Nicholas Gangi is from Los Angeles, California and is currently a fourth-year undergraduate student at the George Washington University pursuing a double major in International Relations and Chinese. He has worked for The America-Eurasia Center since August 2022. His primary areas of responsibility have focused on database construction and program development, where he assisted in developing several databases for use in fundraising and redesigned the Program Guides for the various area-specific programs run by the Center. He has also authored publications on the Center’s website about China’s domestic politics, the 20th CCP Party Congress, and co-authored the China Program Guide and assisted the Center with a number of the other Program Guides. He has been the Assistant to the Director of the East Asia Program and Special Assistant to the President of the America-Eurasia Center. 

Mikayil Guluzade is a Master of Arts in Political Science degree candidate at American University with a concentration in comparative politics. He received his BA in international relations from Khazar University in Baku, Azerbaijan. His areas of focus are democratization, the European Union, Eurasian politics, and US-Eurasia relations.  He has experienced diverse political activities in South Caucasus, including the Second Karabakh War between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Throughout his academic education, he gained research experience by investigating different issues: Turkiye's freedom of the press and democratization, the effectiveness of the proportional representation institutions to mitigate the salience of ethnic divisions, and the technological development of China and its threats against transatlantic relations between the USA and the European Union.  Mikayil has native proficiency in Azerbaijani and Turkish languages. At The Center he has been a prolific writer covering a wide range of international issues in Africa, Asia, and the Caucasus. Mikayil was an assistant to the President of the Center and Assistant to the Directors of the America-Eurasia Center. 

Camila Lopez is an undergraduate student at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in International Development and a minor in Public Health. She speaks three languages (English, German, and Spanish), and she is learning French. Because of her cultural background, she is passionate about American-European relations with a specific focus on international immigration and humanitarian health efforts. In the future, she hopes to attend law school in order to apply her interests to the legal industry. Camila wrote an article which featured Dr. Samir Witta, Director of the Center’s Humanitarian and Health Program. She also finished an article regarding the treatment of asylum seekers in Denmark.  

Kevin Zhang is a senior from Binghamton University and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Global & International Affairs and a minor in Economics. He is interested in transatlantic relations and US – China relations. At the America-Eurasia Center, Kevin has updated a number of Country Reports and has written several articles on East-West relations. He has also served as an Editor of the America-Eurasia Center’s news services. He has written numerous articles on international security including one “Ukraine Bringing the War to Moscow” which covered the first Ukrainian drone strikes on the capital of Russia. Kevin wrote an interesting article for The America-Eurasia Business Coalition regarding Janet Yellin’s visit to China as well as an article about Putin’s Alliance with North Korea’s dictator, Kim Jong Un.

Sage Sharif is a Filipino-Canadian undergraduate student studying Political Science in Montréal, Canada. He is multilingual, proficient in English, Filipino, and currently developing his French language skills while also embarking on the journey of learning Norwegian. Sage’s passion lies in foreign policy and trade, as well as international security and conflict resolution, with a regional focus on Europe and Asia. As an intern at the America-Eurasia Center, he aims to gain valuable experience in researching diplomatic resolutions and economic development initiatives. Sage serves as the president of the International Relations Society at his university, where his dedication and contributions have earned him a respected position within the student body. At the Center, he was instrumental in helping update The America-Eurasia Business Coalition website. Sage wrote several excellent articles for The America-Eurasia Business Coalition regarding the Secretary of Commerce’s visit to China and covering the San Francisco Summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden. 

Morgan Lima was raised in Lacey, New Jersey and graduated from American University in May of 2022 with a bachelor's degree in International Relations. Her regional focus was on the Middle East & North Africa while studying Foreign Policy & National Security and Peace & Conflict resolution. She minored in Arabic while at American University where she was able to showcase her knowledge when studying abroad in Jordan and abiding by a full-time language pledge both inside and outside of the classroom. During her time there, she interned with the National Association for Family Empowerment where she researched about women in politics within Jordan. For her senior capstone, she worked with the Department of State TIP Office researching Human Trafficking in India and wrote a final deliverable that her and her team presented to the TIP Office. Morgan wrote an excellent article regarding the role of women in Jordan’s political institutions. 

Nicky Beruashvili is a third-year undergraduate student at the George Washington University, pursuing B.A. with a double major in Political Science and International Affairs with a concentration in Security Policy and a double minor in Journalism & Mass Communication and International Business. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, he’s a native speaker of the Georgian language. With it, he is familiar with the political processes that have shaped the ongoing European political image throughout the decades, along with the political processes of the Caucasus region and more. While at the America-Eurasia Center, Nicky provided briefings on the politics of Georgia. 

Andrey Prince is a recent graduate of the American University in Washington, D.C. where he majored in German Language and Area Studies. Originally, he was born in Siberia, and was adopted and grew up in the Seattle area. Connecting with his heritage was an important aspect of his childhood. It is his dream to work for a better world, one in which people are privileged to meet others from around the globe and exchange goods, culture, and ideas. Andrey’s focus is on Germany as it is a fascinating case-study in the balance between East and West Europe since the fall of the Iron Curtain. There is a lot to learn from Germany in terms of cooperation, unification, and collaboration. Bridging the economic, philosophical, and cultural differences in Europe and Eurasia is a major challenge in our century which we will need to overcome, and Andrey is well suited for that task. Andrey wrote a Eurasia Brief on political developments in Germany. He is now Assistant to the Directors for the European Program.

