Working in small groups, Ethics of Policy Fellows will prepare policy briefs that cover relevant ethical considerations related to policy aims and implementation. The focus this upcoming year is on (1) migration and (2) the environment. Specific themes and topics will be chosen by the Fellows in consultation with Dr Barbara Buckinx, the faculty director, and may include DACA, (climate) refugees, and climate mitigation. Themes change every year. 

2024-2025 Ethics of Policy Fellows

Nathalia Allenza is a senior student from Costa Rica, majoring in sociology and pursuing a certificate in technology. Her academic interest concentrates on studying social policies and social guarantees through the lens of immigration, focusing on how these policies impact different migrant populations in the United States. Additionally, she has previously worked with legal non-profit organizations and the Organization of American States, where she gained valuable experience advocating for immigrant rights and navigating international legal frameworks. Her work involved collaborating with various stakeholders to develop and implement policies to improve immigrant communities' lives. This experience has fueled her passion for studying the intersection of social policies and immigration, giving her a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in this field.

Cooper Austen is a junior from Concord, Massachusetts, studying History and pursuing minors in Latin American Studies, Humanistic Studies, and History and the Practice of Diplomacy. He is interested in the history of Empire since the 16th century, and the lasting impact of imperialism on the Global South. Proficient in Spanish and Ancient Greek, Cooper has also spent time studying languages abroad, first Swahili in Kenya and most recently French in the South of France. Cooper is a Varsity Athlete on the Men’s Track and Field team, serves as Director of Research for the Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy & Finance's Policy Punchline Podcast, and is an undergraduate fellow with the Center for International Security Studies. He has worked as a research analyst for the Atlantic and spent the past summer teaching English at the Kenya Scholar Access Program in Eldoret, Kenya, tutoring refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. Recently he was awarded the Gilder Lehrman College Fellowship in American History.

Alayshja Bable is a junior from Pittsburgh, PA, studying Public Policy and International Affairs with a minor in Values and Public Life. She is interested in Constitutional Law and plans to attend law school after graduation. She was a research assistant with the Bridging Divides Initiative over the past academic year where she helped to track and mitigate political violence in the United States in a nonpartisan manner. She is deeply interested in the ethical complications and moral considerations that arise regarding human rights during armed conflicts and the intersectionality of human rights and policy during these engagements. On campus, Alayshja is a member of the varsity women’s rugby team and a committed member of the Princeton Progressive Law Society. 

Seyoung Choung is a junior from Tamuning, Guam, who is majoring in History. He has previously done work with Princeton’s PACE Center, both as a direct volunteer and an education intern for a partner organization, Princeton Student Agencies, and the Office of Annual Giving. This year, Seyoung plans to continue research on late-19th and early-20th United States imperialism in the Pacific, particularly focusing on American colonial policies and indigenous CHamoru resistance. At LISD, he works with Barbara Buckinx on global governance.

Noah Eshaghpour-Silberman is a junior from San Francisco studying in the School of Public and International Affairs. He is interested in forming cross-cultural links between local and global spheres to create an interconnected citizenry. Noah’s focus centers on the right to self-determination through the electoral process, renewable energy, and the role of geopolitical forces in aviation. This past summer, Noah conducted independent research on strategies to prevent democratic backsliding, which he traveled to Liechtenstein and Austria to present, and supported preparation of an international NGO for UN plastics treaty negotiations. He spent the prior summer in Barcelona crafting policy recommendations for the expansion of Barcelona–El Prat Airport and has previously conducted extensive research on redistricting in the United States. Noah’s regions of interest include California, Romantic Europe, and the Middle East Triangle. He serves as an International Policy Associate, on the New College West College Council, and as founding president of the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Jewish Alliance. Noah speaks English, Farsi, and Spanish.

TJ Eyerman is a sophomore from the Jersey Shore looking to study at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Outside of the classroom, TJ has worked as a campaign, legislative, and policy intern, is a member of the Princeton Civic Leadership Council, and is an officer for Tiger Sustainable Investment Group. Interested in Nordic Affairs and Transatlantic Security, TJ hopes to grasp the dimensions of power involved in global governance as it applies to NATO accession and emerging international organizations. At LISD, he works with Barbara Buckinx on global governance.

