Rayna Tyler '27, Political Science and Computer Science

"I've always been sure of law school and political science, but now I can also see myself taking a few years to explore the tech space."

For Rayna Tyler '27, law school has always been the goal. "When I was in fourth grade, I would shadow my aunt at the public prosecutor's office on my days off," she says. That early exposure to the legal world sparked her interest in government and public policy. "Political science just feels like what I'm supposed to be doing," says Tyler, who decided to double-major in political science and computer science.

Soon after arriving on campus, she applied for an internship with the Bucknell Institute for Public Policy, otherwise known as BIPP. It seemed like the perfect place for her to dive more deeply into contemporary politics and learn about Bucknell's role in facilitating and shaping academic discussions about the public policy landscape — locally, nationally and abroad.  

While working with BIPP, Tyler has helped put together its alumni newsletter and organize Pizza & Policy talks, which bring together students, faculty and policy experts for monthly, informative lectures. "It's been a great experience," says Tyler. "But what I've loved the most about this internship is making podcasts."

The BIPP podcast, Policy Parlor, functions as a space where leading policy advisors, economists and experts can share their research — and where interns can help lead the conversation. "One of my favorite things was having the opportunity to interview an expert who talked about the political economy of Palestine," says Tyler. "It was great because it introduced me to a perspective I'd never thought of before."

Her internship with BIPP has given her the opportunity to delve further into the subjects that she first encountered in the classroom. When taking a course about extractivism in post-Soviet nations with Professor Amanda Wooden, environmental studies & sciences, BIPP hosted a guest speaker who had authored some of the readings Tyler encountered in class. "It was so cool to have that real-world encounter," she says. "If it wasn't for BIPP, I wouldn't have had that kind of deeper learning experience that takes place outside of class."

Tyler's political science studies have undoubtedly helped pave her way toward law school. What surprised her, however, was just how much computer science would also shape her path. 

"I ended up loving it," says Tyler, who has since developed a keen interest in tech compliance and governance. "I've always been sure of law school and political science, but now I can also see myself taking a few years to explore the tech space."

While much of her academic attention is rooted in her majors, Tyler still finds time to pursue one of her lifelong passions. "I'm a dance minor, and one of the big reasons I came to Bucknell in the first place was actually for the dance program," says Tyler, who is a recipient of an Arts Merit Scholarship, which is awarded to first-year students who intend to pursue select disciplines in the arts. 

For her, dance offers an opportunity to both perform and design main stage productions on campus. Balancing two majors, an internship and a minor might seem like a lot, but Tyler has an instinct for choreographing seemingly disparate, complex sequences into a larger, cohesive whole. 

"I really appreciate how Bucknell supports the arts and, specifically, a minor in dance," she says. "It's great to be at a school where you can really have that full dance experience without having to major in it, and still be able to pursue your other interests."