She spoke out because of her disappointment with how the board handled the fallout of a junior high teacher having the “Gender Queer” graphic novel in her classroom, according to a previous Mirror article.

Almost four years later, however, Shanafelt said she’s thankful for the experience, as it inspired her to double major in education and public policy along with political science in Penn State’s integrated undergraduate-graduate program.

“I’m happy it happened because it was the catalyst for what I’m doing,” she said.

She recently secured a highly competitive summer internship with MDRC, a nonpartisan organization focused on education and public policy. Living in New York City for eight weeks, she’s looking forward to learning more about the world of education and public policy.

Courtesy photo / Madeline Shanafelt had the opportunity to meet Gov. Josh Shapiro.

“I hope it makes me a more successful researcher and (gives me) more experience under my belt,” she said.

Shanafelt remembered gravitating toward politics as a middle school student attending Hollidaysburg Area School District during the 2016 presidential election.

Growing up in a Republican-dominated area challenged her political perspective, she said, which inspired her to want to make a change in the world.

“I really found an interest in what was going on in the world,” she said. “I wanted to take action.”

As a result, she was a part of Hollidaysburg’s student council throughout high school, where she was interested in organizing events and involving all students, according to her mother, Colleen Shanafelt.

Colleen sat beside her daughter when she spoke at the school board meeting in November 2022, and she watched attendees yell at her daughter in the auditorium.

“It was really difficult to watch as a parent,” Colleen said.

In the end, she said that experience lit a fire in Madeline, as her daughter saw the importance of her mission.

Shanafelt’s father, Mike, also said that speaking out at the board meeting helped her understand the world around her, develop an interest in education and public policy and begin working alongside representatives from previous generations.

“She’s trying to be involved in different ways to bridge that gap,” he said.

Education and public policy research

Looking to continue her education, Shanafelt applied for Penn State’s political science program and the highly selective Schreyer Honors College, where only 2% of Penn State students are Schreyer scholars.

But she said she wasn’t completely happy with only studying political science, so after an introductory course at the university, she took on the education and public policy major.

While studying, she is also the president of the College Democrats at Penn State, a research assistant in a political research lab, a keystone scholar in Penn State’s outreach program and a campus group fitness instructor.

David Gamson, Penn State University associate professor of education, said that Shanafelt is an excellent student who demonstrates a strong work ethic inside the classroom.

“She’s willing to push herself further; she does strong work,” he said.

She took two of Gamson’s classes last fall, where she learned more about education policies and the history of education.

Currently, Gamson and Shanafelt are collaborating on her undergraduate thesis, where she will study how curricula are being used inside classrooms. She will most likely complete her thesis by the end of her senior year.

He said one of Shanafelt’s strengths is her many interests in education, as she draws upon different disciplines and expands upon her work.

Gamson also wrote a recommendation letter for Shanafelt, which was submitted alongside her application for the MDRC internship. He said the internship selects a batch of students and gives them a great learning opportunity about education and public policy.

According to MDRC’s website, the undergraduate internship gives students an opportunity to be a part of multidisciplinary teams developing research on current social and education policy issues. Interns can participate in meetings, training, talks and network to gain skills and knowledge in specific areas.

One of Shanafelt’s peers, junior student Dinaye Smith of Coatesville, was also selected for the MDRC internship and will learn alongside Shanafelt in NYC this summer.

Smith said she’s excited for the internship, as it will be a great opportunity to learn more about public policy and research. Likewise, Shanafelt is hoping for a big emphasis on networking to challenge her current knowledge of public policy.

Shanafelt said she looks forward to studying alongside Smith as they venture into the Big Apple.

“I’m excited to work with her,” Shanafelt said. “It’ll be nice that someone is coming from the same place.”

Future leader

Despite being unsure of the process, Shanafelt has hopes of becoming a professor in the future or an education analyst.

Currently, she’s considering a Ph.D. program at Columbia University, and she hopes to tour the campus during her summer internship.

But she plans to stay involved with the Department of Education in the future, regardless of it currently being reworked under the Trump administration.

“Someone has to be there to rebuild it, and I hope to be there for that,” she said.

Looking at her previous accomplishments as a college student, she said she feels supported by her parents who continue to encourage her academic journey.

“I wanted to take action, and I think my parents are very supportive of that,” she said.

Her parents echoed Shanafelt’s statements, stating their wishes for their daughter to find success wherever her path leads.

“I just want her to be happy and fulfilled in her job,” Colleen said. “Enjoy what she’s doing and feel like she’s making a difference in the world.”

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.