Emma Reynolds is a junior undergraduate at La Salle University with a double major in International Business and International Relations and a minor in Leadership and Global Understanding. Emma is bilingual in Russian and Ukrainian. She is interested in Eastern European relations and the current war in Ukraine. She has an interest in aligning International Business with peace and trade relations by participating in The America-Eurasia Business Coalition. In the future, she hopes to take the Foreign Service Exam after graduation in order to become a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. Emma supported the America-Ukraine Program at The Center and also updated The America-Eurasia Business Coalition’s website by updating the sectors of economic activity. 

Isabella Iacona is a Junior, majoring in Political Science with a concentration in law at The State University of New York at New Paltz. Originally from Long Island, she traveled to Washington DC,  in order to work for The America-Eurasia Center while also attending classes towards her degree through the State Universities of New York (SUNY) Internship Program. Isabella is interested in domestic and international legal cases, as she has taken numerous law courses that have helped her gain a better understanding of our nation's legal process. Isabella attended a number of events as a Representative of the America-Eurasia Center. She completed an article entitled, Prelude to Genocide in Ukraine. She was also instrumental in organizing the Embassies of the World Event at The Ven Hotel, as well as helping the Cultural Attaches Association of Washington, DC. 

Nick Tocco recently graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Political Science. He is interested in learning more about the Syrian Civil War, specifically the Kurdish uprising in the northeastern part of the region as it has resulted in the creation of a society that is trying to bring about peace and understanding between the various religions and ethnicities that make up Syria. Nick has been a prolific writer for The Center. He has written about hybrid warfare in Ukraine, updated the Israeli hostage situation, and wrote a great article regarding the power of music in foreign affairs. 

Jennifer Jimenez is a senior who is currently majoring in political science at The State University of New York at Cortland. Throughout her academic career, she has focused on politics in Eastern Europe including government structure, history, and observing ongoing trends. She is fluent in Spanish and understands struggles in countries across the developing world and wishes to learn more about Europe and Asia at The Center.  She completed an article entitled, Prelude to Genocide in Ukraine. She was also instrumental in organizing the Embassies of the World Event at The Ven Hotel, as well as helping the Cultural Attaches Association of Washington, DC. She also wrote a moving article regarding the earthquake victims in Morrocco. 

Daniel Bang is a rising junior who majors in political science and specializes in comparative politics at American University. Daniel Bang is bilingual, speaks Korean and English, and is interested in relations with East Asian countries, including Korea, China, and Japan. He hopes to let other people know about Korean politics, culture, society, and customs in America–Eurasia Center. Daniel has written a number of articles about South Korea regarding its security, politics, and cuisine. He has completed a number of Country Reports for the America-Eurasia Center – Austria, Croatia, North and South Korea.

Jaydin Batista is a Sophomore at The State University Of New York at New Paltz majoring in International Relations and minoring in German, Spanish, and Japanese. Jaydin is interested in International Trade Security and Diplomacy in East Asia and Europe, while also pursuing a commission to the United States Navy. While at the America-Eurasia Center, he hopes to gain experience in research on international trade security, and other diplomatic issues in East Asia and Europe. Jaydin was an editor for the America-Eurasia Center’s Eurasia Brief and for its News Service.

Mei Bradford is originally from Massachusetts, now based in Washington DC. There she is currently pursuing a degree in international studies from American University with a concentration in foreign policy, national security, and conflict resolution with a regional focus of Europe and Eurasia. She is interested in international trade, economic development, and international security. She is passionate about cultural diplomacy and a member of many different culture and education organizations at American University. She conducted research for the America-Eurasia Center and finished a number of Country Reports.

Josie Bloom is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, although she is now based in Washington, DC as she pursues her bachelor’s in International Relations at American University with a concentration in foreign policy and national security. She is passionate about cultural development and foreign affairs in former Soviet countries throughout Central Asia and the Caucasus. At American, she is involved with human rights groups and international relations society. Josie was a part of the COMM Group and conducted some grant research. She is directing the Social Media Team at The America-Eurasia Center. She also helped organize two extraordinary events – Embassies of the World and Washington Connections this year.

Yen-Han Chen is an undergraduate from Georgetown University currently pursuing a degree in Government. He is in leadership positions in the Georgetown International Relations Association and serves as the Under-Secretary General of the General Assembly for the North America Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) conference. Yen-Han also has experience in the government relations industry. In addition to his professional background, he grew up in China and Taiwan. Yen-Han completed a number of articles regarding Taiwan's new military developments.

Mikayil Guluzade is a Master of Arts in Political Science degree candidate at American University with a concentration in comparative politics. He received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Khazar University in Baku, Azerbaijan. He is focused on the democratization of hybrid regimes, the European Union and Eurasian politics, and Transatlantic relations. Turkiye's press freedom and democratization, the effectiveness of the proportional representation institutions to mitigate the salience of ethnic divisions, and the technological development of China as a threat against transatlantic relations between the United States and the European Union are essential examples of his recent research experiences. Mikayil has native proficiency in Azerbaijani and Turkish languages. He completed a number of Country Reports for the America-Eurasia Center.

Elizabeth Gloss is a rising senior from the State University of New York at Fredonia who is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a concentration in world affairs, along with a minor in Sociology. She has an interest in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as well as how conflict in the region impacts its relationship with the United States. While interning at the America-Eurasia Center she assisted in planning and facilitating the visit of a Belarusian delegation to the United States, held a leadership position on the research team, and completed  research on current world leaders to help advance the America-Eurasia Center’s outreach efforts. She worked to compile a list of potential donors to the organization, as well as helped to update Country Reports including those of the United Kingdom and Belarus. She is an assistant to the President of the America-Eurasia Center.

