Emma Altrichter
Emma Altrichter is a third-year student graduating in Spring 2024. She is a political science major with a specialization in political theory. Outside of academia, Emma is interested in acting and the arts; she has been in five shows over the course of her time at American. Following graduation, Emma hopes to stay in the Washington D.C. area pursuing a career in government relations.
Trevor Anderson
I am a graduating senior majoring in CLEG and Economics originally from Austin Texas. At American, I studied Economics and CLEG, where I combined precise and methodical analytic skills with the broad range of study CLEG offers to traverse topics and domains in research and writing. My research has focused on emerging domestic threats in the days after January 6, 2021, as well as methods of combating homegrown terror through early adolescent intervention. After graduation, I will commission into the Army Reserve as an officer and I intend to pursue a career with the federal government. I am passionate about combating America’s enemies at home and abroad, and I intend to devote my life to making America a better and safer place.
Walter Ankner
Walter is from South Orange, New Jersey graduating with a double major in Economics and International Studies.
Caroline Arnette
Caroline is a public health (B.S.) student and will be attending graduate school at George Mason University, pursuing a degree in infectious disease microbiology. She has participated in the AU crew team as a coxswain and sculler, and is sitting Vice President of the AU Disabled Student Union. She is currently an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Izumi’s HIV-1 research lab.
Vishwa Bhatt
Vishwa Bhatt is a first-generation South Asian and a graduating senior with a passion for the intersection of data and public policy. She hopes to work at the crossroads of these two fields to use the power of data to advance policies that she is personally passionate about. She is graduating with a BS in Data Sciences for Political Science and a minor in Computer Science. After graduating from American University, she will be pursuing her Master’s degree in data science at Columbia University.
Skye Bluestein
Skye Bluestein (they/them) is an Honors student from Massachusetts who is a part of the combined BA/MPA program for a BA in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration, as well as a member of the SPA Leadership Program. In their time at AU, Skye has loved to be a part of productions with the Department of Performing Arts in addition to their political science and public administration work. They will be continuing their studies next year in American University’s MPA program.
Isabella Brooke
Isabella Brooke is a senior from Medfield, Massachusetts majoring in History with a minor in International Studies. She has focused her studies around human rights and genocide studies. Isabella is a member of the AU Honors Program and the College of Arts and Sciences Leadership and Ethical Development Program. She is the President of the AU Body Neutrality Coalition and a CAS Peer Advisor; she has also been a TA for the Honors Program and worked with campus organizations such as She’s the First, Sunrise AU, and Peace Jam. Off-campus, Isabella is a nanny and intern for Witness For Peace Solidarity Collective. Isabella also studied abroad in Paris, France last Spring semester and cannot wait to travel more after graduation and find a job in the field of international human rights!
Madyson Brown
Madyson is a senior honors student at American University. She is pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and is working towards a Leadership Certification from the School of Public Affairs Leadership Program. She is going to be attending law school in the fall with a focus on cybersecurity.
Minta Caune
Minta Caune (she/her) is a senior in the School of International Service, concentrating on national security and foreign policy. She is originally from East Brunswick, New Jersey. Her academic interests include surveillance, counterterrorism and intelligence studies. She is also very interested in Baltic security because of her family’s Latvian roots. At American University, she has been involved in the Women’s Rugby team, the Pericles Institute, the Roosevelt Network and the AU Honors Program. She has also worked as a research assistant for the Research on International Policy Implementation Lab (RIPIL) and has interned with the Department of Defense and the New Jersey State Police.
Ryan Cervinka
Ryan is an SPA student from Sacramento, California. He is graduating with a degree in Political Science with an Economics minor. Ryan is particularly interested in Congress and elections.
Lia Chien
Lia Chien will graduate this spring with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Education Studies as part of the Honors College. She is passionate about storytelling in local communities and uplifting underrepresented voices. Originally from Vermont, she has worked at two of the state’s largest newsrooms, covering the 2022 midterm elections and the major July 2023 flooding. She was also a press intern for U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and was accepted to the Dow Jones News Fund Digital Media program in 2022. After graduation, Lia will be a Capitol Reporting Fellow for States Newsroom.
