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As part of the White House Historical Association’s 60th anniversary celebration in 2021, the Next-Gen Leaders (NGL) initiative was announced. The NGL cohort is a group of influential young professionals representing a wide variety of fields, bound together by a passion for history, civics, and education.

NGL members serve as ambassadors for the Association's nonpartisan, nonprofit, and historic mission and to amplify our work through their social media channels.

Click here to watch an episode of The White House 1600 Sessions featuring eight of the Next-Gen Leaders recorded in Spring 2022 at the Presidential Sites Summit in Dallas.

If you would like to be a part of this important element of our work, please complete this form.

Current 2024 Cohort

  • Ms. Sarah Murphy Abbamonte

    Sarah Murphy Abbamonte, MPA, channels her personal and professional experience into a commitment to inclusive community design, equitable urban policy, and a change-agent approach to cultural heritage work. She was named a 2020 Diversity Scholar by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a 2021 ARCUS Professional Fellow for emerging leaders in the cultural heritage sector. A native of Rochester, New York, Sarah recently served as the Partnerships and Outreach Chair for the Young Urban Preservationists (Landmark Society of Western New York). She is a dual citizen of Ireland and the United States.

  • Mr. Michael Adams

    A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Michael has travelled the world singing at some of the largest international opera houses in Berlin, Geneva, Barcelona, The Metropolitan Opera, The Kennedy Center, Seattle Opera, and many others. Michael’s first love and passion was baseball and began singing after suffering a career-ending injury from a skiing accident. As there are many parallels between the disciplines and demands of professional athletic and musical endeavors, Michael is eager to become acquainted and involved with the wide-breadth of talent, intelligence and wisdom associated with this group.

  • Mr. Blake Aiken

    Blake Aiken is an Associate at Fundrise, a real estate investment platform headquartered in Washington, DC. His work focuses on securing assets in growing metro areas across the country to provide investors with consistent and sound financial returns. A native of Appalachia, Blake attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving a bachelor’s degree in both Political Science and History. He then pursued his masters at Wake Forest University’s School of Business, before beginning a career in finance and real estate. In the past, he has been recognized as one of Pi Kappa Phi’s Thirty Under 30, run the Marine Corps Marathon to support the Wounded Warrior Project, and taught business classes in Nicaragua. In his spare time, Blake enjoys running, reading fiction, and trying his best at the Sunday crossword puzzle.

  • Mr. Caleb Anderson

    Caleb Anderson is the co-founder of the innovative, multi-disciplinary interior design firm Drake/Anderson. Lauded for his layered approach to interiors and the effortless skill with which he juxtaposes a variety of historic periods from the design continuum, Anderson’s work consistently results in sophisticated interiors that are luxurious, refined and always have a touch of the unexpected. Anderson and the New York-based firm that he leads with business partner Jamie Drake, have achieved the highest awards and accolades in the industry, including the prestigious Elle Decor A-List, the Architectural Digest AD100 list, Interior Design magazine’s Hall of Fame, House Beautiful’ s Master Class and many more. In 2022, Caleb founded Well-Designed, an industry initiative and organization that seeks to educate and support the design community through wellness based events, workshops and retreats. Caleb’s vision with Well-Designed is to be a catalyst of change within the culture of the design industry, where creative brilliance co-exists with wellness, and authentic connection fosters an industry of support, compassion, and unity.

  • Ms. Erina Aoyama

    Erina Aoyama is Chief of Staff at Japan Society, a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to connecting American and Japanese people, cultures, and societies through a global lens. She previously worked at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, where she was Director of Communications for President Ian Bremmer and the firm. She also led publicity and press outreach for Eurasia Group's annual GZERO Summit in Tokyo. Prior to joining Eurasia Group, she worked for NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation's New York bureau and traveled all over North America producing and reporting on topics ranging from NASA to cinema. Erina, who is fluent in Japanese and French, holds master's degrees from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and Sciences Po in Paris and is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Washington.

  • Ms. Morgan Atkins

    Morgan Atkins is a lifelong Mississippian who came to our nation's capitol to work for the Bipartisan Policy Center as the Individual Giving Associate, where she spent two semesters interning in college and was awarded the Robert F. Bennett Internship Award after her summer internship at BPC. Morgan graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi in 2022 with her degree in Public Policy Leadership with minors in International Studies and Political Science. She served as the Associated Student Body president, only the 6th woman to do so in the organizations 105 year history. She received numerous honors during her time in Oxford, including Greek Woman of the Year and Who's Who for the University of Mississippi. She was also a member of multiple service organizations, the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, and Kappa Delta sorority. In the future, Morgan hopes to earn a joint Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy to keep advocating for rural Southern communities through nonprofit development and advocacy work.

  • Mr. Christopher Barnard

    Chris Barnard is the President of the American Conservation Coalition, the nation's largest right-of-center environmental organization. His work focuses on building and advocating for common sense climate solutions that are rooted in economic competitiveness, technological innovation, and American leadership. Chris has spoken at conferences in over 10 countries across the world, organized the first-ever Global Conservative Climate Summit during COP26 in Glasgow, and is a frequent contributor to outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Examiner, and National Review. He is also the co-author of the book Green Market Revolution. Chris grew up in Belgium and lived in the UK where he got his master's degree from the London School of Economics, before moving to Washington DC. His favorite national park is Rocky Mountain National Park, which is really the most important thing about his bio.

  • Ms. Emily Bedard, Co-Chair

    Emily Bedard is the Creative Director at Foster Reeve Architectural & Ornamental plaster in Brooklyn, New York. In collaboration with architects and designers, Emily designs architectural sculpture for new residential construction, and oversees the studio fabrication of that artwork. She received her training in tradition sculpture from the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, Connecticut and continues to study and teach with the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art in New York. Emily is a recipient of the Stanford White Award for Craftsmanship from the ICA&A, and the Award for Emerging Excellence in the Classical Tradition, given by the ICA&A, INTBAU and the Prince’s Foundation. In 2021 she was elected Fellow of the National Sculpture Society. In addition, Emily works with the National Desert Storm Memorial Foundation designing bas-relief sculpture of a new memorial proposed for the Mall in Washington, DC.

  • Mr. Eitan Bernath

    Eitan Bernath is an award-winning chef, author, TV personality, entertainer, and social justice activist. With over 8 million followers and 3 billion annual video views, he is the chief executive officer of Eitan Productions, the Principal Culinary Contributor for The Drew Barrymore Show on CBS, and is a contributor to The Washington Post, Food & Wine, and Saveur. Bernath serves as a High Level Supporter to the United Nations World Food Programme and sits on the Food Council at City Harvest. He is the youngest ever individual to receive Forbes 30 Under 30 award in Food & Drink and has been profiled by publications including The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone.

  • Mrs. Sara Bernhardt

    Sara Bernhardt is the General Manager, Social Wellbeing at Delta Air Lines. Sara has been with Delta for 7 years working in Cargo, Transatlantic Revenue Management and Financial Reporting. In addition to Delta, Sara has experience in the airline and transportation industries via her time spent at EY and Amazon. Sara holds a BBA in Accounting and a Master of Science in Accountancy from Southern Methodist University and is a licensed CPA in TX and GA. She is the founder of Little Gray Peach, a children’s clothing company. Sara enjoys supporting the Sheperd Center and spending time outdoors with her husband, three-year-old son, four-month-old daughter and dog, Peach.

  • Mr. Jakob Bigard

    Jakob Bigard, MPA, is a two-time Grand Valley State University graduate. He received his Bachelor of Arts in political science in 2018 and Master of Public Administration with a concentration in state, local, and regional governance in 2022. Jakob serves as executive director of the Montcalm Economic Alliance, an economic and community development organization in Mid-Michigan’s Montcalm County, some 30 minutes northeast of Grand Rapids. Before his time in economic development, Jakob created public programming for Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. His career began working in electoral politics on both sides of the aisle. In his free time, Jakob enjoys shooting 35mm film photography, metalsmithing, and collecting pulp novels from the 1960s-‘70s.

  • Ms. Pendleton Bogache, Co-Chair

    Pendleton Bogache is a Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. While she is primarily focused on delivering customized financial planning solutions to clients, she is also passionate about using her role as an opportunity to educate and empower. Pendleton is a founding member of Morgan Stanley’s EDGE Committee – a Diversity & Inclusion initiative seeking to achieve excellence in diversity through growth and empowerment of Financial Advisor Associates within the NY Metro Region, and is on the Communications Committee for Women in Wealth: LIFT. She is also involved in Morgan Stanley’s partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation. Pendleton earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where she was a four-year player and senior captain of the Division I Women’s Golf Team. Pendleton grew up in South Carolina and now resides in Manhattan.

