Our Alumni

Nicholas Albano

Education: B.A. BYU-Idaho

Interests: Conflict and Democracy Relationship, Ethnic Conflict and Peace, Democratic Backsliding, Nonviolent Movements, Peacebuilding

Alexander Baker

Education: B.A. Political Science & International Studies, University of Kentucky

Interests: Democracy Assistance, Populism in Europe, and Media Development

Maeve Edwards

Education: B.A. Political Science, Minor in Economics, Mary Baldwin University

Interests: Authority, Government, and Political Economy

Marianna Jardim

Education: B.A. Social Communications — Journalism and Minor in International Politics, PUC-Rio

Interests: Electoral Systems, Democratization, Comparative Politics

Augusto Ceasar Pedro Jo

Education: B.A. Philosophy at Arrupe Jesuit School of Philosophy and Humanities – Harare
B.A. Theology at Institut de Théologie de la Compagnie de Jésus ITCJ – Abidjan

Interests: African Politics and Governance

Ruby Karki

Education: B.A. Farleigh Dickinson University

Interests: Civil Society engagement, Political Theory, Development, and the Philosophy of Classical Antiquity.

Joe Laposata

Education: B.A. Government, Minors in Theology and Performing Arts, Georgetown University

Interests: Electoral Fairness, Voting Systems, Democratic Backsliding

Bowen Qi

Education: B.A. Political Science, University of California Irvine

Interests: State Failure, Post-conflict peacebuilding, Rise of Populism & Populist constitutional reform

Michael Bongani Reinders

Education: B.A. Law, University of Pretoria, L.L.B. Honours in Political Science, University of Pretoria L.L.M., University of Pretoria

Interests: Southern African politics, Education policy Reformation, Social justice advocacy, Decolonization

William Ritchey

Education: B.A. Political Science & International Affairs, Minor in History, Certificate in LGBT and Gender Studies, Northern Illinois University

Interests: Conflict and Democracy Relationship, Ethnic Conflict and Peace, Democratic Backsliding, Nonviolent Movements, Peacebuilding

Isabella Wilkinson

Education: BSc International Relations & History with Mandarin Chinese, London School of Economics

Interests: Local Governance, Political Development & State-Building

Hannah Akuiyibo

Education: B.A. in Political Science, Bob Jones University

Interests: African Politics, U.S.-Africa Policy, Subnational Democratization, Elections, and Public-Private Partnerships

Henry Atem

Education: M.A. Electoral Policy and Administration, School of Advanced Studies, Pisa – Italy. Graduate Certificate, Election Administration, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota 

Interests: Strengthening the integrity of election administration

Chris Comer

Education: B.A. Political Science and Entrepreneurship, Miami University

Interests: Southeast Asia, Civic Education, Social Entrepreneurship

William Condon

Education: B.A. Political Science, Sonoma State University, USMC The Basic School, USMC Ground Supply Officer Course, USMC Marine Corps Advisor Course

Interests: Latin America, Corruption, Military Support for Democratic Institutions  

Asma Ghribi

Education: Faculté des Lettres, des Arts et des Humanités- Manouba University

Interests: Democratic transitions, Human rights and religious freedom in the Middle East and North Africa region

Yuchu He

Education: B.A. Government and International Relations, BNU-HKBU United International College

Interests: Asia and the Middle East; Democratization; Foreign Policy; Public Opinion and Civil Society

Joe Cho-Han Hsiung

Education: B.A. Political Science, National ChengChi University

Interests: East Asian politics, Cross-strait relations, Democratization, Political parties

Matison Hearn-Desautels

Education: B.A. Political Science & International Studies, Bryn Mawr College

Interests: Middle East and African politics, States and Human Rights 

Grayson Lewis

Education: B.A. Political Science, Certificate in History, Minor in War and Society, Virginia Tech

Interests: US National Security Process, Disinformation, Political Parties

Ben Lynch

Education:  B.A. Philosophy & Political Science, concentration in International Relations, Rice University

Interests: Technology and Governance, Democratic Transitions, Post-Conflict and Failed States, Political Theory

Hashim Pasha

Education: B.A. International Relations & Arabic, Tufts University

Interests: Diplomacy, Negotiation, Anti-Corruption, Elections, South Asia, Middle East

James Placius

Education: B.A. In International Politics, Penn State University

Interests: International Security, U.S. foreign and defense policy, Democracy and Post-conflict reconstruction policies

Habiba Shebita

Education: B.A. Political Science & Middle Eastern Studies, Minor in International Relations, Rutgers University 

Interests: Middle East, U.S. Foreign Policy, Transitional Governments, Democratization, and Human Rights

Riaz Akbar

Education: Forman Christian College

Interests: Democracy promotion and the politics of South Asia and Middle East.