Nancy Ching
Nancy Ching is a senior at AU studying Computer Science with a concentration in Software Engineering and a minor in Graphic Design. Some previous experience done includes an engineering internship and machine learning research at an REU.
Collin Coil
Collin Coil is majoring in mathematics and data science. During his time at AU, he worked as a research fellow at the AU Center for Data Science, harnessing the power of machine learning to tackle challenges across diverse fields. His expertise spans reinforcement learning, deep learning, and large language models, leading to groundbreaking publications in cheminformatics, finance, political science, and theoretical machine learning. Collin collaborates with diverse stakeholders to develop innovative AI solutions, leading discussions on AI governance, algorithmic fairness, and building trustworthy AI systems. He will be obtaining his doctorate in Complex Systems and Data Science at the University of Vermont as one of the inaugural Presidential Doctoral Fellows.
Matthew Colucci
Matthew Colucci (he/him) is a graduating senior from Long Island, New York, He is majoring in International Studies with a primary concentration in environmental sustainability and global health, along with a secondary concentration in peace, global security, and conflict resolution. He has a personal interest in the convergence of water politics and Middle Eastern environmental conflict resolution. After graduating from American University this May, Matthew hopes to continue his foray into the global community while teaching English to high school students in Spain.
Maddy deVega
Maddy is a third-year Psychology student, minoring in Education. She is involved in the Honors Student Advisory Committee, serves on the CAS Undergraduate Council, and works as a peer facilitator for the AUx Program. After graduation, she will be working as a Special Education teacher in San Jose, CA through the Teach for America program. Maddy hopes to work in Education Policy or Education Law in the future. Outside of work and school, she loves to play with her dogs, play board games, and watch romcoms.
Lia Dolive
Lia Dolive is a Pure Mathematics major in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is from Cincinnati, Ohio, and moved to DC to attend AU. Throughout her time at American University, she participated in multiple research projects, internships, and fellowships. Post graduation she will be teaching middle school mathematics in Baltimore. She will also be earning her master’s in Educational Studies and getting her full teaching certification at Johns Hopkins University.
Chandler Eby
I come from a small, rural town in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There, I have been involved in local politics and recruiting young people to run for local office. I managed a PAC that aims to combat political extremism, something that has become more of a concern particularly in the area in which I come from. I am majoring in Political Science and graduate this spring.
Neal Franklin
Neal Franklin is Foreign Language and Communication Media student looking to follow Journalism as a career. He has reported on Indigenous communities, LGBTQ+ rights and housing issues. He reports on larger issues like pollution as it impacts people on the local level. While in college he has worked for the student media publication AWOL and sings in AU Chorus.
Diana Gertsenshteyn
Diana Gertsenshteyn is an SIS and Economics graduate originally from Marlboro, New Jersey. Upon graduation, she will be joining Bank of New York Mellon as a Securities Services and Digital Analyst before heading to law school and hopefully practicing some form of cyberlaw. She hopes to create a career out of handling the legal, ethical, market, and social implications of emerging technologies such as AI. During her time at AU, she held positions at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Albright Stonebridge Group, Hanover Communications, Kroll, the U.S. Department of State, and the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence.
Thomas Goldstein
Thomas Goldstein is a graduating member of the AU Honors Program and the SIS Honors Program, and Sigma Iota Rho. While in SIS, Thomas was an active member of the American University International Relations Society and an Olson Scholar, where he researched private authority in global climate governance. He is currently finishing an internship with the Center for European Policy Analysis.
Valeria Gonzalez
Valeria is a senior at American University majoring in International Studies and minoring in Communication. Professionally, she’s interested in studying the U.S’s evolving foreign policy relationship with East Asia, specifically China. Throughout her time at AU, Valeria has pursued various opportunities, both on and off-campus. Last spring, she studied abroad in Brussels, Belgium and interned for B2EU Consulting, a firm specializing in European Union Affairs. She’s also served as the Assistant VP of Communications for AUCatholic and works as a Sophomore Community Coordinator for the Honors Program. Valeria is currently a Content Strategist Intern at the U.S Department of State, where she hopes to pursue a career in public diplomacy. In her free time, she enjoys developing her video production and editing skills.