    • Ms. Ka’Nedria Boldin

      Ka’Nedria currently attends Howard University in the Nation's Capital. She is a rising senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Strategic, Legal, and Management Communications from the great city of Pahokee, FL. As the founder of Youngins on the Rise, she has always been passionate about creating a space for youth to uplift their voices to create a more equitable America. Ka’Nedria finds enjoyment in remaining civically and socially engaged while embodying the definition of a student leader on and off campus. Ka’Nedria has been a strong advocate for HBCUs and has had the privilege of working with the White House HBCU Initiative to organize the HBCU Student Leader Town Hall Series with the United States Department of Education to bring awareness and partnership with HBCU administration, faculty, and students to create a pipeline between federal and private entities to HBCUs. Ka’Nedria’s purpose is not only to ensure change but to invoke transformation through legislation by implementing changes for the next generations of Americans through judicial, executive, and legislative education.

    • Mr. Rodrigo Bollat Montenegro, Co-Chair

      Rodrigo is an architect who specializes in custom residential design, community urban planning, and the continuing adaptation of traditional values in architecture and urbanism in our modern world. In 2021 Rodrigo established his own practice after previously working for the distinguished firms of Ferguson & Shamamian Architects in New York City, and Estudio Urbano in Guatemala. His current work ranges from new residences in Guatemala and Costa Rica, to the revitalization of a historic farm in rural Guatemala. Following his undergraduate studies in architecture at Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala, Rodrigo graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a masters degree in classical architecture and urban design. Rodrigo is a licensed architect in the state of New York and in his native Guatemala, where his practice is based. He is a Fellow at the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art where he serves in various committees and is a recurring instructor.

    • Mr. Andrew Brennen

      Andrew Brennen is an associate The Omidyar Network where he facilities grants to people and organizations seeking to strengthen American democracy. Prior to Omidyar Network, Andrew served as a National Geographic 2020 education fellow supporting youth-led movements and organizations around the globe. He also co-founded the Kentucky Student Voice Team, which helps to amplify and elevate students as partners in improving Kentucky schools including through the successful #PowerballPromise campaign that restored $14 million for low-income student scholarships. Before that Andrew worked as the national field director for Student Voice, interned then consulted for the Obama Foundation’s program team and served in strategic communication roles at APCO Worldwide and Hattaway Communications. Andrew attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education Policy & Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and serves as a member of the Board of Director at the National PTA, Seeking Common Ground, and Student Voice.

    • Dr. Rebecca Brenner Graham

      Rebecca Brenner Graham, PhD, recently defended her dissertation on American nineteenth-century religion-state relations through the lens of Sunday mail delivery. She teaches history at an all-girls college-preparatory boarding/day school, The Madeira School in McLean, VA. Rebecca holds a master’s degree with a concentration in public history from American University and a bachelor's degree with majors in history (honors) and philosophy (Phi Beta Kappa) from Mount Holyoke College. She has consulted on curating, digital, and oral history projects in the greater Washington, DC area. Rebecca blogs for the United States Intellectual History (USIH) blog, contributes to the Jewish Women’s Archive, and has written for many publications including Contingent Magazine, Perspectives on History at the American Historical Association, and Made by History at The Washington Post.

    • Mr. Sam Brewbaker

      Sam Brewbaker is a student at the University of Virginia, where he studies in the Politics Honors program, an intensive six-person major which commits themselves to rigorous academic study of the four subfields of politics. Outside of the classroom, Sam is an admissions and historical tour guide, telling prospective students about life as a student and telling historical tour groups about the complex past of UVA. He has also served as President of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta Virginia Beta, and as Creative Director of a student-run fashion brand. Upon graduation in May of 2022, Sam will be joining Oliver Wyman in Chicago to work as a management consultant.

    • Ms. Kylie Burke

      Kylie Burke is a California, Bay Area native and graduate of Howard University, where she received an honors B.A. in Political Science and Psychology. Kylie worked each semester of her undergraduate career, including being selected for the highly competitive Congressional Fellowship for then-Senator Kamala Harris and interning for the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama. While serving as Howard’s student body president her senior year, Kylie testified before the U.S. House Congressional Committee on Oversight & Reform in support of increased funding and resources for Historically Black Colleges & Universities. Currently, Kylie is a second-year law student, Opportunity Scholar, and Dean’s Merit Award Receipt at Georgetown Law. On campus, she serves as a staff editor for the “MCRP” Law Journal, the Vice President of Georgetown’s Black Law Student Association, and continues to advocate for HBCUs through recruitment efforts with the Office of Admissions.

    • Mr. Tyler Burkhardt

      Tyler Burkhardt is a Eugene McDermott Scholar pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Dallas, where he serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Mercury, UTD's student newspaper. His interest in White House history stems from his time working at the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, and he hopes to pursue a career in local government post-graduation. Tyler calls Reno, Nevada home and in his free time enjoys fishing, skiing, and playing board games.

    • Mr. Jim Byron

      Jim serves as the President & CEO of the Richard Nixon Foundation. He has been involved with the Richard Nixon Foundation for nearly 15 years, gaining a wealth of experience in strategic planning, message development and nonprofit advancement. Byron is a native of Santa Monica, California and grew up in Orange County. He is a graduate of Chapman University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a Minor in History. He was Vice President of Phi Delta Theta’s California Phi Chapter. He now serves as Chairman of the California Phi Chapter Advisory Board and a member of the Board of The Pacific Club in Newport Beach.

    • Mr. Kevin Carroll

      Kevin was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he has called home for the past 10 years and works in commercial real estate. Architecture and historic preservation are his interests.

    • CPT Mark Cartagena-McGinnis

      US Army Captain Mark McGinnis is a Detroit native whose interest in service began when he was selected as US Senate Page and continued at West Point when he went on a mission trip to Haiti. As a United States Military Academy Graduate, he earned the Schwarzman Scholarship and earned a master’s degree in Public Policy. As an Army Aviator, he has served in Afghanistan and Kuwait. While currently stationed at Fort Drum, NY, he also serves as a fellow for the Center for Junior Officers and Brigade Executive Assistant.

    • Ms. Gabrielle Chapman

      Gabrielle earned her BA in History at Northeastern University after completing two full-time internships at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C, and the Massachusetts State House in the tours and education department. In 2018, Gabrielle earned her MA in Public History at Northeastern University, while working full-time at Historic Boston Inc., a local non-profit that rehabilitates historic buildings for new uses. As a current member of the Boston Preservation Alliance Young Advisors Executive Board, Gabrielle helps to plan, facilitate, and execute preservation-oriented events and networking events to unify the young preservation professionals in Greater Boston. Gabrielle currently works as a Senior Administrative Assistant at MIT in Cambridge.

    • Mr. Kanin Clark

      Kanin Clark is a project manager at The Dufour Collaborative, an experience design firm in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of Emory & Henry College where he received his B.A. with a history and mass communications double major. Prior to graduating in 2021, Kanin interned at the White House Historical Association in the office of the president. Passionate about historic architecture and the decorative arts, Kanin enjoys visiting historic sites and collecting early American antiques.

    • Ms. Courtney Clawson

      Courtney Clawson is a communications coordinator at The Washington Post where she works daily to amplify Post journalists and their reporting. She graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in History, earning honors for her thesis entitled “Gridiron Girls: Women and American Football, 1954-1980.” At Davidson, Courtney also served as the chair of the college’s Honor Council, presiding over all hearings and representing Davidson College through a number of public speaking engagements. Outside of the office, Courtney is an avid reader and passionate sports fan. As a new resident of the greater Washington area, she enjoys exploring the city’s history, entertainment, culture and restaurants.

    • Ms. Kaitlan Collins

      Kaitlan is CNN's Chief White House Correspondent based in Washington, D.C. Since joining the network in 2017, Collins has broken several stories in her coverage of both the Biden and Trump administrations, including major staff departures and consequential policy decisions. In the past four years, she's covered President Biden and President Trump abroad, and pushed both on the world stage. Collins also reported extensively on the Senate special election in her home state of Alabama.

    • Mr. Cyrus Commissariat

      Cyrus Commissariat is a proud Arizonan currently pursuing a JD at the Northwestern Pritzker School of law in Chicago, Illinois. He is a graduate of Arizona State University where he majored in history, political science, and French. While working towards his education he has advocated for public education, civic engagement, and further explored his interest in education law and policy.

