As a political science undergraduate student, McCabe looks to enter policy making field post-OSU
Ryan McCabe
By Quinn Keller, CLA Student Writer - March 3, 2025
Ryan McCabe, a political science and applied journalism undergraduate student, grew up with policymaking in his backyard. A resident of Washington’s state capitol, Olympia, both of his parents worked in government-related jobs. But McCabe’s interest in policy making stems from a motivation to improve people’s well being.
“I’m looking to better understand how and why public policy is crafted and implemented,” explained McCabe. “Then, using that knowledge, I want to use my voice, or writing, to inform the wider public.”
In high school, McCabe enrolled in the Washington State Legislature’s Page Program, which places students in Senate or House legislative offices to learn more about the legislative process. McCabe interned with (former) State Senator Dean Takko, representing District 19 (SW Washington).
“I was more or less a ‘paper pusher’, however, seeing the inner workings of the legislature was captivating,” said McCabe. “In addition to attending senate sessions and listening in on debate, the day-to-day operations of policy making, working to improve the livelihoods of SW Washington’s residents, was fascinating.”
McCabe chose OSU, but OSU also chose McCabe. Recruited to row, McCabe was also looking to stay in the Pacific Northwest, hoping to continue to explore its pristine beauty and participate in outdoor sports, particularly mountain biking. Now, in his sophomore year, McCabe rows in both four and eight-man boats. During his high school club rowing career with Olympia Area Rowing, the COVID-19 Pandemic forced rowers into individual boats, which was new to him.
“The teamwork aspect of rowing disappeared overnight” explained McCabe. “I slowly began to learn to love other aspects of the sport. When you're in the single by yourself, I learned how I could push myself physically. Then it became an obsession with trying to push myself to be better, to set goals and achieve them. The ability to say, ‘I want to go this time at this race,’ and then work hard for it and then execute it at a race is the best feeling ever.”
As part of the School of Public Policy and School of Writing, Literature, and Film, McCabe’s political science major (focused on international relations) and applied journalism minor puts him a position to choose his own adventure after graduating, but for right now, he’s focused on balancing his studies with rowing, in addition to working for The Daily Barometer.
“I try to compartmentalize everything,” he explained. “I see rowing as a weird form of therapy. I can rip my heart out on the water. When I'm rowing, I don't think about school. When I'm at school, I don't think about rowing. When I’m at practice, I focus on practice. When I'm at school, I'm thinking about school and when I'm at work, I'm thinking about work.”
For the future, McCabe is considering law school, the foreign service, or becoming a journalist. Planning to study abroad in Germany, McCabe looks to focus on the issue of climate change in whatever field he chooses to enter.
“Climate change is the issue of our time,” said McCabe. “I want the U.S. to be a leader in finding ways to combat climate change, as well as dispel misinformation and create a more educated and compassionate world.”