Meet Travois Intern Gabby Murnan

Eden Rensing By:

Gabby Murnan is interning with us this summer. She joined the team through an internship opportunity we offered in partnership with Tepa. Our interns will divide their time between the Travois and Tepa offices, both located in Kansas City. Read on to learn about Gabby.

  1. Where are you from? Tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Pittsburg, KS. My mom and dad still live in the Pittsburg area. My mom is a Pittsburg city commissioner, and my dad works at the local community health center. I have two older sisters. My oldest sister, Alexandria, works at Travois as a project coordinator. My other sister, Francesca, lives in Seattle and will be graduating from the University of Washington with a Master’s in Public Administration in June. My sisters and I are enrolled members of the Cherokee Nation.

  1. How did you pick a college to attend?

I attended the University of Kansas — Rock Chalk! I love KU because of its incredible faculty and focus on research. I was able to get a first-class education in my home state.

  1. Tell us about your time in college.

I just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies and political science. As a double major, I was able to take advantage of double the opportunities. With the environmental studies program, I traveled to India for six weeks to study field ecology and environmental issues of India. Most recently, I spent a semester in Washington, D.C., interning at the White House Council on Environmental Quality with the help of the political science department.

  1. What does this internship with Travois and Tepa mean to you?

My internship is a chance to explore the intersections between housing and economic development in Indian Country and environmental stewardship. My background in environmental studies exposed me to the interconnections between sectors and the benefits of bringing diverse stakeholders to the table to solve problems. Travois and Tepa are excellent examples of interdisciplinary companies providing meaningful and important services to clients.

  1. What do you hope to learn in your internship? What are your future goals?

I hope this internship gives me the ability to enter the workforce with confidence. I plan on getting a master’s degree in public policy and working to advance energy and climate change policy domestically and internationally.

  1. What other past jobs have you had, and what did you learn from them?

Prior to Travois, I worked for the University of Kansas and the White House. At KU, I was the student assistant to the vice chancellor for public affairs. For two years I gained valuable skills in research, brand management, community partnership building, and event planning. At the White House, I interned at the Council on Environmental Quality for the Energy and Climate Change team. While there, I worked with a team of experts to implement the President’s Climate Action Plan.

  1. What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of being the KU 150 banner carrier at the University’s sesquicentennial commencement ceremony.

  1. What did you want to be as a kid?

An artist! And then I realized I have no artistic talent, which is kind of a job requirement.

  1. If someone were to make a movie about your life, who would play you and why?

I like to think Amy Poehler would play me because Amy Poehler is amazing in every single way, and I want to be like her when I grow up.

  1. Who’s the one person who makes you laugh the hardest?

My sister Alexandria! She laughs at absolutely everything, which then makes me laugh uncontrollably.

Fill in the blank:

  1. On weekends, you’ll find me: hiking
  2. My favorite place I’ve traveled was: Karnataka, India
  3. The best gift I ever received was: a green crushed velvet Victorian settee for my 16th birthday — I like to decorate.
  4. My favorite holiday is: Earth Day
  5. I’d love to meet: my great, great, great grandparents
  1. A happy memory is: hiking in the Cascades with my sister
  2. A perfect day for me is: spending the entire day outside with no shoes on
  3. My first car was a: a black Ford Escape with John Lennon stickers
  4. My best and worst habits are: reading/listening to the news every day and reading/listening to the news every day
  1. My claim to fame is: I played Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical my senior year of high school
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