Emma K. Grubb
Emma K. Grubb (she/her) is an International Studies and Anthropology student, with focused interests in inequality and development, migration, identity, and interpretive research. At American University, she participated in the SIS Olson Scholars research program where she produced research on the construction of critical theory in IR scholarship, worked as a research assistant at Kogod on two projects concerning digital identity, one of which she was named a co-author, and serves as the Student House Advisor for the SIS Department of Global Inquiry. She hopes to use these experiences and curated skills of inquiry to pursue future education and research, and offers profound gratitude to the professors and mentors who have fostered her love of learning during her time at AU.
Sy Hargis
Sy Hargis is a senior majoring in Economics and Mathematics. At AU he worked as a research assistant at the International Policy Implementation Lab and was a teaching assistant for the math workshops and calculus II. He is very involved with the AU Club Cross Country Team. After graduating he is planning to work in economic policy research.
Kaniya Harris
Kaniya Harris is a senior at American University, pursuing a double major in Justice, Law, & Criminology (JLC) and Sociology, with a minor in Business & Entertainment and a certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies. She has served as the Director of Students for Change (SFC) for three years and the Co-President of the Black Student Union (BSU) for two consecutive years. In addition to those roles, she holds executive leadership positions in the AU Experience, Girl Up DMV, Advocates for Youth, Pro-Choice Maryland, and Montgomery County NOW Chapter, showcasing her commitment to various causes. Kaniya is super passionate about racial justice, sexual violence prevention, and reproductive justice.
Katie Hausman
Katie Hausman is a senior majoring in International Studies with a regional focus in Europe and a concentration in environmental sustainability, along with minors in Environmental Science and German Language. Her time at AU consists of multiple positions in AmeriMUNC and WIRC, along with various campus jobs and a congressional internship. She is a member of the Honors Program, along with Phi Beta Kappa national honors society and Sigma Iota Rho, the international relations honors society. Studying abroad in Germany her junior year, she cemented her interest in transatlantic politics and hopes to work at the intersection of European and climate policy well into the future. After graduation, she is excited to accept a US Teaching Assistantship through Fulbright Austria and help support educational opportunities in southern Austria.
David Bailey Hobbs
David Bailey Hobbs is a senior at AU studying Political Science and Music and is originally from North Attleboro, MA. At AU, his research has focused on the relationship between politics and the Internet, studying the impact of online political advertising and social media on elections. As a concert pianist, Bailey won the 2023 AU Concerto and Aria Competition and finished in second place at the 2022 Mary Graham Lasley Scholarship Competition.
Isa Iiams
Isa is an international studies major focusing on justice, ethics, and human rights. Through her involvement in SIS Honors and AU Honors, she has researched the intersection of media studies and international relations in papers like “SVU’s Response to Global Events Involving Race,” “Media Representations of the Grand Tour Period in England,” “Cultural Diplomacy in Television,” “Review: can Big Bird Fight Terrorism,”and “Archetypes of Asian Women in Western Media.” As evidenced by her Senior Capstone, pop culture is formative in her personal and educational life, and she hopes to destigmatize popular media in academia. She is also interested in the concept of social capital having investigated how residents of Williamsburg, Brooklyn understand gentrification through the social and economic capital framework, along with papers on recidivism and the role of social capital in reintegration. After graduation, Isa hopes to work in international criminal justice and international education.
Yasmine Jaffier
Yasmine Jaffier is a fourth-year Honors student at American University with a major in the interdisciplinary studies of Communications, Legal Studies, Economics, and Government (CLEG). Additionally, she has a minor in African-American and African Diaspora Studies (AFAM), and a Credential in Digital Technology.