Anastasia Glover is a senior undergraduate student at the University at Albany in New York with a dual bachelor's degrees in political science, with a focus on global politics and international affairs, and in psychology. Presently, Anastasia is involved in the America-Eurasia Center's Eurasia and Middle East Programs, encompassing research support and assistance to the Center's President in the areas of international relations, security, and humanitarian programs, with a specific emphasis on the Russo-Ukrainian War.Presently, Anastasia is involved in the America-Eurasia Center's Eurasia and Middle East Programs, encompassing research support and assistance to the Center's President in the areas of international relations, security, and humanitarian programs, with a specific emphasis on the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Margaret Haines is a sophomore at the American University School of International Service. She is pursuing a bachelor’s in International Studies with a concentration in global inequality and development. Additionally, she is minoring in Anthropology. At American, she is involved with human rights groups and the American University International Relations Society. Maggie has written a number of articles on Eastern Europe regarding Serbia’s reaction to gun violence and Bulgaria’s entrance to the Schengan Area for the European Union. 

Jiacheng “Jerry” Ji is currently a rising Junior studying International Development and Asia at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs. His academic interests center around the Cold War history, MENA, East Asia (China and Korea), and political economy in the Global South. Prior to joining the America-Eurasia Center, he has worked in nonprofits, think tanks, and research institutes in both the United States and China. He is from Nanjing, China. Jerry has completed a number of Country Reports for the America-Eurasia Center – Russia, India, China, and Iran. 

Camila Lopez is an undergraduate student at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in International Development and a minor in Public Health. She speaks three languages (English, German, and Spanish), and she is learning French. Because of her cultural background, she is passionate about American-European relations with a specific focus on international immigration and humanitarian health efforts. In the future, she hopes to attend law school in order to apply her interests to the legal industry. 

Hannah Ritter is originally from Houston, Texas, and is currently pursuing a B.A. in International Affairs with a concentration in Europe and Eurasia from the George Washington University. She also double majors in Spanish & Latin American Languages, Literatures & Cultures. She is passionate about foreign affairs in the Balkan region and immigration throughout Europe. At George Washington University, she is involved in Sigma Iota Rho, the gender-inclusive honor society for international affairs. As well, she is a Dean’s Scholar at the Elliott School of International Affairs and is currently researching Latin American immigration to Europe in the 21st century.

Lucas Rodriguez is a sophomore at George Washington University, double majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Conflict Resolution and Philosophy with a concentration in Public Affairs. His primary research interest is the philosophy behind international actions, specifically how systemic cultural norms influence great power relations and beyond. Lucas has written an article observing how the war in Ukraine is affecting China’s foreign policy toward Taiwan.

Alex Sherwood is a senior at American University graduating in May 2023. He is majoring in International Relations with a minor in Russian Language/Area Studies. He has been abroad in Moldova, during the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which showed him that we should always strive for peace but also do whatever we can to support the everyday citizens who are caught in the crossfire of this bloody war. His goals for the future are to become part of the sphere of public diplomacy and or international development. Alex has updated a number of Country Reports at the America-Eurasia Center and worked on Program Development.

Mythili Shirhatti will be a junior at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. Along with her degree in International Affairs, Mythili is concentrating in International Politics with minors in French and Public Policy. Mythili is very interested in Eastern Europe, particularly the Balkans. Before coming to the Eurasia Center, Mythili was an intern for Congresswoman Susan Wild, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Here, Mythili saw firsthand how legislation and foreign policy interact.

Stephanie Siemek is currently a sophomore at the American University School of International Service and is pursuing a degree in International Studies along with a certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies. Stephanie is originally from Chicago, is a native speaker of Polish, and has attained proficiency in Spanish. Her main areas of interest are security in Eastern Europe and the affairs of the European Union. She is the Chief of Outreach for Ask a Diplomat at American University where she is in charge of establishing communications with embassies in Washington, D.C. in order to organize question and answer events with ambassadors and diplomats from various countries. She has written an article on the Polish miracle which examines Poland’s assistance to Ukraine’s refugee crisis.

Kevin Zhang  is a senior from Binghamton University and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Global & International Affairs and a minor in Economics. He is interested in transatlantic relations and US – China relations. At the America-Eurasia Center, Kevin has updated a number of Country Reports and has written several articles on East-West relations. 

Delano Arias is a senior undergraduate student studying in Washington, DC through the Capital Hill internship Program. Originally from Denver, Colorado, he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to study psychology and communications at Coe College. While working with the America-Eurasia Center, he has used his creativity and interest in public affairs to assist with bringing the American-Eurasian Art Foundation into future events. Delano also supported the team by bringing insight to help organize and coordinate fundraisers and networking opportunities. He has been a member of the Center’s Communication’s Group.

Julian J. Aviles-Pagan obtained his Master of Arts degree in International Affairs program from Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, with a concentration on U.S. Foreign Policy and Nuclear Policy. He successfully completed the 2021 International Nuclear Safeguards Policy and Information Analysis Course, offered by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in support of the US Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA). During his graduate studies, he researches international security issues, such as arms control with China, hypersonic developments in the Korean Peninsula and China's BRI. At the America Eurasia Center, he wrote about the foundations for a new arms race between Russia, China and the United States.