    • Mr. Andrew Cote

      Andrew Coté currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Director of Federal and Defense at BRINC Drones. Mr. Coté most recently served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism (Irregular Warfare), the Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, and the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism (Irregular Warfare). Prior to his roles in the Department of Defense, Mr. Coté served as a Marine Officer for seven years, billets included Marine Security Force Commander at the White House Communications Agency, Military Social Aide to the 44th and 45th Presidential Administrations, Presidential Support Platoon Commander, and staff officer 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines 'America's Battalion.' In addition to the WHHA Next-Gen Leadership Ambassador Fellowship, Mr. Coté serves on the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Washington D.C. Board of Directors, NDIA Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict Board, the American Freedom Fund, the Atlantic Council GeoTech Action Council, and the Johns Hopkins Lacrosse Advisory Board.

    • Ms. Claudia Covert

      Born and raised in Austin, Texas. Graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern California Annenberg with a BA in Communication ‘20 and Magna Cum Laude with a Masters of Communication Management ‘21 also from the University of Southern California. Claudia currently resides in Austin, Texas and works for Adelo Mortgage as the Executive Assistant and Marketing Coordinator. She is currently training for her 3rd half marathon, so most of her free time right now is spent running around Lady Bird Lake in Austin. She is a great-granddaughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

    • Mr. John Covert

      John Covert is a third year law student at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC where his research is primarily focused on transactional and merger work as well as voting rights and election law. Upon graduating law school in May, he will be working at a merger and acquisition company in an in-house legal role in Charleston, South Carolina. A native of Austin, Texas, he attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in history. He is a great-grandson of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

    • Mr. Andrew Davenport

      Andrew M. Davenport is the Public Historian at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and Manager of the Getting Word African American Oral History Project. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in U.S. History at Georgetown University. Davenport has published in Lapham’s Quarterly, Los Angeles Review of Books, and Smithsonian Magazine. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Agora Foundation (Lapham’s Quarterly). Davenport has taught middle school history at Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, high school history at Fairfield College Preparatory School, African American Art History at Fairfield University, and a course on the history of the Georgetown neighborhood at Georgetown University. He earned a B.A. in English from Kenyon College, an M.A. in American Studies from Fairfield University, and an M.A. in U.S. History from Georgetown University.

    • Mr. Benjamin Decatur

      Benjamin Decatur serves as Communications Director for Congressman Josh Brecheen (OK-02). Prior to working for the House of Representatives, Ben was the Digital Communications Director at the Club for Growth, the leading free market advocacy organization in the nation. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and lives in Washington, D.C.

    • Mr. Kurt Deion

      Kurt Deion is a public historian, author, guest speaker, and presidential expert for RoadsideAmerica.com. He holds an M.A. in history. At age 14 he launched KurtsHistoricSites.com as a means to both document his travels and to encourage others to visit gravesites and engage in hands-on-history. His website and his cemetery pilgrimages were the subject of a 2015 interview on the C-SPAN show Q&A, hosted by network founder Brian Lamb. A native of Cranston, Rhode Island, he relocated to Washington, D.C. in 2023 to work on the visitor services team at Historic Congressional Cemetery. He is the author of the book, Presidential Grave Hunter: One Kid’s Quest to Visit the Tombs of Every President and Vice President.

    • Mr. Jeremiah de Sesto

      Jeremiah de Sesto, a candidate for a Master's in Public Policy at Harvard University, holds degrees in Management Information Systems, International Affairs, and International Business from the University of Georgia. As the Head of Business Development at the Boston-based startup Rocket Solutions, he brings a wealth of experience, including roles as an aide in the Biden administration, a legislative aide in the Georgia General Assembly, an associate at EY-Parthenon, and a staff assistant at Coca-Cola Bottling Company United and Delta Airlines. Recognized as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, Coca-Cola Scholar, and a member of Georgia's First-Gen 40 under 40 inaugural class, de Sesto is dedicated to leveraging his diverse background and identities, especially as a First-Generation Filipino-American, to champion the rights of individuals and combat abuse of power and corruption.

    • Mr. Royce Dickerson

      Royce L. Dickerson, MBA currently serves as Associate Director for White House Operations and served as an Inaugural Co-Chair of the Next-Gen Leaders program. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, the National Black MBA Association, and is also a licensed Realtor®. A graduate of The University of Alabama, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and MBA. Royce was the recipient of the 2021 Alumni Student Award and was recognized as a member of the inaugural 18 Under 31 Young Alumni Class by the UA National Alumni Association, recognizing his contributions and achievements within and beyond the University community. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he often spends time serving his community through involvement with the Alabama Department of Corrections, the Blackburn Institute, Children’s Miracle Network, Keller Williams Reality, The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, The United Way, and various volunteer ministries.

    • Ms. Kaley Dietrich

      Kaley Dietrich is an Archivist with the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). She holds a M.A. in History with a concentration on women’s history and Irish history as well as a M.L.I.S. with a concentration in Archives and Digital Curation. She has a wide range of experience in the field of library science, university archives, law school libraries, and archival consulting firms before making her way to NARA, where she works to increase access to records for researchers and the public.

    • Ms. Isabelle Ezratty

      As Partnerships Associate, Isabelle assists Concordia’s Partnerships Department in managing the organization’s institutional and individual programs, ensuring that each member of the Concordia community is optimizing their membership and leveraging Concordia’s Convene-Connect-Create model to its fullest. Prior to joining Concordia, Isabelle worked in marketing at The Estée Lauder Companies. She also interned at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, where she worked for The Sabrina Saltiel Team to boost their social media presence. Isabelle was a student-athlete at the University of Virginia, where she received a Bachelor’s in Sociology while playing on the Women’s Varsity Squash Team.

    • Ms. Emma Farris

      Emma Farris is Assistant to the Chair on Countering Illicit Trade and Preventing Transnational Organized Crime at the University for Peace, a United Nations-affiliated organization located in Costa Rica. Emma graduated from The George Washington University (GWU) in 2019 with a BA in International Affairs and Concentrations in Security Policy and Latin America. As a student, she completed two academic exchanges at Universidad Torcuato di Tella in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia, where she completed a capstone research project on Colombia’s Transitional Justice System. At GWU, Emma interned at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), the Embassy of Spain, and the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, among other organizations. Upon graduation, Emma was selected to represent Princeton in Latin America as a fellow in Costa Rica at the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, where she later assumed the role of Program Officer.

    • Mr. Giacomo Ferragamo

      Giacomo is a student at Georgetown with the intention of majoring in History. Having had the privilege of growing up between Italy and the U.S., his bi-culturalism has given him a unique lens with which to view the world. He loves reading and watching his favorite soccer team, Fiorentina, and playing with his 3-year-old dog, Cleo. He is currently interning at the White House Historical Association.

    • Ms. Ashleigh Fields

      Ashleigh Fields is a well-established writer and two-time self-published author who is currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief for The Hilltop; the nation’s oldest and largest black collegiate newspaper. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Blavity, HBCU Times in addition to some of the nation's top outlets for news. It is her hope to begin developing her own media conglomerate dedicated to minority news with a primary focus on the Black community upon graduation. She was the 2021 winner of the White House Correspondents’ Association’s Harry S. McAlpin Jr. Scholarship.

    • Ms. Nia Franklin

      Nia Imani Franklin is a composer, actress, and singer who has had her music performed by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Friction Quartet, and many others. Nia also became the Composer in Residence at Festival Napa Valley in 2021, where she premiered several works and was awarded the Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi Prize for Excellence and Innovation in Classical Music. After concluding her Lincoln Center fellowship, she earned the jobs of Miss New York 2018 and Miss America 2019. Nia holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition and Theory from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, as well as a master’s degree in Music Composition from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. In 2019, she founded Compose Her - an initiative that seeks to empower women in music.

    • Ms. Teagan Gara

      Teagan Gara earned her B.S. in Journalism and Mass Communications and a B.A. in Political Science at Iowa State University. A Hampshire, Illinois native, Teagan recently moved to Arlington, Virginia where she is currently working at PLUS Communications as a digital associate. In this role, she creates social and strategic content for campaigns. She was previously a White House Correspondents’ Association scholarship recipient, being awarded the Hugh S. Sidey Scholarship with the White House Historical Association in 2020.

    • Ms. Paige Grande

      Born and raised in Southern California, Paige Grande graduated from the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Political Communication. She works in Washington, DC for a crisis communications firm. Beginning in the fall of 2022, she will be pursuing her Masters of Public Service Administration with a concentration in emergency preparedness and homeland security at The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Paige has been a friend of the White House Historical Association since her internship in 2017 and continues to believe in the importance of preserving the history and legacy of the White House for generations to come.

