Jackson Rice

University of California, San Diego, School of Global Policy & Strategy

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master's in International Affairs

Jackson is embarking upon his Master of International Affairs degree at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS), where he will be concentrating his studies on International Economics and China. After growing up in San Diego, CA, Jackson attended UC Berkeley and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Society and Environment with Highest Distinction. During his time at Berkeley, he worked as a writing tutor at the University’s Student Learning Center. After graduation, he received a scholarship to study Mandarin in Taiwan from 2021-2022. His background working in education and his love for his time studying abroad solidified his desire to pursue an international career in public service. Jackson comes to GPS with a plan to specialize in China and, upon graduation, utilize his Mandarin skills and training to work in diplomacy and policy analysis on U.S.-China relations.

Marja Ritchie

Texas A&M University, Bush School of Government & Public Service

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master's in International Affairs

Marja Ritchie is pursuing a Master of International Affairs at Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government and Public Service. In 2016, Marja graduated from Tufts University with a degree in East Asian Studies. While there she was a peer counselor and led the Tufts branch of Liberty in North Korea. She also studied abroad, learning Mandarin at Zhejiang University, and earning the prize for the junior with most improved academics. After graduating and moving to Lishui in China’s Zhejiang province, Marja spent three years teaching a variety of subjects at Lishui University. While there, she developed and taught a western calligraphy course, which she taught in Mandarin. In addition, she translated exhibits and trained staff at the Lishui Museum of Photography. After moving to Taipei in 2019 to teach young learners, she spent time learning Taiwanese Sign Language, Atayal traditional crafts, and also performed with a local community choir. While at the Bush School, Marja will explore China’s relationships in the Asia-Pacific region.

Grace Pettey

University of Maryland, School of Public Policy

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master's of Public Policy

Grace Pettey is beginning her Master’s of Public Policy degree program at the University of Maryland’s (UMD) School of Public Policy. This degree builds on her Bachelor’s in Political Science and her minor in Business Economics from the University of Notre Dame. Upon graduation from Notre Dame, she performed two years of national service as an AmeriCorps volunteer at College Possible in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she became deeply involved in and passionate about access to education. Pursuing her interests in education and cross-cultural exchange, she moved to Kigali, Rwanda as an English Teaching Assistant through the Fulbright Program. When the nine-month grant ended, she chose to stay in Kigali and continued working in the areas of copyediting, curriculum development, and communications for an additional three years. Most recently, she worked at African Leadership University (ALU), named the most innovative company in Africa by Fast Company in 2019, first as a learning facilitator and later in communications within the CEO’s office. Working with youth from across the continent sparked Grace’s interest in Africa’s increasingly critical role on the global stage as its population is young, growing rapidly, and developing leapfrog technological innovations. She is interested in promoting the United States’ foreign policy agenda in Africa and serving as an ambassador between American and African interests.

Olivia Parker

University of Maryland, School of Public Policy

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master's of Public Policy

Olivia Parker is completing a Master’s of Public Policy at the University of Maryland’s (UMD) School of Public Policy. In 2021, she graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Chinese and a minor in French. Surprisingly she walked and received her diploma in Taipei, Taiwan, where she finished her studies as a Boren Scholar and interned for a policy think tank. Apart from her academics, Olivia has worked as a Senior College Correspondent for National Public Radio. For the past eight years, she has produced many stories covering events in the Phoenix valley. As a correspondent, she also taught journalism, audio, video, and multimedia production to high school students in an after-school program through the station. Originally from Phoenix, AZ, she finds joy in telling people’s stories and finding new ways to be part of her community.

Robert Livingston

Texas A&M University, Bush School of Government & Public Service

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master's in International Affairs

Robert Livingston is pursuing a Master of International Affairs degree from The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University with concentrations in International Politics & Grand Strategy and American Diplomacy & Foreign Policy. He also will be pursuing a regional focus on China. Robert studied Asian Cultures and Languages (Chinese) and Taiwan Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated magna cum laude, with Honors, and as a Presidential Scholar. During his undergraduate career, Robert also excelled athletically, earning All-Conference Honors for Longhorn Wrestling, and was an active member of the Austin community, volunteering in hospice and as the founder, president, and coach of a student athletic organization. Upon graduation, Robert was awarded a scholarship from the government of Taiwan to study Mandarin intensively for a year in Taipei at the world-renowned Mandarin Training Center at National Taiwan Normal University. After completing his language studies, Robert was awarded a second scholarship from the Taiwanese government to study political science. Hailing from the US-Mexico border and having lived in China or Taiwan for a total of eight years, Robert speaks Spanish and Mandarin at advanced levels. Robert previously worked as an editor and journalist covering current events, business, and culture in Beijing, China.

