Maddie Brown Shirley is a second-year Master of Public Policy Student specializing in fiscal welfare. She grew up in Washington State and received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She completed post-baccalaureate studies in Economics and Public Policy at Central Washington University. Maddie has work experience spanning fiscal and social policy, as well as operations. Post graduation, she hopes to continue her work in economic security and fiscal sustainability. She is also passionate about running and creating fun memories with friends in D.C.

Samantha Marcotte is a second-year Master of Public Policy student concentrating in Social Policy with a background in policy, advocacy, and nonprofit fundraising. Samantha graduated from American University in 2021 with a BA in Political Science and a certificate in Leadership Studies. Throughout her time at GWU, Samantha has worked at the National Partnership for Women & Families, the American Sustainable Business Network, and the Data Foundation, where she has contributed to multiple research projects and had her writing published. In her free time, she enjoys walking her pitbull Quinny around D.C., reading thrillers/nonfiction/essays, and doing yoga classes.

Sierra Stoney is a current PhD student at the Trachtenberg School. Her research focuses on equitable community development and inclusive policy co-production. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Mary Washington and master’s degrees in applied economics from Georgetown University and public policy from the University of Chicago Harris School. Sierra is also the Manager for Impact and Research with Partners for the Common Good, a national community development financial institution. She has previously worked as a research analyst with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Regional and Community Analysis team and the Urban Institute’s Metropolitan Housing and Communities policy center; demographer for the City of Alexandria, Virginia; and director of a statewide affordable housing pilot program in Indiana. 

Laiba Khalid is a second-year MPP candidate with a concentration in Science and Technology Policy. Her research focuses on AI governance and emerging policy challenges. She currently works as a Communications Assistant at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. Originally from Pakistan, she brings two years of experience in the media and policy sectors. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and watching movies.

Vannia Yalan is a Master of Public Administration candidate at the George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. She serves as a Writer for Policy Perspectives, contributing to both the print journal and online blog. Originally from Peru, Vannia brings five years of experience working across Canada, the United States, and Latin America in areas of justice advocacy, sustainability, and international development. Her professional background includes collaboration with organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV). Her research interests center on the intersection of public administration, social equity, and science and technology policy, with a focus on improving governance and citizen trust in institutions. Beyond her academic and professional work, she is passionate about storytelling, photography, and cultural diplomacy.

Tia Vontver is one of Volume 33’s Policy Perspectives authors, writing on the topic of economic justice in climate policy in her article “The Economic Equity of California’s Cap-and-Trade Program”. Tia has a BA with honors in Environmental Studies from the University of Washington and is pursuing her MPP with a concentration in Environmental Policy at GWU. Tia is also working at the environmental nonprofit Trust For Public Land as an Administrative Project Coordinator on the Federal Relations team to expand outdoor access for all. Her interests lie at the intersection of climate change, environmental science, environmental justice, and public policy. In her free time, Tia likes to ski, hike, swim, bike, camp, backpack, run, and enjoy board game nights with her friends. 

Paulo Carvalho is currently a fourth-year PhD student at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, concentrating in urban policy. Prior to starting his doctorate,
Paulo worked for almost twenty years as a tax lawyer in Brazil. Paulo received his LLM in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center and is interested in understanding the relationships between urban densities, housing policies, and property taxes.

Zach Benzaoui is a second-year MPP student at GW. He is focusing on social policy, urban policy, and policy analysis, and he is interested in leveraging public policy to improve government responsiveness to the material needs of the public. He has completed previous internships at the Brookings Institution and the Government Accountability Office, and he is excited to learn from his peers at Policy Perspectives. In his free time, Zach enjoys watching movies, listening to music, and experiencing all of the culture that the DMV has to offer. 

Ruoxi Lyu is a Ph.D. candidate in Gender and Social Policy at the Trachtenberg School, George Washington University. Her research focuses on gender-based violence, reproductive justice, population policy, and East Asian social policy.