    • Ms. Kamina Griffin

      Kamina Griffin is a junior in Economics & Comparative Women’s Studies significant pursuing a double minor in Management & Organization and Entrepreneurship & Innovation from Jackson, Mississippi. She is also the CEO/Founder of SECURE. The intuitive and user-friendly interface allows students to create profiles highlighting their academic interests, hobbies, career aspirations, and the ability to network using AI technology. Kamina plans to pursue a combined J.D./M.P.P. and enter a career in Corporate Law. Kamina plans on continuing to fight for undergraduate students to excel within their academic, financial, and social security even after a change has been made noticeable.

    • Ms. Kiki Griffith

      Keyawna (Kiki) Griffith is an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Washington, D.C., where she has represented clients in connection with government investigations and complex litigation. In recognition of her work, Ms. Griffith has been named to The National Black Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 list. Ms. Griffith’s interest in White House and presidential history began when she was nine years old after her dad gave her Presidents by James Barber—a kid-friendly summary about every U.S. President from George Washington to Bill Clinton. Her favorite genre continues to be biographies about U.S. Presidents.

    • Mr. Noah Harris

      Noah Harris is a Confidential Assistant in the Office of Management and Budget at the White House where he works with federal agencies to help shape regulations. Previously, Harris served as Legislative Director in the Office of Congressman Bennie Thompson. A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Harris graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Government in 2022. At Harvard, Harris served as president of the Harvard student government, becoming the first Black male student body president in Harvard’s 386-year history. Harris was also chosen as a Truman Scholar for his commitment to public service and delivered the 371st Harvard Commencement Address entitled “The Caged Bird Sings.” Harris is the author of the children’s book Successville, which teaches kids they can do anything in life if they are willing to work hard in school, set goals, and develop talents.

    • Ms. Tracee Haupt

      Tracee Haupt is a Digital Collections Specialist at the Library of Congress, where she is a member of the Web Archiving Team. She was previously the Digital Archive Coordinator for Bunk History, and she has held fellowship or internship positions at the Smithsonian Institution, the Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library, the History Factory, the University of Maryland, and the Maryland Center for History and Culture. Her professional and academic accomplishments have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Sacknoff Prize for Space History.

    • Mr. Payne Hill

      Payne Hill, originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, is a Consultant at FTI Consulting in Washington, D.C. He specializes in strategic communications for financial services clients. His interest in communications sparked during a summer internship in 2021 with the US House Foreign Affairs Committee under Chairman McCaul. Payne graduated with a BA in history from Sewanee: The University of the South in May 2022, while competing in NCAA Division III golf. Beyond work, he's an Eagle Scout and avid golfer, often found enjoying golf in the Washington, D.C. area.

    • Mr. John D. Holden, III

      John D. Holden, III, “Jack,” is a native of Wilmington, Delaware. His early interest in American history, specifically in U.S. presidents and their respective policies on global and national issues, shaped an interest in the law. During his college years Jack worked on a variety of housing projects. He built orphanages in Guatemala, and houses for the homeless, veterans, and the elderly while concentrating on the revitalization of areas of poverty throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. Jack has worked for Republicans and Democrats on Campaign Committees for Governor, Judges, Mayor, as well as Campaign Manager for City Council in both South Carolina and Delaware. Through his community involvement he has made material impacts through advocating for non partisan legislation regarding mental health and environmental protection. He is a 2020 graduate of Pennsylvania State University where he majored in History and Medieval Studies, 2020 Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Planning Real Estate Development Investment and Analysis Program, and currently attends the Charleston School of Law.

    • Mrs. Alyson Holland

      Alyson Holland is a documentary film producer (Agent Number 9: The Clint Hill Story (2024)), as well as the creator and host of Kennedy Dynasty, a popular weekly podcast spotlighting the history and legacy of the Kennedy family across time and culture. Alyson’s work stands at the crossroads of past and present cultural throughlines. Holding a B.B.A. with a Marketing concentration from Middle Tennessee State University, she lives in Nashville with her husband and children. Her films and projects provide a relevant curation of stories from modern history as they intersect social issues and societal trends.

    • Mr. Eric Horne

      Born and raised in Southern California, Eric Horne is a current MBA Candidate at Harvard Business School where he is studying the intersection of government and business. Inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation policies, Eric is planning to work at a startup deploying wildfire management technology in California. Prior to Harvard, Eric served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in China and Congressional Affairs Specialist at the Food and Drug Administration. Eric has found inspiration for his public service in the memoirs and biographies of American presidents and hopes to inspire young people to find connections with presidential history.

    • Ms. Callie Hoyt

      Callie Hoyt joined the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) as Director of Federal Government Relations in February 2018 and has since been promoted as Senior Director. In her role at NMMA she represents the marine industry at the federal level on the most salient issues facing the recreation economy including infrastructure, recreation access, climate sustainability, business environment, and fuel policy. She has more than 10 years of experience in conceptualizing and developing impactful policies, and delivering issue-based advocacy campaigns. Callie has been recognized by Boating Industry magazine as a 2022 Women Making Waves and the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics as a 2022 Top Lobbyist. Callie grew up in Fairfax, Virginia and has a B.A. in History with a Minor in Art History from George Mason University, where she played Division I lacrosse. As an undergrad, she served as an intern in the offices of then-U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (WY-00) and former Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman John Mica (FL-07).

    • Courtland Ingraham

      Courtland “Cody” McEneny Ingraham is a graduate student studying American Legal History at The George Washington University (M.A.’20, J.D ’23). He graduated from Siena College in 2018 with a B.A. in history and political science and minors in German, Revolutionary-Era studies, pre-law, and broadcast journalism. In 2017, Cody completed a semester-in-residence with the National Institute for American History and Democracy at the College of William and Mary and interned at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Cody’s research focuses on American political history, particularly the President’s role as party leader and the emergence of the modern presidency. In 2020, Courtland completed his master’s thesis with Prof. Denver Brunsman, titled First in War, First in Peace, First in Retirement: How George Washington Shaped the Political Influence of the Post-Presidency. In February 2020, Cody curated an exhibit with the George Washington University and Textile Museum titled “George Washington and His World.” Cody has also published research in the George Washington’s Mount Vernon Digital Encyclopedia, the George Washington University Museum Washingtoniana Blog, and the Federal Communications Law Journal. He has presented research at conferences across the Northeast in effort to share new perspectives on presidential history and a variety of audiences.

    • Ms. Holly Irwin

      Holly Irwin (she/her) was raised just outside of Washington, DC, and doesn't want to leave anytime soon as she loves the atmosphere and culture of the District. She been working in the museum field for over six years in many different capacities, bot solely focuses her work and studies on public programming, community engagement, and social justice education within a museum space. She is currently working towards getting her Master's in Museum Studies from the George Washington University and looking forward to graduating in May of 2022. Her hope is to assist and lead the change that is needed in the museum field so that museums become inclusive, safe, and comfortable spaces for not only visitors, but their dedicated and diverse staff. She was a recipient of the 2018 White House Historical Association Presidential Sites Summit Scholarship.

    • Ms. Isha Jog Keuper

      As a first-generation immigrant, Isha Jog Keuper was born in India and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She is an HR and Employee Experience professional who has worked at Yelp, PepsiCo, and Facebook before transitioning into M&A Deals Strategy as a Senior Associate at KPMG. Isha earned her B.A. from Loyola University Chicago and recently completed her M.A. in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from Indiana Wesleyan University. While in college she served as a Community Leader for Google, competed in the Miss America Scholarship Organization, and was selected to represent the United States at the International Youth Agriculture Summit in Canberra, Australia, where she worked with student leaders from around the world to develop solutions for food insecurity. Outside of her work and volunteerism, Isha is a professional Indian Classical Kathak dancer, choreographer, and a Guinness World Record titleholder for knee spins.

    • Ms. Della Jones

      Della Jones is a graduate student at George Washington University where she studies Cybersecurity in Computer Science as a CyberCorps Scholar while interning for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Graduating magna cum laude from Mississippi State University in Computer Science, she served as Director of Panhellenic Finance for the largest women’s organization on campus. Additionally, she was recognized as a Montgomery Leadership Scholar, emphasizing STEM education in elementary school children. She hopes to use her expertise to further support the United States government while advocating for STEM education, especially for young girls, shaping a future generation of empowered individuals.

