Contact:
Mike Ferlazzo
570-577-3212
570-238-6266 (c)
mike.ferlazzo@bucknell.edu
LEWISBURG, Pa. (September 3, 2026) – Mia Mezger ’27, a biology and psychology double-major from Port Tobacco, Md., has long been interested in the intersection of science and human systems. “I’m not a political science major, but I am concerned with environmental issues, food access and public health,” says Mezger, who secured a position this summer as a government affairs intern with the Environmental Working Group (EWG). “This experience really allowed me to get my feet wet and step out of my comfort zone while also learning about something I really care about.”
One of the projects Mezger worked on included comparing how New York public school districts address food ingredients of concern, which revealed to her just how much food-safety standards and transparency can vary between school systems. “Beyond the work itself, I am incredibly grateful to Wes Pyron ’12, EWG’s senior director of philanthropy, for being such an amazing mentor,” she says. “Over the course of many conversations over coffee or a meal, he offered advice and helped me feel more comfortable navigating D.C.”
Along with learning about potential career paths in sustainability and public policy, Mezger developed a deeper understanding of D.C. as a vibrant community full of people ready to meet for coffee, share their experiences and help students launch their careers. “This summer taught me so much about myself and gave me greater confidence and direction for my future,” she says. “For me, it became exactly the kind of transformative experience David Hamill hoped to create.”
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