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Project on Government Oversight

Fellowship Insights

What current and former POGO fellows have to say

Dana Liebelson

As POGO’s 2011-2012 Beth Daley Impact Fellow, Dana Liebelson interviewed whistleblower Peter Van Buren, Representative Walter Jones (R-NC), and Rolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings. She helped expose oxygen problems in the F-22 fighter jet as well as water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and she regularly wrote short pieces for POGO’s blog. Most recently, Dana followed the story of Northrop Grumman lobbyist Thomas Mackenzie, who received a nearly $500,000 bonus after leaving to join the House Armed Services Committee. Dana holds a B.A. in international affairs from The George Washington University and has a regular column in The Week. In 2012, she will join the staff of Mother Jones magazine as a reporter.

“Before I came to POGO, I only focused on international affairs—my understanding of national politics was comparatively dim. Now, I use strange acronyms and am fluent in Hill-ese like the rest of the staff. … I learn new stuff every day. POGO is like going back to school! Actually, I think I learn more here than [at] school.”

Suzie 2

Suzanne Dershowitz is POGO’s current public policy fellow. Over the course of her year at POGO, Suzie has worked closely with Director of Public Policy Angela Canterbury on advocating for the STOCK Act, which prohibited congressional insider trading, and exposing conflicts of interest at the Food and Drug Administration, as well as a host of other projects. She also played a major role in POGO's Open NDAA campaign. Suzie holds a B.A. in political science from the University of California-Berkeley.

"As POGO's public policy fellow, I have learned a great deal about how a nonprofit can work with the government to shape legislation, rules, and regulations on a broad range of issues related to oversight and transparency. I have had the opportunity to work on our campaign to open the Senate defense budget markup to the public—building a coalition with organizations across the ideological spectrum, creating a video to mobilize grassroots activists, crafting letters to Senators on the committee, launching a website inspiring individuals to take action, and lobbying staffers inside the halls of government."