    • Mr. Keith Jones

      Keith Jones is an MBA candidate at the Stern School of Business at New York University. He is interested in the intersection of human rights, political risk, and tech innovation. Before Stern, Keith was the Associate Director of the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center, where he oversaw the development of research projects that investigated how emerging and frontier technologies impact geopolitics. Previously, he was the Assistant Director of Corporate Relations for the Atlantic Council, helping to shepherd ~$17M in revenue from 170+ companies annually. Keith began his career at the White House Historical Association, where he was Assistant to the President, Special Projects. Keith is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of GreenLight Solutions Foundation, a nonprofit that trains college students to be sustainability professionals and places them on consulting projects with small businesses. Keith has received training on combating disinformation as a 360/Digital Sherlock Scholar with the Digital Forensic Research Lab, been awarded a Global Ally fellowship with the African Middle Eastern Leadership Project, conducted research on active citizenship in Tunisia as a Richter Scholar, and was an editorial assistant on the Rutledge Handbook on Human Rights in the Middle East and North Africa. He received his B.A. in Diplomacy & World Affairs from Occidental College. Outside of work, Keith plays pickup basketball (poorly), guitar (passably), and complains about pop music (presumptuously).

    • Ms. Merrit Jones

      Merrit Jones serves as an Advisor at Student Voice, a by-students, for-students 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in all 50 states to equip students as storytellers, organizers, and partners who advocate for student-driven solutions to educational inequity. She joined the Student Voice team after getting involved in state-wide advocacy efforts as a high school junior when she noticed disparities among South Carolina schools. Since 2015, Merrit has traveled across the U.S. where she has talked with over 10,000 students about their experiences in schools. A recent graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill, she is now splitting time between DC and her home in South Carolina to work as a fellow at ALL4SC where she does Whole Child Education policy and practice work across the state. In 2021, she was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for her work with Student Voice.

    • Ms. Emily Karl

      Emily Karl is a DC native living in NYC with a background in product, journalism, and psychology. She currently works as a Digital Product Design Strategist at JPMorgan - working to humanize financial services and understand customer needs to build products in the Commercial Banking space. She would like to one day bring her technology experience back to the world of media. In the past you could find her roaming the halls of Capitol Hill as a reporter for CNN, working with the Google News Labs team to create newsletters for journalists, and working with engineers to apply the design thinking process to finance, cleaning products, media strategy, and her life.

    • Ms. Catherine Grace Katz

      Catherine Grace Katz is a writer and historian originally from Winnetka, IL. She the author of The Daughters of Yalta: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War (Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2020; Telegraph Best History Books of 2020; Amazon Editors’ Pick). Catherine graduated magna cum laude with a degree in History from Harvard and received her MPhil in Modern European History from Christ’s College, University of Cambridge. After graduating, Catherine worked in finance in New York City before a fortuitous visit to the bookstore in the lobby of her office led her to return to history and writing. She is currently pursuing her JD at Harvard Law School.

    • Ms. Katie Rispoli Keaotamai

      Since 2012, Katie Rispoli Keaotamai has led community-based initiatives and projects that center around historic places, cross-cultural communication, and small business support. She has become well-known as an advocate for youth participation in the field of historic preservation, and routinely advocates for a more inclusive practice to support the next generation of cultural resource professionals. Katie is particularly passionate about the need for cities to plan for climate resiliency - Her day-to-day work relocating and rehabilitating existing buildings has allowed her to investigate the feasibility of lifting, moving, and altering existing structures to prepare for sea level rise and other climate-related impacts. Katie holds a BA in Art History from California State University, Long Beach and a Masters of Heritage Conservation from the University of Southern California. In addition to her work as an independent consultant, she manages real estate development incentive programs for the City of Beaverton, Oregon and teaches in the University of Oregon's Masters of Historic Preservation program.

    • Ms. Hadley Keller

      Hadley is a longtime design writer and editor currently serving as Director of Editorial and Community Engagement at the Design Leadership Network, a professional community of architects, interior, and landscape designers. Previously, she was Digital Director at House Beautiful, the nation’s oldest continually-published shelter magazine, and the founding editor at Architectural Digest’s AD PRO. She's a frequent speaker on subjects relating to the design industry and a proud supporter of the ICAA, the Oasis Alliance, the Kips Bay Showhouse, the BIDN, and the BAD Guild. Her debut book, Beachside: Windsor Architecture and Design, chronicles the best architecture and design at the New Urbanist community of Windsor in Vero Beach, Florida. It was published with the design publisher Vendome in Fall, 2021.

    • Ms. Stephanie Lai

      Stephanie Lai is a National Politics Reporter with Bloomberg News where she is covering the 2024 election. She was previously a congressional reporter at the New York Times as part of the 2022 fellowship class. She graduated Magna cum laude from Columbia University with a degree in political science. She was previously a White House Correspondents' Association scholarship recipient, a ProPublica Emerging Reporter fellow and an intern at the Wall Street Journal. Lai also interned on metro desks across the country including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer, and she previously served as the News and Investigations Editor at the Columbia Daily Spectator.

    • LCDR Hans Lauzen

      Lieutenant Commander Hans Lauzen is an active duty United States Navy officer currently assigned to the White House Communication Agency, with significant military experience both deployed and ashore. He previously held the position as senior Service Program Manager at the White House Social Aide program. He is a 2011 graduate of the University of Southern California, and a 2019 graduate of the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. He currently serves as a Young Advisor to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and is an active and proud supporter of the White House Historical Association.

    • Mrs. Madison Leonard

      Madison Leonard is an operatic soprano originally from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. After receiving degrees from Pepperdine University (B.A.) and Northwestern University (M.M.), she trained as a Cafritz Young Artist at Washington National Opera before launching her freelance performance career. A winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, she has traveled and performed classical music across the United States and made her international debut in London this past summer as Sophie in Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier with Garsington Opera. She now lives in Orem, Utah with her husband Shea Owens, a professor of music and the director of opera at Brigham Young University, and they had their first child this past November.

    • Mr. Theodore Leonhardt

      Theodore L. Leonhardt is a research associate at Kissinger Associates. Previously, he was a corporate lawyer at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York City. He began his career in investment banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Three Ocean Partners. Leonhardt received both his undergraduate and law degrees magna cum laude from Duke and is the co-author of Divine Fire: Groton School and the American Century.

    • Mrs. Monica Logothetis

      Monica is the Co-Founder & Chairwoman of DreamWakers, a national education technology nonprofit that virtually connects 4th-12th grade classrooms to exceptional career professionals. Under her leadership, DreamWakers has served 35,000+ students systemically under-resourced and rural schools across 45 states. Her current research focuses on workforce opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. Monica’s new podcast — Jail to Jobs — shines a light on the unique hurdles and real-life human stories behind the facts and figures of incarceration, reentry, and economic mobility in America. Her work has been recognized in outlets such as Education Next, Forbes, The New York Times, and Vogue, and she has been named a Toyota ‘Mother of Invention,’ a Glamour ‘Hero Among Us,’ and a L’Oréal Paris ‘Woman of Worth.’ She serves on the boards of Harlem Academy, Madison House, and Social Innovation at the University of Virginia.

    • Mr. Nicholas Maguire

      Nick is a Marine Corps veteran whose most recent assignment was command of the historic United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. He also served as a White House Military Social Aide to the 45th and 46th Presidents of the United States and was the Marine Corps’ White House Social Aide Program Director in 2021 and 2022. Prior to assignment in Washington, D.C., Nick was an infantry officer with 1st Battalion, 3d Marines in Kaneohe, Hawaii, where he deployed twice to Southeast Asia. Nick graduated from Columbia University in 2016 where he earned a BA in Political Science and was captain of the baseball team. He currently resides in Morris County, New Jersey and works at Valley Financial Management in New York City.

    • Ms. Morgan Maloney

      Morgan Maloney is a current J.D. and M.A. in History candidate at the University of Virginia. She is a member of the Virginia Law Review and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in history and politics from Washington and Lee University. She was a recipient of the 2018 White House Historical Association Presidential Sites Summit Scholarship.

    • Mr. Clay Martinson

      Clay Martinson is finishing his third year of law school at The University of Alabama School of Law. Before law school, Clay graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in history from The University of Alabama. After law school, Clay will begin practicing law at Martinson and Beason in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, where he will be a general civil litigator. Clay’s interests include presidential history, early American history, sports, and politics.

    • Mr. John Maslin

      John Maslin is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University. Previously, John served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy where he worked as the Financial Manager for the Ballistic Missile and Fast Attack Submarine Programs at the Navy's Nuclear Propulsion Program in Washington, D.C. John also served as Board Treasurer for the Boys & Girls Clubs’ of Washington, D.C. He holds an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Cambridge.

    • Mr. Barnaby May

      Barnaby May is currently a final year undergraduate student studying Theology at the University of Edinburgh. Alongside his studies he is also the current President of the university's Men's Rugby Club. During the summer of 2022 he was fortunate enough to spend time as an intern at the WHHA where, despite being British, he developed his strong passion for American and presidential history.

