Eugene La’mont Parrish

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

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Eugene La’mont Parrish is pursuing a Master of Public Policy from the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He began his undergraduate journey in the California Community College system at San Joaquin Delta College, taking courses in Political Science. During the pandemic, he worked as an AmeriCorps Member with Changeist, a youth social justice non-profit organization in Stockton, California. He decided to transfer to Virginia State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in History. 

Heavily involved politically on campus, Eugene canvassed the Greater Richmond area for numerous Virginia politicians, such as the late Congressman Donald McEachin, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, and former VA State Delegate Lashrecse Aird. He was instrumental in planning several campus voter registration and advocacy events in partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council and school administration. 

In addition to the above, Eugene held leadership positions at Virginia State University as President of the Kappa Psi Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha and Circle K International on campus. He also was the Social Media Chair for The Association of Political Science and was a member of the NAACP and Phi Alpha Theta. He interned at the Urban League of Greater Richmond and the Library of Congress as a 2022 Junior Fellow. Eugene plans to continue his lifelong commitment to public service by working within the Federal Government.

Anna Misenti

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

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Anna Misenti is pursuing a Master of International Affairs at the School of Global Policy & Strategy at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Her degree program focuses on International Politics and Southeast Asia. Anna graduated from Occidental College in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy & World Affairs. 

As an undergraduate, she studied abroad in Nepal, where she conducted an independent research project on community based finance systems in Lower Mustang. She also completed an internship at the United Nations Foundation and conducted research on human trafficking to support the publication of Gender and Human Rights in a Global, Mobile Era. After graduation, she received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant grant and spent 10 months teaching and leading community engagement projects in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Since 2019, she has worked at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems supporting democracy and governance programs across Southeast Asia.

Forrest Gatrell

Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Forrest Gatrell is pursuing a dual Master’s degree in Public Administration and International Relations at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. A Midwest native, Forrest graduated with high distinction honors from Indiana University (IU) Bloomington, where he earned Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and French. His undergraduate experience focused on applying quantitative methods to political science research as an inaugural member of the Indiana Political Analysis Workshop. His academic concentrations also focused on international relations in the francophone world with Forrest studying abroad at France’s Sciences Po grande école in Aix-en-Provence. During his undergraduate career, Forrest served as a campaign fellow for a 2018 Indiana congressional candidate, as an intern at the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute, as a State Department student liaison for IU, and as an AmeriCorps volunteer at a local Boys & Girls Club.

Since graduating from IU in 2020, Forrest has worked in the private sector as a personal injury paralegal in his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana and more recently in the capital of Indianapolis. In his last role, Forrest created a niche market for organic growth at an established, large-sized firm to provide full personal injury legal services in French for under-served immigrant populations in Indianapolis, and he personally recovered over $3 million for injured victims in pre-litigation settlements. While preparing for a return to his planned public service career path amidst the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Forrest volunteered in several grassroots political organizations and as an active member of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. His involvement in the community has led to his recognition as a 2022-2023 Emerging Leader within the Indiana Democratic Party and as a 2023 Jewish Changemaker within the Jewish Federations of North America. After graduating from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, Forrest aims to join the State Department’s Foreign Service as a consular or political officer.

Zoe Prin

Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Zoe Prin is earning a dual Master’s degree in Public Administration and International Relations at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She attended Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations and received a Bachelor of Science in International Relations with a minor in Russian and a Certificate in Eastern European Studies. Through courses such as Post-Soviet Foreign Politics and a UN Field Seminar, Zoe engaged with the reality of multilateral diplomacy, discussed current events with state and non-state diplomats, and explored specializations such as energy politics within Europe and Eurasia.

Zoe was an active member of the Seton Hall community. She joined Seton Hall University’s Slavic Club as a freshman, eventually becoming the President of the organization. Over the course of four years, she directed all biweekly meetings, managed a $2,500 yearly budget, and oversaw over 20 officers. Zoe was also a founding member of the Theta Delta chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She handled confidential chapter matters as well as academic success and chapter reputation as the Vice President of Internal Affairs and the first Vice President of Standards.

She also interned with two nonprofits during her undergraduate career. Zoe helped establish the International Rescue Committee’s Co-Sponsorship Program in 2022, which maximized and more efficiently allocated refugee resources in the New Jersey area. In 2023, she led a Houston food security project and promoted religious freedom legislation in Texas with the Minaret Foundation, an interfaith, bipartisan civic engagement organization.

With her combined professional, academic, and personal experience in the field of international relations and public policy, Zoe strives to apply values of multicultural understanding and diplomatic engagement to her graduate coursework and U.S. Foreign Service aspirations.

Javier De Leon

University of Maryland, School of Public Policy

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Javier De Leon is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Maryland’s (UMD) School of Public Policy. He comes to UMD after spending the past four years working at the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC), where he strived to maximize the region’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness. As a manager with EDC’s international affiliate, the World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD), he managed the organization’s flagship export assistance program, MetroConnect, and oversaw binational collaborative efforts between the cities of San Diego and Tijuana. Prior to EDC, he spent 15 months in Latin America, working for the consulting firm, GO Associados, in São Paulo, Brazil and the NGO, Corporación Colombia Internacional, in Bogota, Colombia. 