Radhika Bhargava is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing a B.A. in International Studies from American University. Having spent three years in New Delhi, she holds a regional interest in South and Central Asia, with particular regard to border conflicts and administrative developments in the area. Thematically, she aspires to focus on global economy through her work with the Eurasian Business Coalition. Outside of the America-Eurasia Center, Radhika is involved with American University’s premier speaker bureau as well as its international relations society.

Josie Bloom is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, although she is now based in Washington, DC as she pursues her bachelor’s in International Relations at American University with a concentration in foreign policy and national security. She is passionate about cultural development and foreign affairs in former Soviet countries throughout Central Asia and the Caucasus. At American, she is involved with human rights groups and international relations society. Josie was a part of the COMM Group and conducted some grant research. She is directing the Social Media Team at The America-Eurasia Center. She also helped organize two extraordinary events – Embassies of the World and Washington Connections this year.

Lilah Cseh is a current senior at American University studying international relations. Her academic focuses include global comparative governance and East Asian regional studies with a specific focus on Central Asian geopolitics and Russian diplomatic relations. Lilah plans to use her past two semesters of study abroad experience and her academic expertise to work in a position combining intercultural connections with national security within a future career. Lilah has written a number of articles regarding Putin’s war in Ukraine.

Nicolas Gangi is from Los Angeles, California and is currently a third-year undergraduate student at the George Washington University pursuing a double major in International Relations and Chinese. He has worked for The America-Eurasia Center since August 2022. His primary areas of responsibility have focused on database construction and program development, where he assisted in developing several databases for use in fundraising and redesigned the Program Guides for the various area-specific programs run by the Center. He has also authored publications on the Center’s website about China’s domestic politics, the 20th CCP Party Congress, and co-authored the China Program Guide.  He has been the Assistant to the Director of the East Asia Program and Special Assistant to the President of the America-Eurasia Center. 

Elizabeth Gloss is a junior from the State University of New York at Fredonia who is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a concentration in world affairs, along with a minor in Sociology. She has an interest in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as well as how conflict in the region impacts its relationship with the United States. While interning at the America Eurasia Center she assisted in planning and facilitating the visit of a Belarusian delegation to the United States, held a leadership position on the intern team, and completed  research on current world leaders to help advance the America Eurasia Centers outreach efforts. She is an assistant to the President of the America-Eurasia Center.

Yuanhao “Orwell” Jin is an undergraduate student at the Elliot School of International Affairs, currently majoring in Asian Studies and minoring in history. He is interested in East Asia relations. He joined the Center’s East Asia Program and assisted in research efforts for the Program.  He was also instrumental in assisting the Center’s Art Program with its emphasis on Cultural Diplomacy. He completed the Country Report of the United Kingdom and Greece. He has been the Assistant to the Director of the East Asia Program.

Constantinos Landis is a PhD student from the University at Buffalo with concentrations in both international relations and comparative politics. As a graduate student, Constantinos’ research focuses on conflict, terrorist, and civil war studies, with a regional focus on Russian politics. His past research has examined the efficacy of third-party civil war interventions and the effects of inward foreign direct investment on the targeting calculus of terrorist organizations in the middle east and north African regions. Constantinos earned his master’s degree and dual bachelor’s degrees from the University at Buffalo along with an advanced certificate of data analysis in the social sciences. He has also held teaching positions at the University at Buffalo as well as SUNY Geneseo.

Sasha Osinovsky is currently a senior at Flint Hill School. As the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants and an avid language learner, Sasha has been exposed to many different cultures while growing up. She is interested in pursuing international relations and public policy in college next year. Her relevant past experience includes Model UN participation, starting a Spanish Club at her school, and working as a political intern for a city council election. Sasha is working in the Center's Ukraine Program. 

Jimena Saldana is a transfer student from Mexico City, currently an undergraduate student from American University School of International Service currently perusing a degree in International Relations with a special focus on security, global peace and conflict resolution and global Health and environmental sustainability. She holds different leadership positions at the university and is the founder of a club. She has led different projects and events including a youth bilateral agenda Mexico-United States. Has also participated in the MUN at the Hague, volunteered in Zimbabwe and the Pan-American Games organization giving her not only experience but the opportunity to become familiarized with different contexts and perspectives of the world and its systems.

Stephanie Siemek is currently a sophomore at the American University School of International Service and is pursuing a degree in International Studies along with a certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies. Stephanie is originally from Chicago, is a native speaker of Polish, and has attained proficiency in Spanish. Her main areas of interest are security in Eastern Europe and the affairs of the European Union. She is the Chief of Outreach for Ask a Diplomat at American University where she is in charge of establishing communications with embassies in Washington, D.C. in order to organize question and answer events with ambassadors and diplomats from various countries. She has written an article on the Polish miracle which examines Poland’s assistance to Ukraine’s refugee crisis.

Sapna Suresh is a junior at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. She is pursuing a major in International Affairs, with a concentration in Asia, Europe/Eurasia, and the Middle East. Additionally, she is minoring in French language, literature, and culture. Her main areas of academic interest include research in relations between various regions within Asia, such as Iran-South Korea relations, Turkey-Japan relations, and India-Iran relations. While interning for the America-Eurasia Center, she wrote country reports on Iran and Ethiopia. Furthermore, she wrote articles on the regional implications of the Armenia/Azerbaijan crisis and tensions at the India-China border, including articles on ASEAN/G20 and Brazil.