George Doehne is a first-year MPP student in the Environmental Policy field of study. Prior to
entering the program, he worked for three years as a paralegal in whistleblower law for
plaintiffs’ firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll. In his spare time he enjoys running and hiking,
birding, editing Wikipedia, and open-source cartography.

Lara Kowalcyk is a second-year Master of Public Policy student concentrating in international environmental policy. She graduated from Wellesley College with majors in math and environmental studies. During her time at Trachtenberg, she has interned with the National Parks Conservation Association, World Resources Institute, and the Office of the New York State Attorney General. In her free time, Lara enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, and exploring new coffee shops.

Mücahid Aykut is a first-year PhD student in Public Policy and Public Administration at the George Washington University. He holds a BA in Political Science and Public Administration with a double major in International Relations, and an MA in International Relations from Kadir Has University (Türkiye). As part of his master’s studies, he spent a term at Coventry University (the UK) as an Erasmus exchange student. He previously worked for six years as a research assistant at Altınbaş University (Türkiye) and served for four years as an associate editor of the Aurum Journal of Social Sciences. His research interests include public policy analysis, regulatory policy, and program evaluation with a focus on government efficiency and savings programs.

Thakur Bhanu Partap prefers to go by Bhanu, which means ‘The Sun’. He’s an international student from India pursuing a Master of Public Policy (MPP). An engineering graduate who pivoted his studies to follow his passion for policy-making. He is interested in geopolitics and multilateral organizations and looks forward to specializing in International development. Also, a yoga enthusiast. 

Maddie Brown Shirley is a second-year Master of Public Policy Student specializing in fiscal welfare. She grew up in Washington State and received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She completed post-baccalaureate studies in Economics and Public Policy at Central Washington University. Maddie has work experience spanning fiscal and social policy, as well as operations. Post graduation, she hopes to continue her work in economic security and fiscal sustainability. She is also passionate about running and creating fun memories with friends in D.C.

Giovanna Calderon is a first-year Master of Public Administration (MPA) student concentrating in Non-Profit Management. She works full-time as a Senior Program Associate and DOJ Partially Accredited Representative with the Children’s Program at Amica Center for Immigrant Rights. Giovanna holds an MA in Ethics, Peace, and Global Studies; a BA in Law and Society; and certificates in Politics, Policy, and Law as well as Advanced Leadership Studies from American University. Her research focuses on policies related to housing and immigration, with a particular focus on Unaccompanied Children. Giovanna lives in Washington, DC, where she enjoys spending time outdoors, baking, or visiting her dog, Dolce, in New York!

Samantha Marcotte is a second-year Master of Public Policy student concentrating in Social Policy with a background in policy, advocacy, and nonprofit fundraising. Samantha graduated from American University in 2021 with a BA in Political Science and a certificate in Leadership Studies. Throughout her time at GWU, Samantha has worked at the National Partnership for Women & Families, the American Sustainable Business Network, and the Data Foundation, where she has contributed to multiple research projects and had her writing published. In her free time, she enjoys walking her pitbull Quinny around D.C., reading thrillers/nonfiction/essays, and doing yoga classes.

Leo Martin is a second-year MPA student concentrating in Politics, Policy, and Administration. Originally from the United Kingdom, he grew up in Sydney, Australia, and earned his undergraduate degree in History from Carleton College. Since graduating in 2018, Leo has held a variety of roles with Democratic campaigns and political action committees, and currently works for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). His policy interests include macroeconomics, labor rights, and transit. He is also passionate about classic films.

Saumya Mutatkar is a second-year Master of Public Policy student specializing in social policy. She currently works as a Legislative Analyst at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, where she supports policy research, legislative tracking, and strategic advocacy efforts. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside, with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Affairs. In her free time, Saumya enjoys reading, drawing, and puzzling with friends.

Miguel Ramon Hermosillo is a first-year Master of Public Policy student at the Trachtenberg School. He is from San Jose, California, and graduated with honors from San Jose State University with a bachelor’s in Political Science. His research interests focus primarily on energy policy and infrastructure, drug addiction and treatment, the proliferation of criminal organizations in Mexico, and Latin American security issues. Outside of school, he spends his free time trying to find new things to do around the city, cooking new recipes, going to concerts, and finding good Mexican food in D.C.