Rick Ferreira

Education: B.A. Political Science, University of Florida, Certificate of specialization in International Relations.

Interests: International Relations, Political Theory, Security, Sino-Russian Politics, Russo-Japanese Politics, Historical Evolution, Democratic Diffusion, Populism.

Han Wool Jung

Education: B.A. International Political Economy, Pennsylvania State University

Interests: Effect of corruption on the process of international democracy. Future of political relationship between Asia and the Western world.

Abby Parish

Education: B.S. in Political Science and Cultural and Global Studies; Middle East and Islamic Studies, Central Michigan University.

Interests: Democratization of the Middle East, Authoritarianism, Rule of Law, Elections, and Human Rights.

Avram Reisman

Education: Colby College 2013- political philosophy.

Interests: Democratic stability, democracy as development, civil strife.

Allison Schlossberg

Education: B.A. International Affairs from The George Washington University.

Interests: Corruption, Electoral Reform, Political Parties/Institutions, Latin America.

Katie LaRoque

Education: B.A. Political Science & Government, Mount Holyoke College

Interests: International development, business development, democratic transitions, Eurasia, elections, competitive authoritarianism

Manuel Ayulo

Education: B.A. Political Science and Government, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú

Interests: Contentious Politics, Corruption, Natural Resources, Institutionalization

Ryan Bennet

Education: B.A. Political Science/ International Relations, UC San Diego

Interests: Elections, civic engagement, conflict resolution, disinformation, regions: Asia-Pacific, Europe and Eurasia.

Evan Chiacchiaro

Education: BA in International Relations, Tufts University

Interests: American democracy, democratic transitions in the Middle East, global authoritarianism and populism

Kate Kizer

Education:
B.A. Middle Eastern and North African Studies, UCLA

Interests:
Accountability and Justice, Intersection of Political Violence and Governance, U.S. Foreign Policy

Dessy Raufiana Pramit 

Education: Bachelor of Political Science, Universitas Indonesia, MA in Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University

Interests: Asian Politics, Elections, Political Parties, Ethnic Politics, Corruption

Emerald Litke

Education: B.A. Political Science, Minors: French and German, University of Mississippi

Interests:  U.S. Foreign policy, International Government Relations, Democratic and Authoritarian Processes, Human Rights, U.S. Military Relations

Monica O’Hearn

Education: B.A., Romance Languages and Literature, University of Notre Dame
M.A., Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2016)

Interests: Transparency and Anti-corruption, advocacy, Civil society strengthening, Social accountability

Sundar Ramanu

Education: B. Tech in Electrical Engineering, Shiv Nadar University, India (2015), M.A. in Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2017)

Interests: Role of constitutions and courts in shaping rule of law and the political economy, political institutions, immigration.

Yufei Zhang

Education: B.A. Theatre Arts and Filmmaking, Hainan University, China (2010) M.A. Media, City University of Hong Kong (2011)

Interests: Political Institutions, Quantitative Data Analysis, Macro-economics                                                       

Lauren Burke

Education: 
B.A. Political Science, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL

Interests:
Entrepreneurship, Local democracy

Tyler Knarr

Education: 
B.A. Government, Arabic and a Certificate in Arab Studies, Georgetown University

Interests:
Democratization, political transitions and development, politics in the Middle East.

Sam Maynard

Education: 
B.A. Political Science (Honors), Manmouth University, New Jersey

Interests:
Argentine politics and party institutionalization, democratic transitions, and authoritarianism.

Javier Pena

Education: 
B.S. International Politics, Georgetown University

Interests:
Human Rights, Latin America, and Religion

Sibghat Ullah

Education: 
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.), University of The Punjab, Certificate in Policy and Program Development, Johns Hopkins University

Interests:
Democratization of sub-national level governance bodies, formal recognition and modernization of existing traditional civil society institutions.

Cabell Willis

Education:
B.A. History, minors in Writing, French, and Philosophy, Virginia Military Institute.