Preston Ferraiuolo is a junior studying in the School of Public and International Affairs with minors in Urban Studies and European Studies. He is primarily interested in the role that local governments play in international relations. Preston has interned as a policy and litigation researcher for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, focusing on environmental issues. He has worked in the offices of various New York legislators on issues such as waterfront resiliency, economic development, urban planning, and traffic safety. His interest in European studies led him to his latest research project on the effect of constitutional monarchs and decreasing political polarization as opposed to presidential republics. On campus, he is a columnist and Opinion editor for The Daily Princetonian. In the summer of 2024, he interned with the Bloomberg News Editorial Board. Preston is involved in political organizations on campus, including as Vice President of both the International Relations Council (Model U.N. team) and the Alexander Hamilton Society, and he is a Peer Academic Advisor. Preston is from an Italian-American family and proud to be from Brooklyn, New York.

Harrison Fintz is a junior from New York City in Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs. He is also pursuing minors in Latin American Studies and Portuguese. Harrison is interested in US-Latin American relations, immigration, and economic development policies. Specifically, he aims to better understand the economic factors that drive irregular migration and the role that developed countries, like the United States, can play in fostering sustainable economic growth. On campus, Harrison is a member of the Princeton Model United Nations Team and an ESL teacher for Spanish-speakers through El Centro. He has completed intensive language programs through the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at both the Centro de Iniciação e Aperfeiçoamento de Línguas in Lisbon, Portugal, and Universidad Torcuato di Tella in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In addition, he has also interned at the Office of State Senator Liz Krueger in New York and Proficio Investment in Buenos Aires

Sejal Goud is a senior from Broomfield, Colorado, concentrating in the School of Public and International Affairs and pursuing certificates in Latin American Studies and Spanish Language & Culture. She is passionate about combining public policy analysis and development with storytelling, and will use her senior thesis to explore community relocation as a consequence of our changing environment. Sejal has studied abroad through Princeton in Argentina, is a long-time member of the Science & Society team at the Aspen Institute, and most recently was selected as a Scholar in the Nation’s Service to work at the State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. On campus, Sejal leads the Features section of The Daily Princetonian as Head Editor, teaches English to local immigrants through El Centro, promotes civic engagement with Vote100, and has reflected on ethical community partnerships through Service Focus.

Aidan Gouley is a sophomore from Connecticut studying Politics with minors in History, Contemporary European Politics and Society, and History and the Practice of Diplomacy. During high school, Aidan interned with a human rights organization with consultative status at the UN, supporting their research, outreach, and advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., and at UNHQ in Manhattan. He coordinated events directed at securing official multilateral recognition for genocide in Myanmar, increasing protections and aid for displaced persons, and shaping targeted sanctions policy against human rights violators. His interests focus on multilateral security partnerships and great power competition, as well as the intersection of global conflict and international law, particularly with regard to refugee protections. On campus, Aidan is an Associate Editor for the Princeton Legal Journal, Secretary of the Alexander Hamilton Society, and an Orange Key Tour Guide.

Abigail Leibowitz is a junior from Silver Spring, Maryland, majoring in Political Theory with minors in Values and Public Life and History and the Practice of Diplomacy. She is very passionate about the normative questions behind politics – why do institutions and governments work the way they do and why should they work that way? She sees these questions as crucial for targeting policy towards those it is meant to impact. She has extensively researched public policy through participating in Congressman Jamie Raskin's Democracy Summer program, interning for US Senator Chris Van Hollen, and interning for Maryland Delegate Sarah Wolek. Through these, she saw the complicated questions, conflicting interests, and moral/practical compromises faced by policymakers. On campus, she is a Senior News Writer for the Daily Princetonian and a member of BodyHype Dance Company, and she is involved with organizing educational events with Princeton's J-Street U and Pace Center for Civic Engagement.

Nick Manetas is a sophomore from Richmond, Virginia, intending to major in English with minors in Values and Public Life and Creative Writing. He spent his past summer interning with the Sentry, an investigative and policy organization committed to disabling multinational predatory networks by exposing illicit financial levers that enable bad actors to perpetuate conflict. While much of his investigative work dealt with the ongoing conflict in Sudan, he has also studied American immigration policy as an intern with NumbersUSA, the nation's largest single-issue policy advocacy group. He maintains a keen interest in strategic political communications and hopes to use his writing background to give voice to ethical concerns in politics. At Princeton, he's involved in Club Rugby, leads the Utilities & Infrastructure research arm of Tiger Sustainable Investment Group, plays in a student band, and has contributed writing to the Nassau Literary Review. 