    • Ms. Giovanna McBride

      Giovanna “Gigi” McBride was born and raised in Washington D.C. She often visited the White House during the Administration of George W. Bush when her mother Anita McBride served as Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush. Giovanna was inspired to write a children’s book, Gigi in the White House, published by the White House Historical Association and based on the many memories of her visits over those eight years. Gigi is currently studying early childhood education at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and is a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority.

    • Mr. James McEnerney, Co-Chair

      Shea McEnerney is a final-semester Master’s candidate at Clemson University pursuing a Master of Science in Historic Preservation specializing in hands-on conservation of historic material, project management and the architectural practice of preservation. Most recent field experience includes internship work with Lotts Architecture & Urbanism of Dublin, Ireland, and The Irish Georgian Society. These immersive opportunities during the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2021 have provided exposure to and hands-on work with the conservation trade and the environmentally compatible relationship between historic structures and our modern communities both local and international.

    • Ms. Eloise McIntosh

      Eloise McIntosh was born in Toronto, Canada, as a dual citizen to both the United States and Canada. In her 22 years of life, Eloise has learned the value of resiliency, empathy and advocacy. After being diagnosed with cancer as a young teen, Eloise has made it her life's mission to advocate for the pediatric oncology community, most notably through founding her own company, the Good Hood Club, during her junior year of college. The Good Hood Club is a loungewear company designed to champion kids with cancer, donating 50% of their profits to pediatric oncology initiatives. As a presidential descendant, Eloise hopes to continue to enrich her learning of and affinity for presidential history and the sacredness of the White House.

    • Ms. Sophie McPherson

      Sophie McPherson is a MA (hons) degree student at the University of Dundee in Scotland, studying History with an American and African specialisation. She is also heavily involved in sport, captaining the University Women’s Rugby Football XI team alongside playing for the Dundee Valkyries XI team. In 2022, she was awarded ‘Best Young Player’ by Dundee Rugby Club. Additionally, Sophie is the secretary of the Dundee University Olympic Weightlifting team, competing throughout the academic year.

    • Ms. Caitlyn McTier

      In 2012, Caitlyn started her community service organization “Project FIERCE” to help put an end to food insecurity in her community. Ten years later, she has received national awards for work including the Spirit of Prudential and President Obama Community Service Award. Serving as a founding member of the Alabama College Food Insecurity Coalition, she conducted an independent study collecting qualitative and quantitative data on college food insecurity, which was the first of its kind. Caitlyn serves on multiple boards and coalitions and has raised thousands of dollars supporting families in need. Professionally, Caitlyn works in New York City full time in AD Sales for Turner Sports, an affiliate of WarnerMedia, and has years of experience in sales, post-production, camera operation, event planning, and public speaking. She has worked with respected companies such as CNN, NBA TV, TBS, ESPN’s SEC Network, and Apple. A Summa Cum Laude graduate of The University of Alabama, Caitlyn studied Journalism and Creative Media. While at Alabama, she performed research in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative on the history of lynching and its public remembrance in the American South. Upon graduating, Caitlyn received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for excellence in character and service to humanity which is considered to be the highest award that an undergraduate student can receive.

    • Mr. Bennett Miller

      Ben Miller is a fourth year bachelor's/master's student in history at the University of Chicago. A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, his research focuses on evolving ideologies of race in 20th century America, usually in the context of the D.C. area. He has contributed to projects for the National Archives, American Historical Association, Norton & Company, WETA, and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, among others.

    • Ms. Lindsay Moynihan

      Lindsay Moynihan is an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park studying history. Her honors thesis focuses on the 1954 CIA-sponsored Guatemalan coup and explores the event and its aftermath through the interactions of gender and power. She has interned with National History Day, a history nonprofit for students in grades 4-12, as well as the Office of the Historian of the House of Representatives and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

    • Mr. Joe Nail

      Joe is the CEO & Co-Founder of Lead For America (LFA), a national service program building the next generation of leaders for our country and American communities in all 50 states. LFA’s flagship program is a paid, full-time service Fellowship for outstanding leaders to work on a critical challenge facing their hometown or home state, before advancing into positions of community, state, and national leadership for decades to come. In the last three years, Lead For America has created 215 new, full-time Fellowships in more than 150 communities nationwide, and has been featured in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CBS This Morning, and NPR. Joe has been awarded Fellowships from Summit, Praxis, and National Geographic, and in 2020, was named to Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 list. Joe was born and raised in Kansas, and both he and Lead For America are based in Dodge City, a strong community of 30,000 in Southwest Kansas. Joe also serves as a soldier in the U.S. Army National Guard and is an avid outdoorsman, Ironman triathlete, and ultramarathoner.

    • Mr. Alexander Nason

      Alex Nason is a recent graduate of New York University, with a degree focus in electoral politics, Irish emigration patterns, and French language and literature. Having worked on Democratic campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels, Alex is deeply passionate about political management and the electoral process. A native of Dublin, Ireland, who grew up in Brussels, Paris, and New York, Alex brings his International background to bear in his work in the government relations field. As an Irishman living in the nation’s capital, Alex has a particular interest in the deep and rich historical ties between Ireland and the United States, and the unique influence of Irish heritage in Presidential politics.

    • Ms. Taylor Nguyen

      I was born in Vietnam and came to the US a decade ago to demonstrate that the American Dream is still very much alive. I have been studying and working tirelessly while actively participating in various community activities. I earned my MBA degree from UMass Dartmouth in 2016. My unwavering passion for education and technology has afforded me great opportunities to work with distinguished tech giants in Silicon Valley, including Apple. I proudly founded the Community of Thai Binh High School for the Gifted in Vietnam, benefiting over 15,000 high school students. In addition to my dedication to education, my commitment to global youth engagement has propelled me to become a national candidate in esteemed programs such as the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Program and the Athgo Global Innovation Forum. These experiences have reinforced my belief that education and innovation possess the transformative power to change lives.

    • Mr. Bennett Ogle

      Bennett Ogle is a third-year student at The University of Alabama simultaneously pursuing a B.A. with majors in economics and mathematics, a M.A. in Quantitative Economics, and a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies through the Accelerated Master’s Program. Raised in Knoxville, TN, he has found his home on campus as a docent at the Gorgas House Museum and brother of Alpha Kappa Psi. He, additionally, serves as founding president of UA Museum Club and is a member of the Blackburn Institute and UA Club Fencing. His professional background spans his interdisciplinary interests with experiences ranging from the U.S. Embassy in Latvia to George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

    • Ms. Anna Olson

      Anna Olson is a Drake University Law School student focusing on media and public interest law. Olson graduated with honors from Iowa State University, where she majored in journalism and political science. Her professional experiences include reporting for the Iowa Caucuses with the Iowa State Daily, working as a Legal Intern for Fielder Law Firm, a Legislative Intern for the Iowa House of Representatives, a Consumer Protection Intern for the Iowa Attorney General, and a PR Intern for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. Olson’s most exciting accomplishment is receiving the Hugh S. Sidey scholarship through the White House Historical Association, where she attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Olson has also worked for nonprofits IRIS and Mentoring for Change and served as a Group Leader for the World Food Prize youth institutes.

    • Ms. Fionnghuala O’Reilly

      Fionnghuala “Fig” O’Reilly is an engineer, entrepreneur, actor and correspondent for CBS's award-winning television series, Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove. The Irish and American beauty pageant titleholder made history as the first woman of color to win Miss Universe Ireland and represent Ireland at the Miss Universe competition. O'Reilly obtained her bachelor of science in systems engineering from the George Washington University. After graduating, Fig became a NASA Datanaut, working within the agency’s open innovation data science program. She is the founder of Space to Reach, a tech startup helping women of color in stem get hired.

    • Ms. Kate Osborne

      Kate is a recent graduate of the University of Alabama College of Education, with a degree in Early Childhood Special Education. Currently, Kate serves as a third through fifth grade autism unit teacher at Smyrna Elementary School in Cobb County, Georgia. Since an early age, Kate has volunteered with several organizations intended to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities.

    • Ms. Chloe Overstreet

      Chloe Overstreet is a 2021 alumna of Eureka College where she majored in Political Science and Business. In the summer of 2021, Chloe interned at the White House Historical Association in the publications department. She is currently based in Kansas City, Missouri working as a law clerk while preparing to enter law school in the fall of 2022.

    • Mrs. Krista A. Pamidimukkala

      Krista is the Senior Manager of Digital Operations at Gucci, where she leads e-commerce operations for the luxury brand. Her professional journey includes roles in both venture capital and management consulting prior to joining Gucci. Krista graduated with honors in Accounting and Economics from Marquette University and earned an MBA with distinction from NYU Stern School of Business. With a commitment to community service, Krista has dedicated nearly a decade to volunteering with the Junior League, including serving on the Board of Directors in Chicago. She is also a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. Beyond her professional and volunteer commitments, Krista is passionate about architecture, design, and historical preservation and is an avid cook and equestrian.