Interests:
Education and democratic development, religion and government, freedom of press, speech, and thought; political parties; civil society

Ugur Altundal

Education:
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2015) 
Political Science and Public Administration, Middle East Technical University,

Interests:
Democratic theory, political legitimacy, and multiculturalism

Matthew Mainuli

Education: 
B.A. English Literature and French, Trinity College
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2015)

Interests:
Democratic transitions, Middle East and North Africa, political philosophy.

Kellen McClure

Education: 
Political Science, University of Vermont
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2015)

Interests:
Africa, civil society development, U.S. democracy and governance policy, ethical leadership

Maria Regina Reis

Education: 
Law – UnB, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2015)

Interests:
Corruption

Weiyi Wang

Education: 
B.A. Politics and Administration, China University of Political Science and Law
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2015)

Interests:
Civil society in China and Sino-EU relations

Jonathan Evans

Education:
B.A. Music, Brigham Young University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2014)

Interests:
European Integration, United Kingdom, Democracy and Governance 

Kaitlyn Creegan

Education:  
B.A. Rutgers University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2014)

Languages:
English

Claire Robertson

Education:
B.A. Political Science & International Relations, University of Pennsylvania
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2014)

Interests:
Civil Society, Political Parties, Local Government 

Kate Krueger

Education:
B.A. Political Science, International Affairs & Italian Studies, Saint Louis University (2012)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2014)

Languages:
English

Meagan Moody

Education:
B.A. Political Science, Wellsley University (2012)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2014)

Interests:
National Security, Women’s Leadership, Education Reform

Adam Peterson

Education:
B.A. Anthropology, St. Mary’s University (2006)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2014)

Languages:
English, Spanish

Erika Hernandez

Education:
B.A. International Relations, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City (2006)
ICPSR program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research (2014)

Interests:
Democracy Promotion, Civil Society, Research Methods  

Josh Linden

Education:  
B.A. International Affairs, James Madison University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2013)

Interests:
Elections and electoral systems, transitional states, Africa, innovative tools for social organizing and citizen advocacy.

Eli Lovely

Education:
B.A. International Relations, Wheaton College (MA)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2013)

Interests:
Political risk analysis, economic and political development, US-Turkey relations.

Andrea Murta

Education:  
Social Communications and Journalism, Federal University of Minas Gerais
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2013)

Interests:
U.S. foreign relations, Middle Eastern politics, political science, journalism.

Rachel Santos

Education:  
B.A. International Relations, African Studies, University of California – Davis
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2013)

Interests:
Post-conflict reconstruction, institution-building and civil society, Africa.

Patrick Sell

Education:  
B.A. Political Science, University of Florida (2007)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2013)

Languages: English

Stephany Warner

Education:  

B.A. Political Science, English, SUNY Binghamton

Interests:
The impact of religion on civil society and governance.

Trishna Velamoor

Education:  
B.A. Political Science (Law, Societies, and Justice), University of Washington
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2013)

Genève Bergeron

Education: 
B.A. Government, Georgetown University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
Arabic, English

Shuang Bin

Education:  
B.A. Philosophy, Wuhan University, China
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
Chinese, English

Ayesha Chugh

Education:  
B.A. Political Science, Scripps College
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, French, Hindi

Robert Colvin

Education:  
B.A. Political Science, History, Washington University in St. Louis
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
Arabic, English, French

Linsey Crisler

Education:  
B.A. Political Science, Brigham Young University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, Spanish

Imara Crooms

Education:  
B.A. Political Science, Rutgers
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Kevin Dunlevy-Wilson

Education:  
B.A. Political Science, Philosophy, Colorado State University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georget

Languages:
English, Spanish

Santiago Edwards

Education:  
B.A. Political Science, Public Policy, Universidad Diego Portales
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, Spanish

Drew Gripp

Education:  
B.A. International Relations, History, University of Delaware
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
Arabic, English, German

Chris Jackson

Education:  
B.A. Government and Politics, University of Maryland – College Park
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, Italian

Sookyung Koo

Education:  
Political Science, Ewha Womans University (Korea); American University in Washington, D.C.
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, Korean, Chinese

Jungmin Lee

Education:  
Political Science and Diplomacy, Pukyong National University (Korea)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, Korean

Yuan Li

Education:  
TV Production, Communication University of China
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, German, Mandarin

John Morrill

Education:  
B.A. Political Science, University of California-Irvine (2006)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, Thai