Alexandra Kallaher
Alexandra Kallaher majored in Religious Studies and minored in International Studies. She has held a multitude of community campus roles, including being a resident advisor for two years and a teaching assistant for Honors. She is the editor in chief of the Philosophy and Religion Department’s undergraduate/ graduate journal: Pharmakon. After graduation Alexandra is attending Harvard Divinity School and pursuing a Masters in Religion, Ethics, and Politics.
Joyce Lee
Joyce Lee is a senior from Vienna, Virginia, graduating with a major in International Studies with a minor in Economics. During her year abroad at King’s College London, she studied International Economics. Her interest in the intersection between foreign affairs and economics resulted in her work centering around the management and politics of innovative technologies. Joyce’s capstone, via Diplomacy Lab, was in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, honing in on how the U.S. can better safeguard its Critical Infrastructure sectors amid evolving technologies such as AI. Joyce also worked in the Solutions Engineering department of AU’s IT department. As the Digital Accessibility Assistant, she ensured university documents and websites were accessible to WCAG standards. Moreover, she started to work on a Microsoft training program for AU faculty on maintaining accessibility across digital platforms, both in and out of the classroom. Outside of AU, she loves spending time with her miniature schnauzer, Indie!
Lily London
Lily London is a graduating senior in the School of Public Affairs with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies: Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics and Government with a minor in history. During her time at AU, she has explored different areas of interest such as, history, education policies, and judicial reform. She most recently worked with the History Office at the Departments of Veteran’s Affairs which allowed her to dig into the long history of the office and explore its impacts on the population. Additionally, she had an internship with the Department of Education in the Office of Educational Technologies learning more about the use of technology and AI in the classroom. Post-graduation Lily hopes to work in program management in the humanities field.
John Madore
I am a literature major and studio arts minor, who has used the intersect between written and visual creative formats to solo produce and create unique works. I wish to create novels and animations that instill positive messages in people without sources of guidance.
Tylette Martinez
Tylette is a senior graduating in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is double majoring in History and Literature, specifically in the Transcultural Studies tract. She has presented her work at the Robyn Rafferty Mathias Student Research Conference and is part of the Literature Department Outreach Committee. Her work focuses on analyzing pop culture through an intersectional lens. She hopes to continue her work in graduate school after taking a brief break from academia.
Samir Matin
Samir Matin is a double-major graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and Economics. His interests lay between international trade and transitional justice in countries with regime changes.
Ashkon Mogharei
I’m currently a third year at American University enrolled in a combined MPA/BA program, through which I’m graduating with my Bachelors in Political Science this May and Masters in Public Administration next May. I work an internship at the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Agency (HSEMA) in the preparedness bureau where I help design inter-agency trainings and preparedness plans for other emergency management specialists. I also hold a position on the Honors Student Advisory Board as the DEI coordinator. Personal interests include hiking (I love the trails on Great Smoky Mountains), playing videogames, and doing calisthenics.
Kevin Morales
Kevin is a senior at American University finishing his degree in political science. He has completed several internships in Washington, D.C. at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, the United States Senate, local law firms, and at DNC-affiliated organizations. His work explores the intricacies in speech writing and the distinct components involved in crafting a speech. After graduation, Kevin hopes to return to the U.S. Senate and work on environmental and resource policy.
Lovette Ogie
I am a 4th year Honors student majoring in Business Administration with specializations in Business Analytics and Information Systems.
Krissy Oliver-Mays
Krystalynn Oliver-Mays fell in love with literature before she knew how to read herself. Her childhood was filled with sneaking books under the cover past bedtime and reading romance novels way before she could understand the plotlines. Krystalynn is a proud Carolina girl with New Jersey roots who currently resides in Washington, DC as she finishes her undergraduate degree in Transcultural Literature from American University. When she’s not reading you can find Krystalynn in the kitchen as she has now taken on the role of being the resident baker. Her friends and family enjoy the tasty treats that she can make but kindly remind her when it comes to cooking a meal that she still has a long journey ahead of her before receiving a 5-star review. Good thing she is not vying for Gordan Ramsey’s spot and is sticking to literature.
