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For immediate release. Questions or media requests should be sent to communications@ppiaprogram.org.  

The Public Policy & International Affairs Program (PPIA) is proud to announce the selection of 83 Fellows for the 2025 PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSI). With an overwhelming number of applications this year, the selection process was more competitive than ever.

Chosen for their academic excellence, leadership potential, and dedication to public service, these Fellows represent 83 institutions across the United States. They will participate in an immersive, six-week summer experience hosted at one of PPIA’s four JSI host sites. The JSI program equips them with the skills, networks, and knowledge needed to pursue advanced studies and impactful careers in public policy, international affairs, and related fields.

PPIA is a nonprofit organization committed to expanding pathways into public service careers. With more than 5,000 alumni, the program has a long-standing legacy of preparing diverse and dynamic leaders who shape policy and governance.

PPIA Fellows receive financial assistance for travel and living expenses during the Junior Summer Institute, along with application fee waivers and scholarship opportunities when applying to graduate programs in the PPIA Graduate School Consortium, a network of over 50 leading public and international affairs programs.

We proudly welcome the 2025 PPIA Junior Summer Institute Fellows to the PPIA community. 

Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University

• Ariana Avalos, University of Southern California
• Muna Barreh, The University of Texas at Austin 
• Shamsa Belgrave, Swarthmore College
• Jaice Britton, Howard University 
• Kaynath Chowdhury, University of Pennsylvania
• Chanell Cuevas, Lehman College
• Tommy DaSilva, Syracuse University
• Jeffrey Davila, Texas A&M University - San Antonio
• Ochuwa Garuba, Vanderbilt University 
• Tatiana Jaimes, Pomona College
• Jade Jaimes-Chavez, University of California, Berkeley
• Olivia Keller, Amherst College 
• Hamza Mahamud, Macalester College
• Ana Marquez, University of Texas at El Paso
• Ethan McBride, American University 
• Ashley Nuñez-Saenz, North Carolina State University
• Brianna Orellana, Adelphi University
• Maysa Osman, Georgia State University
• Sydney Panak, Middle Tennessee State University 
• Corinne Reed, University of Pittsburgh
• Ishimwe Kampe Rushoka, Macalester College
• Amaya Saintal, Syracuse University
• DeVon Thompson, Columbia University
• Grace Tyau, Washington University in St. Louis
• Kermina Wadeh, Vanderbilt University

Harvard Kennedy School  

• Marilu Aguilar, New York University
• Evelyne Aviles Velazquez, Pomona College
• John Laurence Bahia, Columbia University
• Sophia Barghouti, University of Oregon
• Latoya Bartley, Mercer University
• David Felipe, Brown University 
• Mirian Hernandez, Shepherd University
• Nyla Jones, Mississippi State University 
• Hamzah Kerdi, University of California, San Diego 
• Nouhamin Leoulekal, University of California, Berkeley
• Sonia Lumley, University of Notre Dame
• Charity Metcalf, Xavier University of Louisiana
• Esmeralda Nuno Mora, University of California, Berkeley
• Denia Smith, American University
• Jasmin Valdivieso Sanches, University of Rhode Island

Princeton School of Public Policy and International Affairs  

• Darby Burgett, Washington and Lee University 
• Mudjana Colin, The City College of New York
• Kennedy DeVries, Smith College 
• Bryan Fernandez, University of Southern California 
• Victoria Grisby, Middle Tennessee State University 
• Alexis Ibarra, Trinity University
• Subhikshya Lama, University of Southern Mississippi
• Karina Lamadrid Benavides, Centre College
• Girah Lundy-Joseph, New York University
• Reese O'Driscoll, University of San Diego
• Alexandra Odunuga, University of Michigan
• Evelin Ortiz-Munoz, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Sandhya Pise, Beloit College
• Grace Rascon, James Madison University 
• Daniella Reyes, Claremont McKenna College
• Matthew Salas, University of New Mexico
• Emily Sotelo Estrada, Arizona State University
• Neftalem Tesfaye, Amherst College
• Hoang Trung Vu, University of South Florida
• Jonathan Wallace Myers, Loyola Marymount University

The Ford School of Public Policy at University of Michigan 

• Alejandro Bracero, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
• Jared Castaneda, University of California, Irvine
• Joanne Chung, Carleton College 
• Aries Cole, University of California, San Diego
• Rafael Escalante Vasquez, Rutgers University - New Brunswick
• Alexander Galluzzi, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• Nivea George, Mercer University 
• Ahreum Ham, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
• Warisha Khan, Carnegie Mellon University 
• David Leal, University of Hartford
• Johnathan Martir, Williams College 
• Spencer Metz, University of Arizona
• Noah Mojda, College of William and Mary 
• Nicole Pantoja, University of Florida 
• Geralynn Razo, Temple University 
• Mehr Sohal, Middlebury College 
• Samaria Taylor, The University of Texas at Austin 
• Brianna Washington, The University of Wisconsin - Madison
• Josephine Wise, Seton Hall University 
• Ian Wright, Rice University 
• Georgia Youngblood, The University of Wisconsin - Superior
• Ainsley Zapata, Santa Clara University 
• Jorge Zarco Jr., Dominican University