Liza Prendergast

Education:
B.A. History, The George Washington University (2005)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, French

Daniel Steiman

Education:
B.A. Political Science, Bucknell University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2012)

Languages:
English, Hebrew, Spanish

Colleen Bickel

Education:
B.A. Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University

Languages: English

Deborah Brown

Education:
B.A. Political Science/Human Rights, Barnard College, Columbia University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
Arabic, English, French

Maggie Brown

Education:
B.A. Politics, The Catholic University of America
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
English, French

Marcelo Buitron

Education:
B.A. Political Science and Economics, Vassar College
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
English, Italian, Spanish

Elizabeth Cutler

Education:
B.A. Politics, Occidental College
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
English, Spanish

Osama Eisa

Education:
B.A. Political Science and History, Rochester Institute of Technology
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
Arabic, English, Japanese

David Jandura

Education:
B.A. Political Science, North Carolina State University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
Arabic, English, French

Mariel McKone Leonard

Education:
B.A. International Relations and Religion, College of William & Mary
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
English, French

Zvisinei Sandi

Education:
Political Philosophy, University of Zimbabwe
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
Arabic, English, French, Shona

Meghan Stringer

Education:
B.A. Sociology, Hamilton College (2007)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
English, French, Japanese

Samuel Tadros

Education:
B.A. Political Science, International Relations, The American University in Cairo
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
Arabic, English

Guillermo Vallejo

Education:
B.A. Political Science, Loyola University Chicago
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2011)

Languages:
English, Italian, Spanish

Lara Alameh

Education:
B.A. Middle East Studies, George Washington University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages:
Arabic, English

Deborah Alimi

Education:
B.A. Humanities Studies, Sorbonne (2007)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages:
English, French, Spanish

Denis Cosgrove

Education:
B.A. Politics, The Catholic University of America (2004)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages:
English, Italian, Spanish

Dylan Diggs

Education:
B.A. Political Science, Johns Hopkins University (2008)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages: English

Melinda Haring

Education:  
B.A. Political Science, Grove City College
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages:
English, Russian

Kitty Kaletsky

Education:
English Literature, Oxford University
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages:
English, French

Christopher Knox

Education:
B.A. Political Science, Stetson University (2006)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages: English

Danielle Pearl

Education:
B.A. International Affairs, University of Georgia (2006)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages:
English, French, German

Lindsay Robinson

Education:
B.A. Political Science and International Relations, Dickinson College (2008)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages: English

Andrea Salerno

Education:
B.A. Management of Public Administrations, Università Commerciale ‘Luigi Bocconi’ (2004)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages:
English, Spanish

Emily Siedlak

Education:
B.A. Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs, Miami University (2008)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2010)

Languages:
English, Spanish

Mohammed Al-Ghanim

Education:
B.A. Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies, Tufts University (2008)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009)

Languages:
English, Arabic

Ellen Magnarelli

Education:
B.A. Political Science and Government, Le Moyne College (2006)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009)

Languages:
English, French, Italian, Spanish

Austan Mogharabi

Education:
B.A. Political Science and Government, Claremont McKenna College (2007)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009)

Languages: English

Ieva Notturno

Education:
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009)

Languages: English

Jack Santucci

Education: B.A. Political Science, McGill University (2005), M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009) Ph.D. Government, Georgetown University (2017)

Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish

Ruici Tio

Education:
B.A. Political Science, The University of Chicago (2005)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009)

Languages:
English, German, Spanish, Indonesian

Anand Varghese

Education:
B.A. English Literature, Media Studies & Psychology, Christ College, Bangalore, India (2005)
B.A. Journalism & Mass Communication, Arizona State University (2007)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009)

Languages:
English, Hindi, Malayalam

Andrew Vasile

Education:
B.A. Political Science, Boston College (2006)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009)

Languages:
English, Spanish

Miki Wilkins

Education:
B.A. Government, Georgetown University (2001)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009)

Languages:
English, Arabic, Greek, Spanish, French, Turkish

Johanna Womer Benjamin

Education:
B.A. Political Science, Boston University (2005)
M.A. Democracy and Governance, Georgetown University (2009)

Languages: English

Daniel Adams

Caitlin Helfrich

Jennifer Hollinger

Kyle Layman

Andrew Mandelbuam

Christopher Neu 

Evan Smith

Erin Spitzer