Elliott Parrish
Elliott Parrish is an Honors student of Public Affairs. He is also a member of the SPA Leadership Program. Elliott has been accepted to the combined BA/MA program in Political Communications, and will become a full-time master’s student next semester.
Kawika Pegram
Kawika Pegram, 22, is a Senior at American University double majoring in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government (CLEG) and Criminal Justice. Originally born in Hawai‘i, he has spent many years in the Philippines and Las Vegas, NV. He returned to the islands for highschool.
Kawika’s roots are in community organizing, where he first learned about policy and the ways his community can get involved in the process. He strongly believes that change is ground up and the places we come from play a fundamental role in how we view and shape our world. When he’s older, Kawika would like to go back to the islands and open a civic center for young people to have a space to organize and get involved in local issues.
Emma Pilz
Emma Pilz is an Honors Psychology student from Chittenden, Vermont. Emma came to AU to pursue a career in research psychology. Emma has worked in several areas of psychology research, including learning and behavior, digital media and child development, and well-being. Currently, she is researching animal models of learning and drug use. Here, her research has earned her the 2023 Robyn Rafferty Mathias Student Research Conference Award. Emma is also the President of AU’s Psychology Club, serving as a professional mentor and peer leader for psychology students at AU. After graduation, Emma will be working at the National Institute of Drug Abuse, researching the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction. After which, she plans to pursue a PhD in research psychology.
Lori Rampani
Lori was born in Hollywood, Florida, but raised in São Paulo, Brazil. She moved back to the U.S. for college, where she developed a passion for political journalism. Throughout her college career, Lori worked at multiple media organizations, and she just finished her one-year long internship with NBC News: Capitol Hill team. Lori spent her third year of college at Sciences Po Lille, in France. A polyglot, she is fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French.
Connor Reed
I am a graduating senior obtaining a data sciences degree in political studies. Looking at qualitative issues through a quantitative lens reveals a deeper level of analysis, and I seek to adapt this mindset in pursuit of my MPP in health policy over the course of the next year here at American University. After graduation, I intend to continue my work in the pro-freedom space by training candidates to run for state and local office who abide by principals of good governance and pro-democracy ideals.
Ava Reisman
Ava Reisman is currently in her final semester at American University, studying Communications, Law, Economics, and Government with a minor in Spanish. She is originally from Boulder, Colorado, and enjoys spending time outside, reading, and playing music. She spent her junior year at the London School of Economics Law School, and looks forward to joining a law firm as a litigation paralegal after graduation. Throughout her time at American, Ava has interned for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, The Colorado Attorney General’s Office, The Kennedy Center, and the Colorado Democrats.
Annika Rennaker
Annika Rennaker (she/her) is a senior at the School of International Service minoring in Creative Writing. Her main interests areas have been focused within migration and climate policy with a primary concentration in global and comparative governance. Throughout her time at AU, she is grateful to have been involved as a tutor for DC Reads, a reviewer for Clocks and Clouds, and to have published her creative work in AMLIT. She has also enjoyed working two semesters as a Program Leader for University College. Post-graduation she is excited to travel and spend some time at home in Colorado before returning to DC to pursue a career in foreign affairs and humanitarian work.
Cassie Rodrique
Cassie Rodrique (she/her) is a graduating Political Science and Sustainability student at American University. She is focused on pursuing climate policy and community engagement after graduation. At American University, she is a leader of the Zero Waste Club and plays the saxophone in the AU Pep Band. In her free time, she enjoys running, playing music, embroidering, and spending time in nature.
Izzy Scholes-Young
Izzy Scholes-Young (they/them) is a senior at American University pursuing a dual degree in Spanish Studies and Literature with a Transcultural Concentration. They are the president and co-founder of AU’s Disabled Student Union, a space for disability affinity and advocacy on campus. They are also a lead organizer for Everybody Eats DC, a student-run mutual aid that serves hot meals at DC encampments on a weekly basis. Izzy has previously worked for the Maryland General Assembly and Free the Pill and their organizing interests reflect the intersection between reproductive rights and disability justice.