Lydia Woodley is a first-year MPA student with a concentration in Managing State and Local Governments and an interest in infrastructure. She is from Ocean City, Maryland, and graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in Public Administration and Public Service with minors in Social Justice Theory and Business Administration. She is a Wolcott and Women’s Leadership Fellow. Currently, Lydia is an intern with the Department of Transportation, bringing past experience in budget policy and political fundraising. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, crocheting, and reading.

Vannia Yalan is a Master of Public Administration candidate at the George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. She serves as a Writer for Policy Perspectives, contributing to both the print journal and online blog. Originally from Peru, Vannia brings five years of experience working across Canada, the United States, and Latin America in areas of justice advocacy, sustainability, and international development. Her professional background includes collaboration with organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV). Her research interests center on the intersection of public administration, social equity, and science and technology policy, with a focus on improving governance and citizen trust in institutions. Beyond her academic and professional work, she is passionate about storytelling, photography, and cultural diplomacy.

Jacob Carson is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the Trachtenberg School. He graduated with a degree in Finance and a minor in Behavioral Economics from the University of New Haven, where he was Captain for his Track & Field and Cross-Country teams. Jacob’s past experiences include researching policy and political data for Gary Goodweather’s DC Mayoral campaign, consulting for startup tech companies and think-tanks, and publishing a research paper on a state school-choice program in an academic journal. After graduation, Jacob aims to use his finance knowledge to promote government and policy efficiency in order to address societal inequities. In his free time, Jacob can be found running, playing basketball, reading, and cheering on both UCONN basketball and the New York Jets.

Adrienne Davis is a first-year Master of Public Policy candidate within the Trachtenberg School, on track to receive a certificate in Regulatory Policy and Practice. Originally from Washington, D.C., she recently graduated from Towson University with a degree in Healthcare Management, minoring in Business Administration. She currently serves as the Quality, STARS, and Risk Adjustment Project Coordinator for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield’s national account, with a focus on initiatives aimed at closing care gaps and enhancing effective member outreach. She also has experience in small insurance brokerages and customer relationship management (CRM) at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She hopes to transition into government affairs, working on social and educational policies that impact her fellow native Washingtonians. Outside of work and school, she enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling, and attending concerts.

Mary Macklem is a first-year Certificate in Budget and Public Finance candidate at the Trachtenberg School. She most recently worked for the National Endowment for the Humanities as a Senior Program Officer in the Division of Research, where she led a portfolio of grant programs for faculty at HBCUs, HSIs, and TCUs and served as the co-chair of the NEH HBCU Working Group. Mary holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (Music History) and a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Music and Italian, with Distinction). She lives in Montgomery County, Maryland, and enjoys going to museums and concerts, and exploring the outdoors.

Tosha Skolnik is a second-year Master of Public Policy student concentrating in Social Policy. A lifelong District resident, Tosha is proud to have served his community as Senior Research Analyst for the DC Council’s Committees on Labor and Housing, and as a Legislative Assistant for Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George. While at the Trachtenberg school, Tosha has applied himself through client-based program evaluation projects for the Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships, Miriam’s Kitchen, and Friendship Place. He earned his BA in History and Policy Studies from Grinnell College.

Cyrus Unvala is a second-year Master of Public Administration student. He is a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard and has served on buoy-tending and ice-breaking vessels in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes, and the Antarctic. He holds a B.S. in Marine and Environmental Sciences from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, an M.A. in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). In his free time, Cyrus enjoys exploring the District by bicycle and participating in any other outdoor activities.

Zoha Zafar is a first-year Master’s in Public Administration student and a native of the DMV area. She graduated from American University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Law & Society. Currently, she works as a project specialist for the Campagna Center’s Wright to Read program. Zoha is passionate about youth and family advocacy and completed her AmeriCorps VISTA service year with the City of Alexandria’s mentoring partnership.