Editorial Team of Democracy & Society
Editors
Evan Mann
Evan is a second-year student in the Democracy and Governance masters program at Georgetown University and Chief Editor of the Democracy and Society journal. His current research interests include democratic backsliding, economic interdependence, and international security. His undergraduate degree is from the University of California, San Diego, where he graduated magna cum laude with a major in Political Science/International Relations and a minor in Human Rights.
Yusuf Can
Yusuf is a second-year student in the Democracy and Governance masters program at Georgetown University and editor of the Democracy and Society journal. His current research interests include corruption, secularism, diplomacy and the politics of the Middle East. His undergraduate degree is from the California State University, Sacramento where he graduated magna cum laude with a major in Political Science and a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. He currently works as a contributor at Aposto News, a local newspaper in Turkey. He previously worked for the State of California as a policy analyst and interned for California State Senator Dr. Richard Pan.
Assistant Editors
Charlene Batlle
Charlene is a first-year Democracy and Governance student and assistant editor of the Democracy and Society journal. She was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba and moved to Miami, Florida when she was a teen. She has a Bachelor in Humanities with a concentration in Politics and Ethics from Bard College Berlin. Charlene’s professional background is in diplomacy and transitions to democracy. She has also worked with Amnesty International in Germany in their advocacy programs to promote human rights for the Uyghurs in China. In the future, she sees herself working for an organization that promotes democracy and peace around the world with the hope that she can one day bring freedom to her native country. Outside of her professional life, Charlene takes workshops in creative writing and cooking courses whenever possible.
Leesa Danzek
Leesa is a first-year Master of Arts student in the Democracy and Government program at Georgetown University and assistant editor of the Democracy and Society journal. Originally from the Los Angeles area, she has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Southern California. Leesa’s professional background is in public affairs and strategic communications, working on media relations, social media, and advocacy campaigns on some of the most contentious California policy issues. She also worked in the California State Assembly and on political campaigns in Southern California. Her academic interests include the role of civil society in democratization and democratic backsliding. Leesa envisions her professional impact to be at the intersection of policy, media, and grassroots organizing, leveraging storytelling in support of democracy. Outside of her work and studies, Leesa is working to improve her Spanish and find the best cafes in Washington, D.C.