John Zi Dong Yang is currently a sophomore at George Washington University School of Business with a major in Finance and Minor in Economics. John has lived in the U.S. and China, so he is familiar with both countries’ culture, politics, and languages. John has studied the connection between government policy and business for three years, including investigating China’s stalled economy policy during the pandemic. John has worked in The America-Eurasia Center’s East Asia Program for two semesters and did research about East Asia countries' economy. He has helped organize events, made connections with people who are interested in Eurasia culture, wrote Laos and Union of the Comoros' Country Reports, and assisted the Director of The America-Eurasia Center’s China Program and Vice President of The America-Eurasia Business Coalition’s Global Business Development Dr. Winnie in making a presentation regarding the dimensions of the US-China Trade War.

Sanaa Zakariya is originally from the Bay Area, California and is a senior at American University. She is pursuing a BA in political science with a concentration in international comparative politics at AU’s School of Public Affairs. Her work is focused on Southeast Asia and Europe internal conflicts and crises. She is primarily interested in women and refugee issues in developing countries, as well as focusing on how wealthier Western countries have contributed to the refugee crisis in places like the Middle East and Europe. She has also helped to organize diplomatic events for the America-Eurasia Center and hopes to become more involved with event planning along with continuing to provide informative news articles for The Center. She has written an overview about the greater Southeast Asian region as well as a detailed piece about the deepening financial crisis in Laos. She has also written and edited the Country Reports for Malawi and Kuwait.

Jing (Brandon) Zhong is a senior at The George Washington University. He is majoring in international affairs with a concentration in international economics. As an exchange student in Fall 2022, he studied political science and international relations in University College London. His previous studies and research include international relations of East Asia, development of the European Union, and roles of international institutions in international affairs. Brandon is a research assistant for The America-Eurasia Center’s East Asia Program. He wrote an excellent article on “The Overview of China’s Real Estate Industry during the Pandemic.” He looks forward to contributing more toward The Center’s programs in international security and development as he is now an Assistant to the Director.

Henry McCabe is currently a senior at The George Washington University’s Colombian College of Arts and Sciences. Henry is majoring in political science with special interest in international politics and security issues in Europe and the Middle East. Having joined The Eurasia Center as an intern, Henry worked on issues of the Civil Freedoms, Ethnic and Religious toleration as well as for the International Security Program. Henry is a prolific writer and reported on a number of developments in Eurasia and the Middle East.

Veronica Marcone is an undergraduate from American University currently pursuing a degree in international studies with a focus on conflict resolution, human rights, and the Middle East. She has achieved leadership positions throughout the American University International Relations Society, most recently serving as policy director for our flagship high school Model UN conference ‘AMERIMUNC’. In addition to her communications experience, Veronica grew up in Syria and has lived in Morocco which has allowed her to become familiar with the culture of multiple Arab communities. Veronica is a member of the US-European Program and also the American-Eurasian Art Foundation. She has supported the Art Foundations efforts in a number of different areas. She is currently Assistant to the Director for The European Program.

Anas Al-Darsani is a graduate student at American University. He is obtaining a Master's in International Relations with an emphasis on U.S Foreign Policy and National Security. Anas is particularly interested in U.S foreign policy, particularly the Middle East. At the Eurasia Center, he researches and writes articles on issues pertaining to the Middle East, as he is part of the Middle Eastern Program. He has been working with The Eurasia Center since September 2021 as a research assistant. He is now Assistant to the Director for the Middle East Program.

Yuanhao “Orwell” Jin is an undergraduate student at the Elliot School of International Affairs, currently majoring in Asian Studies and minoring in history. He is interested in East Asia relations. He joined the Center’s East Asia Program and assisted in research efforts for the Program.  He was also instrumental in assisting the Center’s Art Program with its emphasis on Cultural Diplomacy. He completed the Country Report of the United Kingdom and Greece. Orwell is currently Assistant to the Director of the East Asia Program.  

Sapna Suresh is a junior at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. She is pursuing a major in International Affairs, with a concentration in Asia, Europe/Eurasia, and the Middle East. Additionally, she is minoring in French language, literature, and culture. Her main areas of academic interest include research in relations between various regions within Asia, such as Iran-South Korea relations, Turkey-Japan relations, and India-Iran relations. While interning for the America-Eurasia Center, she wrote country reports on Iran and Ethiopia. Furthermore, she wrote articles on the regional implications of the Armenia/Azerbaijan crisis and tensions at the India-China border, including articles on ASEAN/G20 and Brazil.

Julian J. Aviles-Pagan obtained his Master of Arts degree in International Affairs program from Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, with a concentration on U.S. Foreign Policy and Nuclear Policy. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in European History from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus with a minor in Human Rights. Additionally, he successfully completed the 2021 International Nuclear Safeguards Policy and Information Analysis Course, offered by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in support of the US Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA). During his graduate studies, he researches international security issues, such as arms control with China, hypersonic developments in the Korean Peninsula and China's BRI. At the America Eurasia Center, he wrote about the foundations for a new arms race between Russia, China and the United States.

Nina Slager is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with a major in Global Studies with a focus on International Politics, State-Building, and Nation-States in Western Europe and a second major in Peace, War, and Defense with a concentration in International Intelligence and Security. She speaks three languages: Dutch, English, and German. She moved to the United States when she was 10 years old and is thus very interested in relations between the U.S. and Europe. At the America-Eurasia Center she has been part of the European Program, the Communications Group, and has been researching German relations to Russia regarding the energy crisis. In the future, she will be working on grant research for the European Program.

