most interesting classes I have taken so far at Dartmouth has been PBPL 5: Introduction to Public Policy, which is taught by Professor Charles Wheelan. Although I didn't know a lot about public policy coming into the class, I finished the course with a greater understanding of how public policy is created and implemented in government. And even more importantly, I realized the influence of public policy on my everyday life.
The main reason why I enjoyed this class was because of Professor Wheelan's teaching style. Whenever I would tell an upperclassman that I was taking Public Policy 5 with Professor Wheelan, the first thing they'd tell me would be about how amazing of a professor he is. After taking the class, I can confidently say he certainly lives up to the hype. Professor Wheelan always related what he taught to current events, which made me appreciate the relevancy of public policy in my life. In addition, he is hilarious. There was not a single day of class where I didn't laugh at one of his (albeit sometimes corny) jokes!
Alongside being a great lecturer in the classroom, Professor Wheelan was a wonderful person to talk to outside of class. Besides his regularly scheduled office hours (which he held every Monday and Thursday), Professor Wheelan was very accommodating and would meet with students by appointment anytime during the week. Whenever I had a question, whether it be about what we learned in class or about something I read on the news, Professor Wheelan was always available to talk to.
Another reason why I liked my Public Policy 5 class was because of the numerous guest lecturers who came to speak to us. Some of the guest lecturers included Judd Gregg, who is a former governor and senator from New Hampshire, and Kyle Bailey, the campaign manager for the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting. It was truly inspirational to hear from such accomplished people who work in the field of public policy.
Overall, Public Policy 5 was an unforgettable class that I'd take again in a heartbeat. My professor was amazing, and I made some great friends in the course as well. Although it was a lot of work, I learned so much about public policy and the role it plays in society. I am definitely looking forward to taking more public policy classes in the future!
Posts You Might Like

Spring has sprung in Hanover and the term feels like it's really getting off the ground with classes starting up in full swing, warmer weather, and the occasional muddy day.


Wondering what a two-course term at Dartmouth is like? Well, here's the scoop!


Thinking back, this winter has been a whirlwind. I wanted to use this final blog post as an opportunity to organize my thoughts and share some reflections as I move into my final term!


This one's for you intrepid, amazing prospective students!


One of Dartmouth's programs that I have had the pleasure to take part in is the Women In Science Program!


Dartmouth is home to a ton of different departments, but one of my favorites is the Native American Studies (NAS) department. Let me tell you why you should take a NAS class at Dartmouth!


When I told my friends about the class, they were confused: how could a public speaking class be taken asynchronously?


Growing up, I remember vaguely hearing of a number of fellowships, whether from my older sister, parents, friends' siblings, etc., but I didn't know much about them.


This week, two organizations, the Dartmouth Coalition for Global Health and Great Issue Scholars, hosted a global health simulation!
