Student Profiles

Nathan Baylis, MIA

Career Tracks: International Economics
Region: Japan

Nathan Baylis graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan in 2020, where he studied public policy with a focus on East Asian economic policy. Afterward, he worked at Hyundai as a product strategist and policy analyst, developing new vehicle proposals and market entry strategies by examining trade and environmental policy in the United States. 

Baylis’ interest in international affairs stems from his experience studying abroad in Japan as a high school student. Since then, he has aspired toward global work that bridges cultures and provides widespread benefits. He chose to attend GPS because of its strong ties to the Asia-Pacific, combined with the rigorous training it provides in empirical methods. 

At GPS, his coursework and research interests include international trade, industrial policy and economic development. He also is the vice president of external affairs for Asameshikai, where he leads outreach efforts to connect students with professionals in the Japanese business community. Over the summer, he interned in the economics department at the Japan Research Institute, one of Japan’s leading think tanks.

Mallory Byrd, MIA

Career Tracks: International Environmental Governance
Region: Latin America

Mallory Byrd is originally from southwest Colorado and holds a bachelor of engineering in environmental engineering from Dartmouth College. At GPS, she is pursuing a master of international affairs, specializing in environmental management with a regional focus on Southeast Asia. Her work centers on climate adaptation and resilience, anticipatory action, risk financing, carbon markets and nature-based solutions.

Before GPS, Mallory spent five years at Dalberg Advisors as a project manager and Americas climate deputy, leading consulting teams that supported NGOs, multilaterals and foundations on long-term strategy. Mallory's fieldwork includes leading teams with Engineers Without Borders to build community water systems in Myanmar and working with the dZi Foundation to assess earthquake-resistant school designs in Nepal. At GPS, she has interned with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre on climate resilience in Vietnam, worked as a research assistant focused on urban water security in India and completed a CARE Resilient Futures Fellowship on carbon finance.

Outside the classroom, Mallory is an avid surfer, freediver and runner.

Jiana Choi, MPP

Specializations: American and Comparative Business Regulation/Program Design and Evaluation

Jiana Choi holds a Bachelor of Science in sustainable agriculture and food systems from UC Davis. Her early career centered on direct outreach with small agricultural businesses in California, supporting market positioning, grant access and regulatory assistance for Korean- and Chinese-speaking producers. 

As a staff research associate at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, she secured nearly $1 million in grants for farmers facing extreme weather conditions. She also guided farm owners through USDA organic certification and Food Safety Modernization Act compliance requirements, helping those facing language and digital literacy barriers navigate the process. Additionally, she conducted bilingual community research for the California Strategic Growth Council's Agricultural Land Equity Task Force by facilitating focus groups to shape programs serving small farmers.

At GPS, her academic interests lie in how regulatory frameworks and market structures influence small business competitiveness in global markets. She also serves as a board member of Mannam, a Korea-focused student organization.

Outside of GPS, she has led international business development efforts for a Korean environmental technology company specializing in wastewater diagnostics, representing the company at industry expos across the United States, Japan and Germany. In her free time, she enjoys gardening.

Fernando Domínguez Calderón, MPP

Specializations: Peace and Security

Fernando Domínguez Calderón grew up in the United States, South Africa and Mexico. He earned a B.A. in international relations from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).

He subsequently served as deputy director of strategy and public policy at Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), where he was the principal aide to the chief of staff of the Undersecretariat for North America. His work focused on political, economic, migration, border and security affairs.

Fernando has collaborated with Mexico’s Coordinating Business Council (CCE) office in Washington, D.C., supporting the Mexican private sector’s advocacy efforts during the 2026 United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) review process. His broader experience includes social and behavioral change initiatives with MAGENTA and migration-focused projects with United Nations agencies. 

At GPS, he has collaborated with the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies (USMEX) and as a Teaching Assistant for the Foundations of Strategic Studies course. 

He previously collaborated with USMEX Director Rafael Fernández de Castro and former Mexican Ambassador Roberta Lajous on their book "Hanging by a Thread: Behind the Negotiations of the USMCA," contributing research and editorial support.

Fernando speaks Spanish, English and French. Beyond the classroom, he enjoys surfing, reading and playing music.

Jorge Espinoza, MIA

Career Tracks: International Politics / International Management
Region: Korea

A first-generation college student from California’s Central Valley, Jorge Espinoza began his higher education at San Joaquin Delta College before transferring to UCLA, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in international relations. His academic path has been shaped by a strong interest in international affairs and cross-cultural understanding.

His academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of international business, politics, global operations and emerging technologies, particularly as artificial intelligence and semiconductors reshape economies and international affairs. This past summer, he completed a 12-week internship with Apple’s Global Security organization, gaining experience across global security operations and technology teams, with exposure to crisis management, corporate security, global events and international security operations.

He studied abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul and continues to study Korean and Japanese as part of his broader interest in East Asia. At GPS, he serves as vice president of programming for GO GPS and is involved with Mannam, the school’s Korea-focused student organization. He hopes to pursue a career connecting global operations, international business, technology and the Asia-Pacific region.

