Public Policy major Ben Lowen named PLS Outstanding Senior for 2026

April 15, 2026 - Karessa Weir

Ben Lowen is leaving Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in Public Policy, all the experiences he could cram into three years and wise words from his current boss.

“Go to bed tired,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer told Ben, an intern in her constituent services office this semester.  

“I had lunch with the governor, and we were talking about how to keep going after the (2024) election. She told me that for her, it was to work as hard as she could every day,” Ben said. “That when you spend the day doing all you can and go to bed tired, that’s when you are can sleep.” 

Ben, a Public Policy major, with minors in Urban & Regional Planning, Economics, and Environmental Social Science, has been living this advice his entire college career. For this and other accomplishments, Ben is this year’s Political Science Outstanding Senior as selected by the department. 

Originally from Grand Rapids, Ben spent his first college year at Loyola University Chicago where he majored in philosophy, math and theater. It didn’t take him long to realize it wasn’t for him.  

He left Chicago and joined AmeriCorps, spending the year working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) responding to disasters across the country. He visited nearly every state, helping dig people out of debris and gaining a love of public service.  

“I love policy and working at those levels but sometimes it’s just good to get your hands dirty,” Ben said.  

When he decided to return to college, he selected Michigan State University specifically for its Public Policy major and the reputation of the Michigan Government Semester Program, which offers internships with state legislators, government agencies and nonprofits combined with talks by policy experts in Lansing.  

Ben has a strong interest in environmental policy that expanded to include urban planning and land use. His path was influenced in part by one of his mentors, Dr. Josh Sapotichne who gave him a taste for the policy process. 

“He made me want to get out and implement policy now,” Ben said. “I knew I wanted to get a degree and get into policy as soon as I could.” 

Also impacting Ben’s scholarship and career goals is Dr. Marty Jordan who leads MGSP.  

“Ben is an exceptional student and an exemplary departmental citizen whose academic excellence and deep commitment to public service make him truly deserving of this honor,” Jordan said.  “During his undergraduate studies, Ben has completed four internships: one with the Governor, one with the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and two with state legislators. I’m not aware of many undergraduates who have completed four internships during their academic studies. Simply put, Ben is awesome!” 

Ben spent two years working with PLS Professor Sarah Reckhow researching civic education reforms. 

"I am grateful for getting to know Ben and work with him during the past two years. He is a truly outstanding and exemplary student—combining intellectual curiosity with a serious commitment to public service and engagement. We worked together on research, with Ben helping to shape the project's analysis of how states and localities adopt civic education reforms. In addition to his coursework and internships, Ben has gone the extra mile to get involved in politics locally," Reckow said.

Aside from his internship and full load of classes, Ben serves as vice-chair of the East Lansing Housing Commission and is on the board of the MSU Student Housing Cooperative. He is on the e-board of the Spartan Housing Alliance and is working toward creating a queer homeless shelter called A Place for Us in Lansing. He even has started his own political action committee. 

Previously he has worked with Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes and Energy and Michigan House of Representatives as well as PIRGIM Campus Action. 

“My advice to other students is to follow wherever your passions fall. MSU is a great place to get a lot of experience,” Ben said. “Just go for it. Do everything and let yourself fail.” 

Following graduation, Ben plans to move to Baltimore, Maryland, where he is hoping to confirm a job with the mayor’s office or state government.  

“I love what the mayor is doing (in Baltimore) and want to both get experience and contribute to all they are doing,” Ben said. “But I will always call Michigan my home.”