Jordan Scoggin
Jordan Scoggin is a Chinese major and pursuing a Spanish Translation Certificate at American University. She is passionate about researching and learning foreign languages and cultures and their impact on translation studies. She has served as a Resident Assistant for one year and worked at the Language Center for three years. Jordan is also a Core Leader for Understanding Chinese Culture and Society with Professor Zhang. She has received the CAS Undergraduate Achievement Award. She plans on taking a gap year to work in language intelligence before pursuing a master’s degree in Translation and Interpretation.
Emily M. Shapcott
Emily is an Honors Literature student from Princeton, NJ. Personal highlights from her undergraduate career include working as an assistant at the AU Library, directing in the Rude Mechanicals variety show and spending a year as an Oxford University visiting English student.
Jo Spurgeon
Jo Spurgeon is an AU Honors student graduating Summa Cum Laude, with a BS in Neuroscience and a minor in Biology. Her research efforts have been split between classical molecular biology, computational genomics, and cancer immunology. Over her undergraduate career, she has examined the intersection of synaptic aromatase and electrical activity in the zebra finch brain, in addition to examining differential gene expression as a result of sex and estradiol manipulation. Additionally, she has experience with brain cancer immunology, focusing on non-conventional T cell subsets such as NKT and MAIT cells. Post, graduation Jo will be a Postbac Fellow for two years at the NIH where she will continue her work in cancer biology. Following her postbac, she plans to pursue an MD/PhD, specializing in oncology and cancer immunology.
Brady Tavernier
Brady is graduating from American University’s School of Public Affairs in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in CLEG: Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government.
Scarlett Wedergren
Scarlett is passionate about improving the nation’s public health preparedness. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, she is a double major in business administration and public health. She discovered her passion for public service while interning with the American Red Cross, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Healthcare Ready, AU’s Emergency Management department, and a clinic during her study abroad experience in Nairobi, Kenya. Scarlett is a recipient of the university’s 2023 Achievement Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Service and was a Truman Scholar finalist. Upon graduation, she will be joining Guidehouse in McClean, Virginia as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Ian Whitehouse
Ian Whitehouse is a student in the computer science department at American University. He is primarily interested in machine learning, especially in the domains of human-machine teaming, signal processing, and machine planning. He is the author of three peer-reviewed publications and previously presented at the Naval Applications of Machine Learning conference. He is attending the University of Maryland College Park next year for doctoral studies in computer science.
Johneé Rendia Wilson
Johneé is a fourth year AU Honors student, Gilman Scholar, and Director of Training at One Common Unity in DC. She began this photo-journalism in 2019 by taking candid photographs of African American Fathers with their children across the District of Columbia. The photos were intended to shift the narrative about Black fatherhood [in a broadband of civil society] as they are caregivers and performers of reproductive labor (i.e. surrogate parenthood) in their own right, even when the the threats of police brutality, incarceration, and rising rates of mental health conditions are facing them on a quotidian basis. She has a wonderful relationship with her own father, who subtly taught her that, “Everything has a place.” She is hoping to find her place as a researcher and ethnographer and will continue this research beyond AU.
Isabelle Wittmann
Isabelle Wittmann is majoring in International Studies with a concentration in global economics. She studied at the London School of Economics during her third year and is moving to London after graduation to work there.
Katherine Wurst
Katie Wurst is a honors senior from Orlando, FL pursuing dual degrees in Film & Media Arts and Business Administration with a Marketing specialization.
Throughout her time at AU, she has been a student of both the university-wide and Kogod-specific honors programs, the Digital Comms. Assistant for the Office of University Advancement, President of the Marketing Association at American University, Peer Consultant at the Center for Professionalism and Communications, Creative Director at SOC3, member of Beta Gamma Sigma, performer with AU Improv, and has studied abroad at ICADE in Madrid, ES.
When she is not busy doing all of that (which is, like, never), Katie enjoys trying to complete every available NYT mini crossword, running her freelance marketing and design company, and listening to music no one else likes.