Abigail Huie

Texas A&M University, Bush School of Government & Public Service

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master's in International Affairs

Abigail (Abby) Huie is pursuing a Master of International Affairs at Texas A&M University’s (TAMU) Bush School of Government and Public Service, focusing on international development and economic policy. Abby graduated summa cum laude in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University, double-majoring in Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Communications and Journalism. In her time at Texas A&M University, Abby served in several service and leadership organizations, including PREP, a freshman professional development organization, and TAMU RYLLIES, a women’s organization that enhances children’s literacy in the Bryan-College Station area. In addition to campus involvement, Abby worked for the Agricultural and Food Policy Center, conducting research and data collection related to farm policy across the U.S. She was also an agriculture and natural resources policy intern in the DC Office of Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34) and recently returned to the nation’s capital for a government relations internship with the National Cotton Council of America. Abby is particularly passionate about international trade and agricultural policy issues as they relate to global food insecurity.

McKenzie Hartman

University of California, San Diego, School of Global Policy & Strategy

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master's in International Affairs

McKenzie Hartman is beginning her Master of International Affairs program at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy & Strategy (GPS), where she will be focusing on International Politics and Latin America. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, she graduated from The Ohio State University (OSU) in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Relations & Diplomacy with minors in Spanish and German. During her undergraduate studies, she studied abroad in Chile and interned with the Political/Economic section of the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia, where she conducted research for the annual human rights report and helped organize bilateral exchanges between health professionals. After graduation from OSU, she worked for the Franklin County Board of Elections and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail across the country. She then served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Germany, teaching classes on both the English language and American culture and politics.

Indira Gunness

Texas A&M University, Bush School of Government & Public Service

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master's in International Affairs

Indira Gunness is initiating a Master of Arts in International Affairs at Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government & Public Service, where she will be focusing on intelligence and grand strategy. This degree builds on her Bachelor of Science in International Relations, which she earned in 2019 from The University of the West Indies at the St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago. As an undergraduate student, she pursued language proficiency in Hindi and earned placement on the Dean’s Honor List. Indira was recently employed at the Embassy of the United States in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, where she worked alongside law enforcement in support of U.S. strategic interests in the Caribbean region.

Andrew Harrison Gasparini

Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master’s in Public Administration and International Relations

Andrew Gasparini is pursuing a dual Master’s degree in Public Administration and International Relations at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He recently earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Clemson University, where he served as the editor-in-chief of The Pendulum (Clemson’s international affairs magazine) and founded the Clemson Diplomacy Club. While at Clemson, Andrew studied post-conflict, post-communist societies in Belgrade, Serbia during his freshman year and returned the following summer to intern at The Workshop, an educational NGO for refugees. Following graduation from Clemson University, Andrew returned to his hometown of Kennesaw, GA, where he worked as the Assistant to the City Manager. He also established the Kennesaw Sister Cities Commission, served on the World Affairs Council of Atlanta’s Young Leaders Executive Board, and participated in both the Global Ties US Emerging Leaders Program and the US Global Leadership Coalition Next Gen Global Leaders Network.

Colleen Bowman

University of Maryland, School of Public Policy

CLASS YEAR: 2024

DISCIPLINE: Master's of Public Policy

Colleen Bowman is completing a Master’s of Public Policy at the University of Maryland’s (UMD) School of Public Policy. She joins UMD after serving as the Director of Network Engagement at The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. In this role, she developed and executed the strategy to activate the Institute’s network of 40,000 public innovators. Her work supported the Institute’s mission of creating a more hopeful, just, fair and equitable society. Prior to joining The Harwood Institute, she worked as the Northeast Regional Outreach Director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), where she expanded and strengthened the USGLC’s network of businesses, political, civic, faith-based, academic, and military leaders. Colleen worked to protect U.S. development and diplomacy programs by hosting local events and leading constituent meetings with members of Congress.

Her passion for foreign affairs was ignited during her undergraduate studies when she was selected to participate in the College of the Holy Cross’ Washington Semester Program. She interned for then-Senator John Kerry, who was serving as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She also wrote a thesis analyzing U.S. involvement in the Northern Ireland peace process and was later selected to represent Holy Cross at the Student Conference on U.S. Affairs at the U.S. Military Academy of West Point. Through these undergraduate experiences and advocating for development and diplomacy programs in her career, she cultivated a deep appreciation for how international affairs programs can advance U.S. economic and security interests.