Tristen - Creative Portfolio HTML Template

About Me

Hometown: New Bern, NC

I am an energy and climate policy researcher with a passion for turning complex data and participatory research methods into practical, people-focused solutions. I have experience in the federal sector, academic research space, and non-profit consulting, where I worked with organizations to tackle climate resilience and the energy transition through a mix of data analytics, storytelling, and strategy.

Expertise in data visualization, industry research, and stakeholder engagement.
Please take a look through fmy website for a glimpse into my work and passions.

More About Me Resume

Experience

January 2025 � June 2025

Graduate Policy Analyst

UNC Energy Transition Initiative

Chapel Hill, NC

Conducted stakeholder interviews and Q methodology research to identify local energy priorities in North Carolina.
Produced a final report and policy brief outlining findings for UNC�s Energy Transition Initiative and local partners.
Led analysis of survey results using RStudio and qualitative research tools.

August 2024 � May 2025

Graduate Teaching Instructor

UNC Data Literacy Lab - Department of Public Policy

Chapel Hill, NC

Supported instruction for data literacy labs serving nearly 360 first-year undergraduate students across multiple majors.
Facilitated skill-building in Excel, Tableau, and RStudio, emphasizing descriptive and inferential research methods.
Deliver feedback on 160+ weekly submissions to reinforce student understanding and improve data literacy skillsets.

May 2024 � September 2024

International Economist Trainee

United States International Trade Commission

Washington, DC

Lead international trade analyst on a 5-yr adequacy review conducting research on export markets and tariff treatments.
Assisted 17 analysts by cleaning energy data to assess GHG intensities of U.S.-produced steel and aluminum products.
Developed key figures and fact-finding summaries using trade atlas data for the public release of antidumping briefing.

August 2023 � December 2023

Undergraduate Policy Analyst

Coastal Carolina Riverwatch

Chapel Hill, NC

Partnered with a 5-member team to research wetland degradation and effects on water quality in Carteret County, NC.
Utilized ArcGIS for geospatial analysis of 7 land use categories, providing valuable insights to municipal policymakers.
Presented findings to peers and industry professionals at the 2024 UNC Public Policy Experiential Education Showcase.

May 2023 � August 2023

Risk Management Supervision Intern

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

Raleigh, NC

Prepared written reports for capital market specialists on high-interest rate sensitivity for 200�400 basis point models.
Researched capital and asset quality compliance using quarterly call report and UBPR statistics for 6 component areas.
Actively participated in 3 executive-level board exit meetings and bank examinations at 4 complex financial institutions.

Education

January 2024 - June 2025

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Focus: Energy & Climate Policy

August 2020 - May 2024

B.S. in Economics & Public Policy

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Focus: Macroeconomics & International Economics

Summer 2023

Global Experience

DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia
Stockholm, Sweden
Study Tour
Athens, Greece

Skills

Analytical & Research

From policy design to impact evaluation � methods that connect data to decisions.

Economic & Policy Analysis
Impact Evaluation (DiD, Panel)
Regulatory & Legislative Research
Stakeholder Data Collection

Technical

Tools I use for analysis, mapping, and visualization.

Stata R Tableau ArcGIS GitHub Excel

Communication

Clarity for busy readers � from briefs to live talks.

Policy briefs & executive summaries
Data storytelling & visual design
Public speaking & facilitation
Human-centered design

Publications

February 2025

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensities of the U.S. Steel and Aluminum Industries at the Product Level

United States International Trade Commission (Publication No. 5584; Investigation 332-598)

Special Assistance
Contributed to product-level emissions-intensity methodology and data support across Scope 1�3 for covered steel and aluminum products.

View PDF

March 2024

Food Stamp Recipiency on Household Food Expenditures & Food Sufficiency

Ceteris Paribus: The Undergraduate Journal of Economics at UNC (Vol. 1, Inaugural Edition)

Lead Author
Difference-in-differences analysis of SNAP recipiency and food inflation (2021�2022), with IPW balancing and multinomial logit on self-reported sufficiency.

View PDF

Awards

May 2024

Carolina Research Scholar

Recognized with a �Carolina Research Scholar� designation on transcript for contributions to UNC�s intellectual and cultural climate.

March 2023

FDIC Academic Challenge National Finalist

Selected as 1 of 5 teams nationwide to compete in the FDIC�s Academic Challenge on �The Impacts of Higher Interest Rates on the Banking Sector.�

Read Selected Paper

February 2023

Adventures in Economics Grant Recipient

Received competitive UNC Economics Department funding to visit the Library of Congress & National Museum of American History, culminating in a reflective report to donors.

May 2020