Sophomore Cash Mendenhall’s time at the Water Institute began when he joined the global policy mapping project last fall. For the past year, he has worked with a team to compile and analyze data related to water policy and development throughout the Middle East and Africa. Mendenhall said that exploring an area of WaSH policy with so many different players was challenging at first, but that the support provided by the Water Institute made the experience extremely fruitful.

“I think it’s increased my international policy literacy in a really direct way,” he said. “It’s been super fantastic to sharpen those policy skills in a more technical setting.”

The Water Institute has also allowed Mendenhall to improve his scientific writing abilities through internal papers and poster presentations, which he hasn’t always had the opportunity to do as a non-STEM major.

“[It was] a totally new dimension of thinking for me and forced me to put that framework through a much more rigorous lens of analysis,” he said.

Mendenhall has found that his time at the Water Institute has strengthened his professional communication as well.

“It’s this expectation internally that we be able to communicate our objectives and progress on our work in a way that’s not only professional-sounding and full of buzz words but in a way that carries true meat on the bone and can meaningfully impact others around us,” he said.

In the future, Mendenhall plans to continue as a Water Institute student researcher and work on long-term policy projects, while taking advantage of what he sees as invaluable opportunities for mentorship and undergraduate autonomy.

“It’s increased my confidence, increased my skillset, and made Carolina a much more rigorous, much more enjoyable place,” he said.