Javier graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with an emphasis in public policy and a minor in finance. As an undergraduate student, he participated in two exchange programs, studying as a Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona as well as at the Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Following graduation from UMD, Javier plans to pursue a career in the U.S. Foreign Service, helping to support American interests and promoting democratic values abroad.

Yolanda Nosakhare

University of Maryland, School of Public Policy

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Yolanda Nosakhare is earning a Master of Public Policy at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, where she specializes in International Development. A proud first-generation college student and first-generation American, she graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in International Relations, along with a minor in Computer Science from Loyola Marymount University. As a student, Yolanda maintained a variety of leadership positions on campus. This included being an intercultural facilitator, the Vice President of the Black Student Union, a resident advisor, and a contributor to her university’s written core. Additionally, she spent a summer teaching English in Qingdao, China, where she earned her certificate to Teach English as a Foreign Language. In 2021, Yolanda was recognized by Loyola Marymount for her major contributions to improving the climate of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility on campus. 

In 2019, Yolanda became one of the youngest recipients of the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Information Technology Award, which aimed at bridging the gap between technology and diplomacy. Upon graduation, Yolanda worked full-time as an Information Management Specialist in the Foreign Service with the U.S. Department of State in Guatemala and South Africa. Her experience living and working overseas sparked a fascination with policies that ameliorate the catastrophic effects of economic depressions, gender inequality, and ethnocentric conflicts. In addition to her work with the State Department, Yolanda has worked at the Federal Bureau of Investigation as an analyst in the Victim Services Division. While Yolanda’s interests cast a wide net, her goal is to make large-scale impacts that will improve the societal wellbeing of underprivileged populations. She envisions a life-long career being known as a “change-maker” and of helping others on a global scale.

Laura Fairman

University of Maryland, School of Public Policy

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Laura Fairman is pursuing a Master’s of Public Policy at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. This degree builds on her undergraduate studies, where she majored in International Politics at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. In her time at Georgetown University, Laura had the opportunity to work for the Institute of Women, Peace, and Security, as well as study and conduct research abroad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since graduating in 2018, Laura has worked in economic consulting and nonprofit finance. Most recently, she served as the Assistant Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at NEO Philanthropy, an intermediary housing over 100 projects in issue areas such as immigrant justice, democracy, and reproductive rights. In this role, she supported financial health across the organization by leading financial and grant reporting and monitoring project performance. Laura is passionate about combining quantitative and qualitative analysis to assess program or policy impact and inform decision-making.

Morgan Conville

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

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Morgan Conville is currently pursuing a Master’s in International Development and Economic Policy at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a K-12 Second Language Acquisition Teaching license from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. During her undergraduate years, Morgan made a significant impact on campus by serving as a Resident Assistant, Campus Ambassador, and Orientation Leader. She also was a member of the Model United Nations (MUN) Club, serving as President during her junior year. Her involvement in MUN sparked her passion for migrant rights and interest in global economic policy. For her undergraduate research project, Morgan transcribed and translated the narratives of Hispanic female migrant workers in the local community, which were subsequently published. 

After graduation, Morgan dedicated three years to teaching Heritage Spanish and Spanish 1 at a Title I middle school in Houston, Texas. As a heritage Spanish teacher, Morgan focused on the development of academic skills such as reading and writing for students who lacked formal Spanish education. Additionally, she facilitated the exploration of themes such as identity, history, and the cultural impact of bilingualism to allow students to develop confidence as bilingual speakers. Through her background experiences and her current studies, she aspires to develop the practical and analytical skills necessary to pursue her desired career in the United States Foreign Service.

Samuel Park

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

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Samuel (Sam) Park is pursuing a Master’s of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, where he is focusing on national security and diplomacy. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. During his time at CMU, he contributed to fostering stronger connections among students, staff, and faculty as an executive officer of the Mellon College of Science Student Council. He also led CMU in Haiti, a service-oriented organization, in supporting NGOs in the Caribbean nation. During the weekends of his spring terms, he traveled with the CMU Alpine Racing Team to compete in the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association. Off-campus, Sam volunteered as a math tutor at a local high school. During his studies, he found the topic of mis- and disinformation most fascinating and aims to further study their effects and countermeasures. After graduation, Sam completed a data science bootcamp and worked as the lead data analyst at a healthcare startup, conducting data collection, storage, analysis, and reporting. In the summer of 2023, Sam traveled to Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea to learn about the histories and perspectives of these nations as it relates to international affairs. As a first-generation American, Sam desires to have a meaningful and impactful public service career.

Emma Viquez

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

CLASS YEAR: 2025

Emma Viquez is earning a Master’s of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. She is studying international development and economic policy with a concentration in women, peace, and security. She recently graduated magna cum laude and with honors from St. Edward’s University in Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business. She also completed the respected University Honors Program and pursued minors in French and Global Studies. As an undergraduate student, Emma was active, serving in various student leadership positions, including as an NCAA women’s soccer athlete, a Student Government Association (SGA) senator, and a BridgeHilltop president. She also interned for former diplomat Mel Sanderson and with the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence. Most recently, Emma traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to study French, global health, and development policy with experts from various international and nongovernmental organizations.