    • Mr. Josiah Parker

      Josiah Parker is an undergraduate student at Salisbury University, majoring in Marketing and double-minoring in Entrepreneurship and Multimedia Journalism. He was appointed by Governor Wes Moore as the Student Regent for the University System of Maryland (USM) as he’ll be representing his institution. Additionally, he is the Founder and CEO of his company, Life Vision, an apparel brand focused on enlightening and reshaping communities through better relationships, connectivity, ingenuity, accountability, and health. In 2016, Josiah had the opportunity to obtain—current NBA player—Kyrie Irving's jersey. Within his journey, he looks forward to helping people find their purpose by motivating those to work to their highest potential and showcasing their creative skills as he’ll do the same.

    • 1LT Sean Patterson

      1LT Patterson's passion for history and government began in his small hometown of Perry, FL and grew while attending West Point. Sean has served overseas in Jordan, Kuwait, and Israel. As an Army officer Sean has been stationed in New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington. During his time at the United States Military Academy he earned the Distinguished Cadet and Pentathlete awards. Sean has published works on gender and race relations in early-twentieth century America, as well as a paper regarding the Army's institutional memory and identity. He currently resides near Seattle, WA and works at Joint Base Lewis-McChord as an air and missile defense operations officer within the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (1MDTF). Sean is happily married to a fellow West Point graduate, 1LT Hannah Patterson. Together, they have a two year-old bernedoodle, Teddy.

    • Mr. Benjamin Plumer

      Benjamin oversees the engagement and management of the Board of Directors, Leadership Council, Senior Advisors, and Advisors at Concordia. As Manager of External Relations and Strategy in the Executive Office, he works directly with the CEO to execute the internal and external initiatives of the Executive Office across the organization. He has work directly with the CEO, Matthew Swift, since joining in 2018. A native New Yorker, Ben holds a degree in History from Trinity College where he was a member of the Crew team. He is an avid fan of the opera, skiing, and the Tottenham Hotspurs.

    • Mr. Lewis Polay

      A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Lewis Polay is a graduate of American University, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History. He has also just graduated with his Masters degree in Public Administration also from American University in the School of Public Affairs. Since moving to DC he has had the opportunity to intern at the United States Department of the Treasury along with the National Restaurant Association and served as as a Student Associate at the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics for the former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović. He most recently interned for Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02)

    • Mr. Zach Quimby

      Born and raised in a small town outside of Richmond, Virginia, Zach developed a passion for leadership and service in his journey to Eagle through the Boy Scouts of America. After three cycles in electoral politics in North Carolina, Zach now works in public affairs advocating for sustainable solutions to the nation’s housing affordability crisis. Zach holds a B.A. in Political Science and U.S. History from High Point University and a M.A. in Political Communication from American University.

    • Ms. Elizabeth Rees

      Elizabeth Rees is a DPhil candidate in History at the University of Oxford. She is a Postgraduate member of the Rothermere American Institute, as well as at the Royal Historical Society. She received her MA in US. Studies from University College London in 2019 with Distinction and holds a BA in History and English Literature from the University of Exeter. Elizabeth’s research investigates the growth of the East Wing Staff between 1961-1976. She has been awarded Fellowships at the Kennedy, Johnson and Ford Presidential Libraries. Her publications include book chapters on sports and the American Presidency with Edinburgh University Press, and on presidents and place with Rowman & Littlefield.

    • Mr. Michael Reinert

      Michael Gregson Reinert is a known leader within the high-fashion, arts and luxury goods industry. He is known for strategically taking his clients branding, marketing and creative direction to record breaking levels and his social posts have proven powerful, being the youngest guest to speak at The Society of The Four Arts on the Palm Beach Youthquake in 2021 where he serves as both a Young Contemporary and Ambassador. Being the CEO/Owner of Reinert & Partners in Palm Beach, FL, he exceeds industry boundaries in an understated manner - if you know, you know. Notable clients include The Royal Poinciana Plaza, with tenants such as Hermes Paris, Oscar De La Renta, Saint Laurent and Sant Ambroeus, The Colony Palm Beach with partnerships including NYC's iconic Swiftys, MyTheresa, Ferragamo and Aerin by Aerin Lauder. Reinert's commitment to the Palm Beach community goes beyond his career. He is currently an Ambassador for the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce and a Junior Committee member for the Palm Beach American Heart Association for a 5th consecutive year. For a second year in a row he has been named Junior Chair for The Center of Family Services Palm Beach, Old Bags Luncheon., noted for its single million dollar donation to the 23rd Annual Luncheon in 2022. A Carolina native, Reinert combines his southern charm, passion for the arts and energetic manner to all situations both professionally and personally.

    • Mr. Matthew Rhodes

      Matt currently serves as Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President of Goldman Sachs. Matt began with the firm in the Office of Government Affairs, providing coverage of US elections and launching the 10,000 Small Businesses Voices program for small business owners. Prior to his time at Goldman Sachs, he worked at the University of Notre Dame in the Institute for Educational Initiatives as Associate Director. Matt began his career as a teacher in New Orleans through Notre Dame's ACE Teaching Fellows Program.

    • Ms. Grace Richards

      Grace Richards recently graduated with a master’s degree in the Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, where she studied the intellectual history of German imperialism. Since September, she has been working at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Frederick C. Robie house, where she regularly gives tours, as well as teaching writing to University of Chicago undergraduates. She plans to begin a doctoral program in history this fall.

    • Mr. Maximilian Rogers

      Maximilian Rogers is a New York City real estate agent at Brown Harris Stevens. He studied International Business at Loyola University New Orleans before transferring to The New School in New York City where he completed a Liberal Arts degree with a focus in Philosophy. While growing up in Washington D.C., Maximilian developed a passion for Classical Architecture and Historic Preservation. He has career experience working in the Cryptocurrency industry as a public policy intern at Coinbase. He also has experience in the Interior Design industry working as a project assistant at Kannalikham Designs.

    • Mrs. Genevieve Ryan Bellaire

      Genevieve is the Founder and CEO of Realworld, a platform to navigate adulthood and its life moments. A lawyer by training, Genevieve began her career at Goldman Sachs and started Realworld to tackle the critical knowledge gap and societal need to prepare young adults to navigate decisions around personal finance, health care, and insurance - what the team calls "real world readiness". To date, she and her team have helped thousands of young adults set themselves on a path to success in early adulthood. Genevieve has a B.A. from Princeton and a J.D./M.B.A. from Georgetown. Beyond her work in tech, she’s passionate about women’s empowerment and democratizing educational opportunity, and loves exploring new cities, culture, cuisine, and wine.

    • Mr. Sean Sandrock

      Sean Sandrock is a student at Eureka College studying both Pre-Law and Vocal Performance. Originally from Tampico, IL Sean lived just a few houses down from President Ronald Reagan's Birthplace Museum where he has been volunteering as a tour guide since 2018.

    • Mr. Rudy Saunders

      Rudy Saunders is Design Director at Dorothy Draper & Company, Inc., America’s oldest established continually operating interior design firm based in New York, New York. He is involved with all aspects of the firm’s commercial design projects, including The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia and Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, along with a list of residential projects around the world. Additionally, he is involved with furniture, textile, lighting, product, event design, and Dorothy Draper Home retail. Originally from Cincinnati, he attended University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) where he received a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design in 2016. A prolific needlepointed, Rudy launched an exclusive needlepoint collection, R! by Rudy in 2020. He is involved with The Fund For Park Avenue, Central Park Conservancy Greensward Circle, and The New York Winter Antique Show.

    • Mr. Andrew Schoka

      A native of northern Virginia, Andrew is an Army veteran and an incoming MBA candidate at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Virginia Tech, where he received his commission as an Army Cyber Officer in 2017. His military career includes a variety of operational assignments across US Army Cyber Command, the Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). While in the National Capital Region, Andrew served nearly five years as a White House Military Social Aide, supporting national events ranging from the 2021 Presidential Inauguration to the annual Turkey Pardon.

    • Ms. Abby Schulte

      Abby Schulte is an American Studies Master’s student at George Washington University with a concentration in museums and material culture. She is originally from Keota, Iowa, and received a BA in history and political Science from Simpson College. Abby’s passion for history and civic engagement began while working on a project during the 2016 Iowa Caucus that involved getting presidential candidates to visit her small rural high school. She hopes to further this passion through a career in public history by contributing to research, writing, and exhibitions that tell often overlooked stories. Her specific research interests include political campaigns, the American presidency, and the role of First Ladies.