Alexa Marsh is a senior from Great Falls, Virginia, studying Public and International Affairs with a minor in Italian Language and Culture. She is interested in nationalism, illiberalism, and democratic backsliding, particularly in the context of rising far-right parties in (and beyond) Europe. As an undergraduate, she studied in Italian for a semester in Bologna, Italy, researched Russian and Chinese disinformation at the Center for the Study of Democracy in Sofia, Bulgaria, and spent a semester abroad at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. While at the University of Cape Town, she performed research and fieldwork in South Africa and Botswana, working with her research team to write a 120-page policy brief on social protection policies in Southern Africa. More recently, she interned at the Governance and Local Development Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden, where she analyzed and crafted policy briefs on politics and development in the Middle East and North African region.

Mariah Morgan, a sophomore, is a Haitian American from Brooklyn. She is pursuing a major in African-American Studies, with a focus on Race and Public Policy. She is deeply interested in reimagining a new world within the context of the climate crisis and late-stage capitalism. On campus, Mariah is co-advocacy chair of the Black Student Union and outreach and service chair of the Princeton Caribbean Connection. She is also an Eco-Rep for the Office of Sustainability and its Environmental Justice Committee, which addresses the impact of climate change on marginalized communities. This past summer, Mariah worked with the nonprofit Union Settlement in East Harlem. She had the privilege of serving the neighborhood’s mainly Latin-American immigrant population and supported community organizing efforts to improve residents’ lives. After college, Mariah wants to pursue a career in civil rights law and continue to help the vulnerable navigate our inequitable society.

Sicile Naddeo-Gjergji is a junior from Brooklyn, New York, pursuing a degree in Political Philosophy with minors in Italian and Music Performance. Her academic and professional interests focus on the intersection of ethics, policy, and rights. At Princeton, Sicile is a member of the Human Values Forum, where she regularly engages in discussions on contemporary ethical issues.

Beyond her studies in the Princeton Philosophy department and extracurricular involvement with LISD and the Human Values Forum, Sicile has explored her interests in policy and ethics through internships. This past summer, she interned with the Center for the Study of Democracy’s Security Program in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she conducted research on EU drug policy reform. In the past she has also interned with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, focusing on the legal and ethical dimensions of animal rights. Fluent in both Italian and Albanian, Sicile aims to bring an international cultural perspective to her work.

Mikhail Perminov is a prospective major in the Princeton School of International and Public Affairs and planning to minor in Italian Language and Culture and Environmental Studies. Hailing from Boca Raton, Florida, Mikhail is passionate about the ethics of interstate conflict, environmental policy, and labor and international law. Having spent his last summer in Pisa studying Italian culture and society, he is also interested in European affairs. On campus, Mikhail is a member of the European Union Undergraduate Fellows, the Model United Nations team, the P*Law Undergraduate Scholars, and Princeton's Society of Russian Language and Culture, but he is also an avid gym goer.

Ila Prabhuram is a sophomore from Georgia studying Public and International Affairs. Her areas of interest include international law, comparative ethnic conflict, political stability, U.S. foreign policy, and economic development related to South Asian affairs. This past summer, Ila worked on foreign policy as an intern with Pacific Forum International, where she delved into Indo-Pacific relations and authored a research publication on the role of BRICS in the international world order. Previously, she was a U.S. Department of State fellow on diplomacy and foreign policy, worked with the Georgia Department of Education on improving education equity statewide, and advocated for global poverty reduction with the Borgen Project. At Princeton, she serves as a research assistant in the School of Public and International Affairs, U-Councilor for the Undergraduate Student Government, and Publicity Chair for the Naacho South Asian Dance Company. Ila is passionate about addressing human rights abuses and mitigating ethnic violence worldwide.

Alejandra Ramos is a sophomore from Naples, Florida, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico, intending to major in Politics with minors in Translation and Intercultural Communication, Latin American Studies, and a Teacher Preparation certificate. Proficient in Spanish and English, and currently studying Portuguese, she is passionate about U.S. migration policy and its impact on diverse communities. Alejandra has interned at various branches of Legal Aid Service and the Legal Defense and Education Fund, gaining valuable experience in advocating for immigrant rights and providing legal support to adults and children in the foster care system. At Princeton, she translates for asylum seekers, teaches English and civics to recent migrants, and developed a mentorship program for new student immigrants from Latin America in the local community. Alejandra is also actively involved in the Princeton Latin American Student Association, the Princeton Debate Panel, Model UN, the International Relations Council, Rocky Trivia, and the intramural sports team, unatletico madrid.