Jing (Brandon) Zhong is a senior at The George Washington University. He is majoring in international affairs with a concentration in international economics. As an exchange student in Fall 2022, he studied political science and international relations in University College London. His previous studies and research include international relations of East Asia, development of the European Union, and roles of international institutions in international affairs. Brandon is a research assistant for The America-Eurasia Center’s East Asia Program. He wrote an excellent article on “The Overview of China’s Real Estate Industry during the Pandemic.” He looks forward to contributing more toward The Center’s programs in international security and development as he is now an Assistant to the Director.

John Zi Dong Yang is currently a sophomore at George Washington University School of Business with a major in Finance and Minor in Economics. John has studied the connection between government policy and business for three years, including investigating China’s stalled economy policy during the pandemic.  John has worked in The America-Eurasia Center’s East Asia Program for one semester and did research about East Asia countries' economy. He has helped organize events, made connections with people who are interested in Eurasia culture, wrote Laos and Union of the Comoros' Country Reports, and assisted the Director of The Eurasia Center’s China Program and Vice President of The Eurasian Business Coalition’s Global Business Development Dr. Winnie in making a presentation regarding the dimensions of the US-China Trade War.

William Collins is a recent graduate of the George Washington University with a degree in Political Science and a concentration in Security Policy.  He joined the Eurasia Center to gain professional research experience alongside furthering the Center’s studies into international affairs.  William is primarily interested in the rise of populism and the implication it has on national security. William is a member of the COMM Group at The America-Eurasia Center and has also helped organize two extraordinary events – Embassies of the World and Washington Connections this year.

Josie Bloom is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, although she is now based in Washington, DC as she pursues her bachelor’s in International Relations at American University with a concentration in foreign policy and national security. She is passionate about cultural development and foreign affairs in former Soviet countries throughout Central Asia and the Caucasus. At American, she is involved with human rights groups and international relations society. Josie was a part of the COMM Group and conducted some grant research. She is also part of the Social Media Team at The America-Eurasia Center. She also helped organize two extraordinary events – Embassies of the World and Washington Connections this year.

Sanaa Zakariya is originally from the Bay Area, California and is a senior at American University. She is pursuing a BA in political science with a concentration in international comparative politics at AU’s School of Public Affairs. Her work is focused on Southeast Asia and Europe internal conflicts and crises. She is primarily interested in women and refugee issues in developing countries, as well as focusing on how wealthier Western countries have contributed to the refugee crisis in places like the Middle East and Europe. She has also helped to organize diplomatic events for the America-Eurasia Center and hopes to become more involved with event planning along with continuing to provide informative news articles for The Center. She has written an overview about the greater Southeast Asian region as well as a detailed piece about the deepening financial crisis in Laos. She has also written and edited the Country Reports for Malawi and Kuwait.

Aidan Lynch is a senior at American University majoring in international service and minoring in history. He is pursuing a thematic concentration in Peace, security, and conflict resolution and U.S. foreign policy and national security as well as a regional concentration in Europe Eurasia. He has a particular interest in human rights advocacy and education development. Aidan wrote an article on Europe’s Energy Crisis and Long-Term Solutions and was instrumental in updating Country Reports for The Eurasia Center and Uplifting Africa Program. Aidan is a member of the COMM Group at The America-Eurasia Center and has also helped organize two extraordinary events – Embassies of the World and Washington Connections this year. 

Nicolas Gangi is from Los Angeles, California and is currently a third-year undergraduate student at the George Washington University pursuing a double major in International Relations and Chinese. He has worked for The America-Eurasia Center since August 2022. His primary areas of responsibility have focused on database construction and program development, where he assisted in developing several databases for use in fundraising and redesigned the Program Guides for the various area-specific programs run by the Center. He has also authored publications on the Center’s website about China’s domestic politics, the 20th CCP Party Congress, and co-authored the China Program Guide. He currently serves as an Assistant to the Directors on the Europe and China Programs.

Qian Zhao is a graduate student who major in public policy at Georgetown University, with an undergraduate degree in international politics. His undergraduate research interests include foreign aid and international political economy. Once led the project team to investigate the natural gas heating project in rural China. Proficient in a variety of quantitative statistics and data visualization software including STATA, R and Tableau. Qian is a member of the COMM Group at The America-Eurasia Center and has also helped organize two extraordinary events – Embassies of the World and Washington Connections this year.

Daniel Emblidge is a senior at University at Buffalo majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Africa and the Middle East. He is interested in development and security studies. At Eurasia Center's Uplifting African Program, I have been able to hone in on my writing and research skills as well as my area of interest - Sub-Saharan Africa. I am currently writing a report assessing the effectiveness of different methods used to deliver aid to Sub-Saharan Africa. After my time at the Eurasia Center, my aspirations are to obtain a graduate degree and work as a Foreign Service Officer.

Alessia Boland is an International Studies major and Arab World Studies minor at American University. She is concentrating on foreign policy analysis, conflict resolution, and counterterrorism. At the Eurasia Center, her work has consisted of researching and writing about current conflicts and points of interest in the Middle East. One such brief tackled the topic of how instability in the Middle East is largely due to the decades-long geopolitical rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, something that is very often overlooked. An Associate and Assistant to the Director for Outreach and Engagement, Alessia plays a key role in leading the Program Development Group. 

