UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The School of Public Policy’s leadership series spotlighting professionals with careers in public policy will feature Natalie Krug, director of the Bureau of Budget Analysis in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Budget Office (GBO), at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10.
Krug has been with the GBO for six years, previously serving as the director of policy. She holds a bachelor of science degree in economics from the University of Delaware and a master of science degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to her time at GBO, Krug worked at the Economic Policy Institute and the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., and with the Keystone Research Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Krug said her work in the governor’s budget office gives her the opportunity to tackle a variety of policy issues and make a difference in her home state.
“I spend half of my time digging into spreadsheets and running numbers, which I love, but I spend the other half of my time translating what these numbers mean to help make the higher-level decision makers understand the impacts of that data,” she said. “Every policy, every process requires funding. It all really gets tied back together into one circle. In my position, I'm very fortunate that I get to work with almost every single department and every issue area on a very regular basis.
“It’s important for students to understand that there are a lot of opportunities in state government that are far more reaching than people expect,” Krug continued. “There's a stigma around state workers being paper pushers, but there are a lot of engaging jobs in the commonwealth where you can really make an impact.”
“Natalie has experience in both state government and the nonprofit sector,” said Catherine Baumgardner, director of professional development and student engagement in the School of Public Policy. “Sharing her background, the day-to-day operations of her work, and explaining the challenges she faces will provide invaluable insight for students who aspire to positions in state government.”
The event will be held via Zoom and will consist of a brief interview followed by questions from the audience. Participants will have the option to ask questions during the live discussion or in advance of the presentation by submitting questions to publicpolicy@psu.edu.
Krug is the second speaker in the School of Public Policy’s “Profiles” series, during which the school welcomes public policy professionals to discuss their careers and share their experiences. The next conversation in the series will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, with Wayne Palmer, former principal deputy assistant secretary for Mine Safety and Health (MSHA) in the U.S. Department of Labor. Additional details on the series and information on joining the discussions via Zoom can be found on the School of Public Policy website.