Franklin Scholars Explore D.C. Through an Interdisciplinary Lens

December 15, 2025 Rachelle Garbarine 4-min. read

Franklin Scholars pose with the statue of Albert Einstein at the National Academy of Sciences, a highlight of the trip to Washington, D.C.

Thirty-six Franklin Scholars headed to Washington, D.C., during fall break to connect with four alumni and explore how their dual-degree studies prepare them to address challenges at the intersection of technology and society.

The alumni discussed their professions, offering students insights into potential career paths. They also highlighted the real-world impact of the interdisciplinary thinking gained through the Franklin Scholars Program.

Now in its 32nd year, the program supports students who simultaneously pursue bachelor’s degrees in the College of Engineering and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS), equipping them with broad training and the unique skills needed to solve complex problems. Its graduates have gone on to jobs in industry, academia and government, working as engineers, lawyers, physicians, policy analysts and more.

“One of the challenges the Franklin Scholars Program faces is that although many students are passionate about CHASS subjects, they are often not sure how it will help them in their careers,” said history professor Ross Bassett, who spearheaded the trip, a first for the program. He added that the Washington D.C. experience helped students understand the career advantages of having a CHASS degree.

Bassett said that since the scholars are scattered across diverse majors in both colleges, the trip also afforded them opportunities to get to know one another better. The College of Engineering’s Engineer Your Experience (EYE) Program funded the trip.

During the trip, the group met four alumni who spoke about their careers in government, law, engineering, and public service, and emphasized the importance of non-technical skills to their success. Communications emerged as a major theme, emphasizing that effectively conveying ideas can be just as important as having technical expertise.

Franklin Futures

Meet the four alumni who spoke to the students on the Washington, D.C., trip about their careers and emphasized the importance of non-technical skills to their success.

Tomás Carbonell ‘02 has degrees in economics and chemical engineering. He works with the Environmental Defense Fund; previously, he was with the Environmental Protection Agency. He described his involvement in regulating air pollution and fighting for clean air.

Zack Hester ’11 has degrees in political science and aerospace engineering. Hester heads the U.S. office of the international consulting firm Nova Space. He discussed how his degrees helped him navigate the complex technical and political worlds of the space industry.

Doug Jones ’01 has degrees in materials science & engineering and multidisciplinary studies, public policy and ethics of technology. Jones is chief technology officer for the defense sector at Leidos, a global security company. He emphasized the importance of telling a story about oneself in pursuing positions or making potential clients understand that their needs were understood.

Brooke Wilner ‘16 has degrees in English and aerospace engineering. She is an intellectual property lawyer at a large international law firm. She said her engineering degree got her the job, but she uses her English degree every day.

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In Washington, students also visited the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences, where staff discussed wicked problems, which are complex issues with no obvious solutions, and the importance of communicating to the public what engineers do.

Doug Jones, a 2001 Franklin Scholar who earned degrees in materials science and engineering and multidisciplinary studies, was among the alumni who spoke with students. Jones is senior vice president and chief technology officer for defense systems at Leidos, a global security company. He oversees technology strategy, R&D investments, and develops solutions ranging from undersea drones and missile defense radars to AI-enabled systems and satellite payloads for the Department of Defense.

Jones said he hoped his talk provided students with valuable insights into career development and how their Franklin Scholar experience prepares them in unexpected ways. He noted that careers often take non-traditional paths, but if students pursue meaningful work and collaborate with enjoyable colleagues, things typically work out well. He also encouraged them to develop a healthy work-life balance and build trust and a personal brand with colleagues and leadership.

About his dual degree, Jones said it showed him that effective solutions require technical expertise plus an understanding of government, public policy, and legal and regulatory frameworks. He emphasized that the people and communication aspects of projects are often the hardest, and success depends on engaging stakeholders and addressing social, psychological and policy factors.

“Having the combination of studies has shaped my entire career, and how effective I have been in delivering new capabilities for everything from NASA to the FBI to the Department of Defense,” he said.

His remarks resonated with many students, expanding their vision of the possibilities for their own careers. Grace Jaeger-Sandruck, a senior majoring in French and industrial and systems engineering, said: “I am really interested in working in health systems, and this trip left me thinking about the different ways I could explore the intersections among engineering, technology, healthcare and the social sciences.”

So, are similar trips planned for the future? “We hope to make trips such as this, where we can travel to cities with a concentration of Franklin Scholar alums, a tradition,” said Bassett.