Renata Gladkikh is an Associate and a rising junior at Barnard College majoring in Political Science and Economics, after having previously attended The George Washington University where she gained an interest in interning at the Eurasia Center. She is from both Russia and Kazakhstan which is why she is passionate about learning about the Eurasia region.  Renata is attentive to the dynamics between all these regions, including business, trade and international relations, and would like to continue researching these issues. At the Center, she focused on the Central Asian region having worked on a publication and country report on Kazakhstan and has also been running the Instagram page.

Andrei Bacrău is an assistant to the Director for the America-Eurasia Center’s International Security Program and is assisting in organizing a Conference on International Security. He works as a business administrator for the WWF and was formerly a research intern at the Zaäl Institute, working on security and legal projects pertaining to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan. Bacrau has also taught history and global perspectives instructor at King’s College High School, India. After being born and raised in Romania, he pursued his undergraduate career at the George Washington University in Washington DC, USA. There he double-majored in Philosophy and International Affairs. In Washington, DC, he worked for the International Campaign for Tibet. He completed his MA from Nālandā University in Rajgir, Bihar in the school of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions. As a research fellow at the University of Zürich, he worked on projects such as Wittgenstein’s grammar and Cybersecurity. 

Matthew Brantzeg is a junior at American University in the School of International Service. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's in International Studies with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa, foreign policy, and national security. His interests in foreign policy are focused on strategic competition in areas such as Iranian proxy forces in the Middle East and Russia’s competition with the West. At the Eurasia Center, Matthew published an article regarding the problems with the revival of the Iran Nuclear Deal. As part of the International Security Program, Matthew has conducted research on a number of different topics and has completed Country Reports on Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.  

Conner Cain is an international studies student at American University concentrating in international development and global economics in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is primarily interested in global education, promoting sustainable development, and its dynamic with international politics. As part of the European Program, Conner worked to complete the European Program Guide for The Eurasia Center and also completed the Country Reports for Switzerland and France. He also assisted the America-Eurasia Center on reviewing grant research for the International Education Program.

Mackenzie Gabriel-Lazette is an undergraduate student at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs from Detroit, Michigan. She is pursuing a B.A. in International Affairs with a concentration in International Politics, and a minor in Public Policy. She is passionate about exploring the intersection between foreign and domestic public policy, and how these policies have shaped the politics of our world. She developed her research skills through her internship with the Communications Group at the America-Eurasia Center and gaining more experience in global affairs. She also worked on Program Development and assisted in the Women’s Program. 

Mira Gupta is an International Service and Justice and Law Major at American University. In International Service, she is concentrating in Justice, Ethics, and Human Rights in Central and South Asia. In Justice and Law, she has a concentration in criminology. Mira joined the America-Eurasia Center to better understand the relationship between Europe, Asia, and the United States. She wrote an excellent research paper on Tackling Literacy in India which was important for the Center’s Women’s Program. She also assisted the Women’s Program with some development research. In addition, she completed the Country Reports of Germany, Taiwan, North Macedonia, and Pakistan.

Val Hornsby is obtaining his Master’s in public policy and Administration from American University where he will graduate in December of 2022. He received his undergraduate degree in History from the University of Virginia in 2020. Val is interested in European politics and worked to complete the European Program Guide. He is also interested in societal development and how impactful decisions made by countries across Eurasia affect international relations, positive economic growth, and societal security and equality. Mr. Hornsby wrote an excellent article regarding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant crisis in Ukraine. In addition, he wrote an excellent article about Neutrality in Europe and how Finland and Sweden decided to join NATO, as well as an early research paper on the German Energy Crisis. He completed Country Reports for Sweden, Czechia, Cyprus, Finland, and Ireland.

Katie Huang is an international affairs major with an Asia concentration at George Washington University. She is interested in how East Asian countries have influenced each other in terms of culture, language, and religion all the way to the present. East Asian countries are heavily linked by history, and she finds it fascinating how past events can come to affect their current relations, such as China and Korea’s push for Japan to recognize its war crimes like the Korean comfort women. She plans to study abroad in South Korea over the summer. Katie Huang was instrumental in assisting the Korean Program at The America-Eurasia Center and its Program Guide. 

Yuanhao “Orwell” Jin is an undergraduate student at the Elliot School of International Affairs, currently majoring in Asian Studies and minoring in history. He is interested in East Asia relations. He joined the Center’s East Asia Program and assisted in research efforts for the Program.  He was also instrumental in assisting the Center’s Art Program with its emphasis on Cultural Diplomacy. He completed the Country Report of the United Kingdom and Greece. 

Nam Lam is a junior at the George Washington University double majoring in International Affairs and Political Science with a minor in Economics. He is primarily interested in the overlap between international development and security policy where he hopes to analyze how modern-day international financing by leading powers infringes on the sovereignty of developing countries. His research interests involve major infrastructure initiatives such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Biden’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, and the G7’s Build Back Better World Initiative. Under each of these government-led projects, he aims to analyze their implications in building telecommunications networks, promoting free trade, advancing international environmental goals, and reinforcing political alliances. He completed the Country Reports of Belarus and Japan. Nam wrote an excellent article on U.S. Space Architecture at Risk where he analyzed the current space race among the US, China, and Russia.

Gregory Levesque is a Sophomore at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, majoring in Science, Tech and International Affairs and concentrating in business, growth and development. Gregory is interested in sustainable economic growth in developing countries, especially that which is driven by fintech applications in the global south. Through his role as a summer intern at the Eurasia Center, Gregory hopes to continue to explore this intersection of progress and development through practical research experience and is looking forward to forging meaningful connections at The America-Eurasia Center. Gregory completed the Country Reports of Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, and Portugal.