Margaret Gach, MCEРА

Disciplinary Specialization: Chinese Foreign Relations and Security

Margaret Gach became interested in international relations and China when her school became the first public program in Massachusetts to offer Mandarin Chinese at the middle school level. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, where she also served as editor-in-chief of The Georgetown Voice. 

She spent three years at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington as research associate to the senior vice president, exploring the intersection of U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics. At the Carnegie Corporation of New York, she deepened her focus on China, working with the vice president to manage the Asia Security grants portfolio and funding projects on U.S.-China relations and the emerging generation of American China experts.

Margaret returned to graduate school to deepen her regional expertise and quantitative skills in pursuit of a career focused on U.S.-China policy. Outside class, she enjoys baking desserts, hiking in national parks and hosting trivia across San Diego.

Jennifer Garnett, MPP

Specializations: Environmental Policy/Peace and Security

Jennifer Garnett is a master of public policy candidate studying environmental policy and peace and security. A graduate of Harvard Law School, she previously practiced corporate law at Covington & Burling LLP in the technology transactions group, specializing in intellectual property, data security and privacy. She returned to graduate school to develop the analytical tools needed for effective policymaking and a career at the intersection of law and policy.

Her academic and professional interests span ocean governance, marine spatial planning, marine conservation and peace and conflict resolution. She also serves on the board of the Galápagos Whale Shark Project, a nonprofit organization that uses scientific research on whale shark populations to inform marine conservation policy.

In summer 2026, she interned with Mitsubishi Research Institute in Tokyo, working with its frontiers innovation and green energy transition teams on ocean governance-related issues, including the regulation of hydrographic data in emerging technologies and the importance of marine spatial planning for the coexistence of offshore wind development and fisheries management.

At GPS, she serves as a teaching assistant for microeconomics and is on the board of Net Impact. She is also an avid scuba diver and freediver.

Amy Hu, BA-MPP

Specializations: Inequality and Social Policy

Amy Hu graduated magna cum laude from UC San Diego with a bachelor's degree in economics. Through the BA-MPP program, she is pursuing a master's degree in public policy at GPS.

Her academic interests focus on how economic incentives shape decisions across individuals, businesses and institutions. At UC San Diego, she serves as a teaching assistant and resident assistant, and leads collaborative projects in student-run consulting organizations. She aims to help build institutions that meaningfully improve lives.

Outside of academics, Amy volunteers with the Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny. In her free time, she enjoys woodworking, rock climbing and outdoor activities in San Diego.

Lucas Iantorno Klotz, MPP

Specializations: Program Design and Evaluation

Lucas Iantorno Klotz is a Brazilian economist interested in development economics, political economy and impact evaluation. He holds a master’s degree in economics from Brazil and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at GPS. In Brazil, he developed advanced quantitative skills and hands-on field experience working in areas like education and the environment. Lucas wishes to build a career in effective altruism, economic development and data-driven solutions.

Juan Leal Mendoza, MIA

Career Tracks: International Economics
Region: Southeast Asia/Latin America

Juan Leal Mendoza holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with honors from the University of Chicago, where he graduated in 2025, before coming to GPS. He brings an academic background in diplomacy and international trade, guided by personal experiences as an immigrant in the United States.

During his first year at GPS, he focused on developing the tools needed to foster political and economic links — chiefly through state and business diplomacy — throughout the Pacific Rim, focusing on Southeast Asia and Latin America. As such, he served on the boards of the Latin American Student Organization and Southeast Asia Link student organizations at GPS. He also worked part-time as an international trade trainee at Andersen Consulting, an international trade consulting firm, where he focused on market access and trade policy analysis in Latin America and the Pacific Rim. During the summer, he interned in the U.S. International Trade Administration’s Advocacy Center, focusing on public procurement advocacy cases in the Indo-Pacific region.

Juan is currently doing a year-long fellowship in Indonesia. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, running, hiking and playing board games.

Sarahi Lopez, MPP

Specializations: Program Design and Evaluation; Inequality and Social Policy

Sarahi Lopez earned a bachelor's degree in political science and gender studies from UCLA, graduating cum laude with College Honors. Her research focuses on environmental justice, public health equity and housing rights.

She is a resident fellow at The La Jolla Center for Pacific Strategy, leading efforts to mitigate public health impacts from the Tijuana River sewage crisis in San Diego’s South Bay. Over the summer, she interned as project manager for Legends Del Mar’s inaugural Groundwater & PFAS Policy Initiative.

Lopez founded First Generation GPS, a student organization supporting first-generation students at the school. She also serves as vice president of finance for Women Going Global.

Before GPS, she worked in the nonprofit sector helping low-income and unhoused individuals access medical care, mental health services, pro bono legal aid and harm reduction services. In her free time, she enjoys spin classes, mystery novels, baking and spending time with her dog, Oliver.

Phil Maligsa, MPP

Specializations: Inequality and Social Policy

At GPS, Phil Maligsa is pursuing a Master of Public Policy focusing on inequality and social policy. In 2026, he received the Doming Liu Award, presented to a first-year student for outstanding leadership and contributions to student life as voted by the Class of 2027.

