Simon Wang

Involvement/Accolades:

  • Activities
    • Pittsburgh Policy Initiative – Co-Founder & Executive Director (2024–25)
    • Institute of Politics – Policy Intern (2024–25)
    • Student Civic Engagement Council – University Liaison (2024–25), Operations Manager (2023–24)
    • Learning Research and Development Center – Research Assistant, LIFE Lab (2022–25)
    • Allegheny County Department of Human Services – SPIA Policy & Social Impact Fellow (2023–24)
    • InvolveMINT – FHC Community Research Fellow (2024–25)
    • Behavioral Economics Club – President (2024–25), Vice President (2023–24)
    • Free the Facts – Intern (2025), Campus Ambassador & Team Lead (2022–25)
    • Student Government Board – Pitt Civic Collective (2024–25), Future Planning Task Force (2023–24), First Year Council (2022–23), Community & Governmental Relations Committee (2022–23)
  • Research Funding
    • Brackenridge Fellowship (Summer 2023)
    • Chancellor's Undergraduate Research Fellowship (Fall 2023)
    • FHC Research Fellowship (Spring 2024)
    • Data Science for Social Good REU Award (Summer 2024)
    • DeVito-Lipner Family Fund for Undergraduate Research Award (Spring 2023)
  • Accolades
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Northeast Regional Honors Council Student of the Year Award
    • Campus Compact Student Leadership Impact Award
    • Harry S. Truman Scholarship – Pennsylvania Finalist
    • J.W. & R.L Rahde Scholarship
    • G. Alec Stewart Student Achievement Award
    • Harvey S. Cohen Undergraduate Research Prize
    • Jerome C. Wells Award
    • Dr. John Knox Hall Scholarship
    • Frederick Honors College Professional Development Award
    • Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA) Scholarship
  • Selected Accomplishments
    • Co-founded the first student-run think tank at Pitt focused on community-engaged policy research
    • Conducted NSF-sponsored research on eviction in Dallas; results informed FTC policy recommendations
    • Presented research on childhood socioeconomic status at the Brookings Institution
    • Published peer-reviewed work on childhood adversity and life outcomes (shared first author)
    • Led the PittServes Unification Project, connecting students from 9 orgs to elevate civic engagement
    • Authored food allergy safety legislation introduced in the PA Senate with Sen. Judy Schwank
    • Passed a bill as a first-year codifying transfer student representation on SGB's First Year Council

Future Plans:

"Throughout my time at Pitt and in the community, I’ve seen how lived experiences are often lost before reaching decision-makers. After a gap year in public interest work, I plan to pursue graduate studies in law and public policy, with the goal of advancing equitable development and expanding economic mobility."