By: Izzy Grace
When Shang (Sun) Shen stepped into the U.S. Capitol as a legal intern for the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability in the summer of 2024, she was already recognized at Princeton University for her rare combination of legal precision and political insight. What few realized at the time was that her months in Washington, D.C., would place her at the center of some of the nation’s most consequential investigations — from the Secret Service’s failure to protect former President Donald Trump to the Department of Defense’s mismanagement of the V-22 Osprey aircraft program.
For Shen, who holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from William & Mary Law School and is pursuing a Ph.D. in political science at Princeton University, these experiences underscore her conviction that law and governance must work hand in hand to safeguard the nation’s security and uphold democratic accountability.
“Public service is not about titles — it’s about responsibility,” Shen said in an interview. “Whether you’re in a courtroom, a classroom, or the halls of Congress, you have the same duty: to strengthen trust in our institutions.”
As one of only three law students selected nationwide for the prestigious congressional internship, Shen worked closely with senior attorneys and congressional investigators to analyze testimony, draft legal memoranda, and prepare questioning materials for hearings broadcast live on C-SPAN and Fox News. Her work during these televised oversight hearings placed her alongside leading members of Congress, where she helped evaluate evidence and coordinate responses to the press.
Those who have worked with her note that Shen’s ability to link precise legal reasoning to broader policy implications distinguishes her from many of her peers. Her combined expertise in law and political science has enabled her to navigate complex national issues through both analytical and institutional perspectives.
Before her work on Capitol Hill, Shen’s commitment to public service had already taken shape within New York’s legal and educational systems. In 2020, she served in the Litigation Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, where she worked alongside state attorneys and prosecutors on civil suits defending the legal interests of New York’s government agencies and judiciary. Her performance earned her an official certificate of completion as well as recognition for her analytical precision and commitment to justice.
During her law studies, Shen was also invited to join the Cornell Law School First Amendment Institute as a Summer Research Scholar, where she contributed to litigation aimed at expanding judicial transparency and reinforcing constitutional protections for the press. The case later drew coverage from the Albany Times Union and Cornell Law School’s official news site, both of which highlighted her contributions to the lawsuit’s success.
Even before entering law school, Shen’s commitment to public education was already evident. In 2016, while studying at Cornell University, she participated in a prison education initiative, teaching Mandarin Chinese to inmates at a maximum-security prison in upstate New York. “It was one of the most human experiences I’ve ever had,” she recalled. “Education has the power to rebuild lives — it reminds people that they still have potential and dignity.”
Her early exposure to both education and governance would later shape her interdisciplinary philosophy: that lasting reform must be informed by both policy insight and compassion. Today, at Princeton, Shen brings that same conviction to her teaching. As a Head Teaching Assistant for courses such as U.S. Foreign Policy and Introduction to International Relations, she has led instructional teams and mentored hundreds of undergraduate students. Her approach blends real-world policymaking experiences with theoretical analysis, earning her wide recognition from students and faculty alike.
Shen’s career trajectory also reflects her growing leadership within national academic associations. She is an active member of the American Political Science Association (APSA), the Law and Society Association (LSA), and the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA). At the Northeastern Political Science Association (NPSA), she is slated to chair the 2025 panel on Global Governance, leading discussions among professors, policymakers, and researchers on the future of international cooperation.
Through each role — whether teaching in Princeton classrooms or working in the heart of Washington — Shen has consistently sought to connect her scholarship with public service. Her work continues to reinforce the idea that academic research can directly inform public decision-making, helping to ensure that policy debates remain grounded in rigorous evidence and ethical consideration.
“Serving the public is the foundation of every democracy,” Shen said. “The laws we interpret and the policies we debate all come down to one goal — to improve people’s lives. That’s what keeps me motivated every single day.”
As she continues her doctoral research and prepares for a future at the intersection of law, governance, and education, Shen stands as a reminder that the most powerful form of leadership is grounded not only in knowledge, but in service.