Zhengyang Ma is from China. He is a senior at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and is now a graduate student of the University of Chicago. He is interested in international politics and Great Power competition. He joined the America-Eurasia Center to gain experience researching and writing about topics in international affairs. At the America-Eurasia Center, he has written a number of articles on different topics: Investments in China, China’s Soft Power, and China’s Naval Buildup. He has also completed a Country Report on North Korea. 

Veronica Marcone is an undergraduate from American University currently pursuing a degree in international studies with a focus on conflict resolution, human rights, and the Middle East. She has achieved leadership positions throughout the American University International Relations Society, most recently serving as policy director for our flagship high school Model UN conference ‘AMERIMUNC’. In addition to her communications experience, Veronica grew up in Syria and has lived in Morocco which has allowed her to become familiar with the culture of multiple Arab communities. Veronica is a member of the US-European Program and also the American-Eurasian Art Foundation. She has supported the Art Foundations efforts in a number of different areas.

Dominic Nozzarella is a junior at The George Washington University’s Elliot School, majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Asia, and a minor in History. He is deeply interested in the Indo-Pacific Region, particularly the geopolitics and history of Northeast Asia. In his studies, Dominic is focused on policy, diplomacy, and security. Dominic has been a member of the America-Eurasia Center’s International Security Program. He has written an excellent article on the Kurds in Iraq and how they are increasingly important with the American mission in Iraq. In addition, he has completed the Country Reports of Nepal, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Malta. 

Christopher Trzaska is a junior at American University majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Europe/Eurasia. He is well versed in conflict resolution and security studies. At the America-Eurasia Center, his work focuses on researching how to resolve Europe’s thorniest conflicts. He has a particular interest in Eastern European affairs and relations between the West and Russia. He enjoys researching how business, economics, politics, and security issues all intersect in the wider Eastern European region. He looks forward to getting his undergraduate degree from American University and then pursuing a masters in International Relations. Chris is an assistant editor for the Eurasia News Service. He has also completed the Country Report on Bosnia.

Aliyah Abdelsalam is an undergraduate student at The State University of New York College in Oneonta. She is pursuing a BA in Philosophy and a BS in Political Science with a concentration in Pre- Law. She is interested in the expansion of Women’s Rights and has dedicated her time to developing the Women’s Program by conducting research and writing articles. Her articles highlight the accomplishments of successful women and the necessity of education for young girls and children.

Rishi Parikh is currently a graduate student at American University in Washington, DC, where he is getting his Master’s in International Affairs: United States Foreign Policy and National Security. At the Eurasia Center, he conducts research on world events, writes articles and briefings, and works with the social media team to increase visibility and engagement while enhancing social media communication strategies. He is an Associate for the South Asia Program.

Alessia Boland is an International Studies major and Arab World Studies minor at American University. She is concentrating on foreign policy analysis, conflict resolution, and counterterrorism. At the Eurasia Center, her work has consisted of researching and writing about current conflicts and points of interest in the Middle East. One such brief tackled the topic of how instability in the Middle East is largely due to the decades-long geopolitical rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, something that is very often overlooked. An Associate and Assistant to the Director for Outreach and Engagement, Alessia plays a key role in leading the Program Development Group. 

Casey Chambers is an Associate for the Eurasia Center and Assistant Director of Social Media at the Eurasia Center. He hosts the weekly Eurasia Center Wonkcast on key issues in international relations. As a research assistant he focuses primarily on European civil society. A specific focus is the protection of civil liberties at the governmental and institutional level. He is a senior at American University pursuing a major in International Relations. Casey has volunteered to help fight the spread of Covid-19 in Washington, D.C.

Renata Gladkikh is an Associate and a rising junior at Barnard College majoring in Political Science and Economics, after having previously attended The George Washington University where she gained an interest in interning at the Eurasia Center. She is from both Russia and Kazakhstan which is why she is passionate about learning about the Eurasia region.  Renata is attentive to the dynamics between all these regions, including business, trade and international relations, and would like to continue researching these issues. At the Center, she focused on the Central Asian region having worked on a publication and country report on Kazakhstan and has also been running the Instagram page.

Rohit Ram Rohit Ram, originally from the United Arab Emirates, is an International Affairs undergraduate student at American University. Focusing on the regions of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia, his professional interests surround the fields of counterinsurgency, transitional justice, and other fields of political conflict in international relations. Having worked at the Eurasia Center for almost two years, Rohit plans on continuing to explore these interests with the intention of working in the public sector in the future.  He is an Associate and assistant to the Director for International Security. 

Ethan Yang is a sophomore at George Washington University majoring in international affairs with a concentration in security policy. He is interested in the security politics of Europe, specifically the conflict in Ukraine and the ongoing tensions between Russia and the EU and NATO, as well as European multilateral defense cooperation. At the Eurasia Center, Ethan is working on the Security Peace Program and on fundraising for the Center as well. He has written articles on European rearmament in response to Russian aggression and on British armored fighting vehicle procurement. He is an Associate and is an Assistant to the Director for International Security.

Howard Xuan is a sophomore at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He is pursuing a degree in Comparative Studies with a focus on Latin America and Asia. Howard joined the Eurasia Center to gain more knowledge about global affairs and develop himself as a researcher. During his time as a research assistant at the Eurasia Center, Howard has updated country reports, and written several briefs on topics in Asia and the Middle East. He is an Associate and an Assistant to the the Director of the China Program.