    • Ms. Charlotte Seale

      Charlotte Seale is from Dallas, Texas and is currently a Junior at Texas A&M University. Charlotte is a History major and studies Spanish as well. As the Ritual and History Director of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Epsilon Rho chapter, Charlotte has a passion for leadership, fellowship and history. Charlotte works in the Collections department at the George H.W Bush Library in College Station and she hopes to pursue a career centered around American history in the future.

    • LT Jonathan Sessions

      Lieutenant Jonathan P. Sessions is from Memphis, Tennessee and is a United States Navy Supply Officer working at the Naval Reactors Headquarters in the Washington Navy Yard where he oversees acquisition operations for the Naval Nuclear Laboratory. He previously served as the Supply Officer onboard the USS INDIANA (SSN 789) in Norfolk, Virginia where he qualified in submarines and is a Plankowner. Jonathan is also a White House Military Social Aide, working on a Joint Service team of Military Officers tasked with assisting the President and First Lady of the United States host guests and dignitaries from around the world at the White House. In the community he is an Assistant Scoutmaster in his Capitol Hill neighborhood Scouts BSA Troop. Jonathan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Tennessee and a Master’s Degree in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University.

    • Mr. Garrett Smith

      Garrett Smith is a senior political science major at Mississippi State University, home of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, where he serves as Student Association President. His time at MSU has revolved around student government, where he has served as a vice president and senator, as well as writing for the student newspaper. Academically, his primary interest is in international conflict, and he plans to pursue graduate study in international affairs.

    • Ms. Dahlyn Sugrue

      Dahlyn Sugrue is a passionate and driven legal scholar with a proven track record of success in various positions in the legal and political spheres. She has worked as a Congressional Intern, Ops Watch Intern for a DC lobbying firm, and as a Legal Extern for a homeless shelter in downtown Charleston. This summer, she will serve as a Law Clerk for the House Judiciary Committee. Her experience has provided her with invaluable knowledge and connections on Capitol Hill, which will set her apart as a future leader in the legal field. Dahlyn’s dedication to upholding the pillars of our nation through education and advocacy is evidence in her work. She has a strong passion for community and history, which fuels her drive to make a positive impact. With a sound academic background and a strong conservative ideology, she is committed to advancing the principles that make our country great.

    • Mr. Jake Taub

      Jake Taub represents the fourth generation of his family to be deeply entrenched in the wine and spirits industry. He currently serves as Director of Business Development at Palm Bay International, where he is a key leader in the planning and sales execution for the company’s global supplier network. He is also involved in management of California wineries, Saracina and Taub Family Vineyards. Jake and his father have recently launched Jacob’s Pardon, an American Whiskey named after their grandfathers’ pardon from Franklin Delano Roosevelt, received after prohibition. Jake graduated from Cornell University with a concentration in Business, Viticulture, and Enology. While at Cornell, Jake spent extended periods on the ground both in France and Italy, learning the intricacies of winemaking and the business of wine from those countries’ greatest vignerons. Jake is also a founding Board Member of the UJA Federation of New York’s Young Wines & Spirits Committee and will enter the Global EMBA at Columbia Business School in May 2024.

    • Mr. Patrick Trammell

      Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Patrick graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors from the University of Alabama, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Following graduation, he joined Goldman Sachs as a Financial Analyst in the firm’s Private Wealth Management division, where he worked for two years. After his tenure at Goldman, Patrick joined PureNodal, a Dallas-based cloud services startup working to bring next-generation cloud and data processing services to the market. He currently works as Head of Corporate Development and resides in Dallas.

    • Mr. Dean Vu

      Dean is a student from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth majoring in Business Administration with a Finance concentration. He has some work experience in the finance industry and is very interested in history and social science. He plans to pursue graduate study in public policy and international affairs.

    • Ms. Catherine Ward

      Catherine Ward is an attorney whose scholarship has focused on education, state constitutional law, and legal history. Her work has appeared in publications including the Journal of Supreme Court History, the Virginia Law Review Online, and the British Educational Research Journal. After graduating Order of the Coif from the University of Virginia School of Law, Ward clerked for the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals. Ward completed her MPhil in Education (Globalisation and International Development) at the University of Cambridge as a Rotary Global Grant Scholar and her B.A., summa cum laude, at Duke University as a Benjamin N. Duke Scholar.

    • Mr. Dakota Ward

      Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Dakota earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus in Marketing from Mississippi State University. A lover of American history, he helped to start a local cigar company, Liberty Cigars in 2018, acting as Chief Operating Officer. During his time at Liberty Cigars, he was introduced to Stewart McLaurin and has sponsored numerous events at the WHHA providing respite and leisure through wisps of blue smoke to The District. Later Dakota got into podcasting and hosted his own show where he had the chance to interview McLaurin and promote his newest book, James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House. He now acts as Junior Chief of Staff at Atomic-6, an advanced composite manufacturing startup in Georgia that has a proprietary technology with capabilities of achieving performances at 98% of theoretical limit, far surpassing any in the industry.

    • Mr. Ross Ward

      Foregoing a lucrative career as a professional poker player, Ross Ward attended Furman University where he majored in Political Science and served as the President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After graduating, Ross worked for C-SPAN, American History T.V. as a producer, writer, and graphic designer. In recent years, Ross has played an active role in local government, including the management of successful Republican Campaign Committees in South Carolina for Representatives including the re-election of Judge Irvin Condon. Ross currently attends the Charleston School of Law and is the vice president of the Mental Health Matters organization.

    • Ms. Madeleine Winter

      Maddie Winter is a senior at Princeton University (graduating in May of 2022) from Brooklyn, New York. She is majoring in history and obtaining a minor in global health & health policy. Maddie is passionate about medicine and public health, history, the politics of healthcare, and health equity. Her senior thesis explores the development of opposition to the pertussis vaccine in the 1980s and the modern emergence of the anti-vaccine movement. Maddie currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the Princeton Historical Review and is the co-president of the Community Service Inter-Club Council — a community service organization at Princeton focusing on local food insecurity.

    • Mr. Trey Wright

      Trey Walker Wright, Esq. is currently an Attorney at Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea, BenMaier & Eastham, one of the nation’s leading admiralty and maritime civil defense litigation firms based in Houston, Texas. He is a native of Katy, Texas, and holds both a B.B.A. in Management and a Master’s degree in Maritime Business Administration and Logistics from Texas A&M University. Trey has litigation experience in matters originating in areas such as Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific, and the Gulf of Mexico. Trey graduated from the Charleston School of Law in South Carolina, earning pro bono honors. During law school, Trey was appointed as a Temporary Visitor in a guardianship case under the supervision of the Hon. Irvin G. Condon, one of the country’s leading probate jurists. Judge Condon founded the James Hoban Society in Charleston, honoring the architect of both The White House and The Charleston Courthouse. In his spare time, Trey enjoys volunteering at Elevation STEM Texas, a local non-profit developer of STEM programs concerning flight simulations and marine engineering, helping underprivileged and at-risk students.

    • Ms. Katrina Wu

      Katrina serves as the Chief of Staff to ownership of BSE Global (parent organization of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty), where she works on matters for the ownership group and special interdepartmental projects. Prior to joining BSE Global, Katrina practiced law at a full practice law firm based in San Diego. She received her B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and her J.D., M.B.A, and LLM in Taxation at the University of San Diego School of Law. Born in California but partly raised in Taiwan, she is fully bilingual in English and Chinese, reading, writing, and speaking.

    • Mr. Carlos Wylde-Gladbach

      Carlos Wylde-Gladbach, born in Ecuador and raised in Arlington, Virginia, is currently a sophomore studying Communication and Digital Media at Neumann University in Aston, Pennsylvania. Soccer is one of his passions, having played since age four and working as a youth soccer coach for the past several years. He sees sports, particularly team sports, as a unifying force within society so he hopes to merge his love of soccer with communications for a career in Sports Broadcasting. Carlos' other passion is history. Growing up in the Washington, DC area, he was surrounded by U.S. history and regularly visited the museums and monuments. One of his favorite memories was meeting and hugging Michele Obama in his Michael Jackson costume at the annual White House Halloween Open House.

    • Mr. Franklin Zyriek

      Franklin is an economic policy analyst at the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, where he works on tribal outreach, education, immigration, tax, and state budget issues. He previously served as legislative correspondent in Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s (I-AZ) D.C. office. In that role, he worked on energy, environmental, public lands, and tribal issues and supported Senator Sinema’s actions on the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Franklin earned a Master in Public Policy degree from American University (AU) as well as a B.A. in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government and a Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies from AU.