Nely Rivas is a senior concentrating in Politics and minoring in Latino, Latin American, and Environmental Studies. Nely immigrated from El Salvador at the age of 7 and was undocumented for over 14 years. She serves as a child advocate with the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, has worked on several affirmative and defensive asylum cases, and was a Legislative Intern at the House of Representatives. On campus, she is the Director of Speakers for Princeton Model Congress and is highly involved with the Latino community on campus. Nely is not just interested in the advocacy work surrounding migration, social justice, and human rights—she also hopes to attend law school and ultimately inform policies developed around those areas. At the core of all her work is a passion for community building, a love for justice, and a drive for equity.

Reem Saeed is a sophomore from Denver, Colorado, prospectively majoring in Politics with minors in Philosophy and Religion. She worked under the attorney general of Colorado for the past two summers alongside the Colorado Democratic Party to improve voter-government relations and encourage low propensity voter engagement. Through this, she was on the field and helped the party knock on over 1,000 doors in the United States' most hotly contested congressional district, a majority immigrant community. She has worked on multiple political campaigns in volunteer, administrative, and intern positions. Her interests include the moral and ethical implications of borders in the United States, state-sponsored welfare programs, and sociopolitical attitudes towards immigrants. At Princeton, Reem is also involved in the Princeton Activism and Advocacy Student Board at the Pace Center for Civic Engagement.  

Clare M. Scott is a senior pursuing a major in the School of Public and International Affairs and a minor in Slavic Languages and Cultures, with a focus on the Russian language. She is interested in security studies, defense and nuclear policies, and U.S.-Russian relations. Previously, Clare has interned with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense. On campus, she is Co-President of Brown Food Cooperative, a Community Living Adviser (CLA) in upperclassmen housing, an officer of Princeton’s Russian Language and Culture Club (RUSYAK), and a Circulation Assistant at East Asian Library. Off campus, Clare is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Thomas Strong is a sophomore from Duxbury, Massachusetts, pursuing a degree in Politics with minors in Statistics and Near Eastern Studies. His academic interests include the intersection of climate change and international security, American housing policy, and the history, culture, and politics of the MENA and Sahel regions. On campus, he is a member of the Princeton Debate Panel, is an Orange Key tour guide, competes for Princeton Club Swim, and is a student fellow with the Center for International Security Studies. He is currently studying Arabic, having previously done so in Morocco through the National Security Language Initiative, and he spent his most recent summer working for the Supportive Housing Network of New York, assisting with policy research and lobbying on the city, state, and federal levels. In his free time, he enjoys running, cooking, and turn-based strategy games.

Kate Voltz is a junior in the School of Public and International Affairs from Corvallis, Oregon. She is also pursuing minors in Environmental Studies and Values & Public Life. She is interested in the social distribution of mobility and opportunity, from direct policy topics including education, criminal justice, and environmental justice as well as from a political theory and philosophy lens. After Princeton, she hopes to pursue a law degree and advance civil and environmental protections through advocacy, both within and outside the courts. In 2023, Kate interned at the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, a community-based racial and environmental justice nonprofit, and this summer she worked for the Department of Justice in the Environmental Enforcement Section. She is also an officer for the Princeton Legal Journal, the treasurer of Princeton College Democrats, and a Service Focus Fellow for the Pace Center for Civic Engagement, helping lead a cohort in service learning around incarceration, education, and inequality. In her free time, Kate enjoys being in nature, reading for fun, travelling, and making/listening to music.

Danielle Williams is a junior from Louisiana studying in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and minoring in African American Studies. She is interested in studying the intersection between race and ethical policy making and implementation. This past summer she interned with the National Urban League, assisting in the planning and coordination of events that promoted civic engagement and economic empowerment in African American communities. On campus, she is a Forum Writer for the Princeton Legal Journal, and a member of the Princeton Progressive Law Society.

Joyce Yang is a sophomore concentrating in public and international affairs and minoring in Technology and Society. She has a deep interest in trade, energy, and cybersecurity policy. She has had hands-on experience with US trade policy as an intern at the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Outside of the Ethics of Policy Fellows, Joyce is an analyst for Princeton Undergraduate Capital Partners—a venture capital club where she conducted diligence research on emerging cybersecurity technologies, companies, and policies for a major aerospace company—the parliamentarian for the Alexander Hamilton Society, the co-Assistant Director of Executive Relations for Business Today’s Design Nation, a Center for International Security Studies fellow, and a competing member of Princeton’s Model UN team.