Rory Gaudette is the current Economic Fellow at Third Way. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Rory earned her B.A. in Economics and Government from the University of Texas at Austin. As an undergraduate, she developed an early interest in how public institutions influence economic opportunity. After graduation, Rory served as an Operations Coordinator at Austin Achieve Public Schools, where she used data to improve transportation services for students across the district. This role deepened her interest in the practical applications of policy and motivated her move to Washington, D.C., to pursue her MPP at Georgetown University. During her time at Georgetown, Rory served as a Research Associate on a faculty-led project examining the impact of the Child Tax Credit on family health outcomes and provided academic support for her peers as a Teaching Assistant for a core economic policy course. These experiences strengthened her commitment to using evidence-based policy to improve economic outcomes. Beyond her interests in policy research, Rory enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and knitting.