Maligsa earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and served 11 years in the Navy. As a division officer and department head aboard four ships, he led teams of up to 60 sailors across the Western Pacific, Middle East and South America. As an inaugural fellow in the Secretary of the Navy's Tours with Industry program, he spent a year at LinkedIn leading the Veteran Recruiting Program and working on the Talent Solutions Marketing team. He later served as admiral's aide to the Navy's chief of legislative affairs, managing logistics for senior Navy officials in congressional meetings. 

After leaving the Navy in October 2023, Maligsa joined Upwage, a seed-stage AI hiring startup, as its ninth employee. He worked across sales, marketing, customer success and talent acquisition, leading recruiting efforts that expanded the team to 20 employees.

Raphael Myers, MPP

Specializations: Peace and Security

Raphael Myers is pursuing a Master of Public Policy at GPS, where he serves as a teaching assistant for the core course Policy Analysis and Public Welfare. As an intern with U.S. Central Command, he prepared daily press reports for senior leadership and collaborated on analytical reports examining deterrence strategy in the Middle East during an evolving conflict. 

Myers graduated from UC Davis in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science. There, he held several leadership roles in the Jewish student community and won the 2024 Kunitz Award for a research paper on Holocaust conspiracy theories. 

His academic and professional experiences have deepened his interest in international relations, Middle Eastern affairs and U.S. national security. He hopes to use rigorous research and clear writing to help decision-makers navigate complex security challenges.

My Nguyen, BA-ΜΙΑ

Career Tracks: International Politics/International Management
Region: Korea

My Nguyen was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before immigrating to the United States at 14. She earned my bachelor’s degree in international studies–political science from UC San Diego, and is currently pursuing a master of international affairs as a Dean’s Fellow at GPS.

My’s professional experience includes working with the International Rescue Committee in San Diego, where she supported immigrants and refugees navigating the U.S. immigration system, particularly through Vietnamese-language assistance and naturalization services. She also volunteered as a crisis hotline responder with REACH, providing trauma-informed support to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Her research interests center on international security, strategic competition and the political economy of East Asia. At GPS, she has conducted research on North Korea’s strategic alignment with China and Russia, as well as innovation and productivity in South Korea’s technology sector.

Beyond academics, My serves as vice president of events for GO GPS, organizing events that strengthen the graduate student community. She hopes to pursue a career in international security and policy research, combining my academic training with my commitment to public service.

Mateus Pires, MIA

Career Tracks: International Economics/International Development & Nonprofit Management
Region: Latin America

Mateus Zanini Pires is a Master of International Affairs candidate at GPS, concentrating in International Economics and Energy Policy. He works at the intersection of capital markets and development policy, with a focus on energy and infrastructure finance in Latin America.

Mateus recently worked as a consultant with the Institute of the Americas' Critical Minerals Program, co-authoring a strategic report on Brazil's critical minerals sector, and as a Graduate Research Assistant studying urban water scarcity in India at GPS.

Before graduate school, he spent six years in Brazilian corporate finance at Suzano's treasury desk, then moving into business intelligence covering banking and credit markets. He is building toward a career in development finance, working to connect capital markets with sustainable energy and infrastructure outcomes across Latin America.

Liane Pollard, MPP

Specializations: Peace and Security

Liane Pollard brings more than two decades of service in the U.S. Marine Corps to her policy work. She later served as an immigration services officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and worked as a consultant at Palantir Technologies. She holds a bachelor of science in political science from Arizona State University.

Her research began with the rapid growth of megacities and how nature could help them meet UN Sustainable Development Goals. She examines nature as multiple layers woven through the built environment rather than zones set apart from it, and as infrastructure critical to human health and well-being. She asks how integrating nature early can keep ordinary urban problems from becoming costly megacity problems, and how unequal access to nature shapes health and social cohesion.

As a graduate student researcher for Dr. Lawrence Frank, Liane contributed to a systematic literature review funded by the California Air Resources Board. She also conducted an original analysis of nearly 70,000 U.S. census tracts finding that tree canopy is associated with lower rates of frequent mental distress, a result she is developing for publication. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, online gaming, travel and soccer.

Rebecca Rogers, MIA

Career Tracks: International Environmental Governance
Region: Latin America

Rebecca Rogers’ academic and professional interests center on environmental policy, sustainable development and international relations. She earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental systems and policy from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where her research focused on sustainable water management and microbial fuel cell technology. 

Her professional experience spans biotechnology, government and advocacy, including roles as a congressional intern for Rep. Scott Peters, laboratory technician and environmental intern at Aquacycl, grassroots intern with CALPIRG, and an Aaron Price Fellow. She has also gained international experience through her studies at the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Bern in Switzerland and her participation in a Spanish immersion program in Peru. 

At GPS, she has served as a teaching assistant and completed a graduate fellowship with CARE International, where she evaluated development programs to identify opportunities in high-integrity carbon markets and climate finance. She currently serves as the president of Net Impact and vice president of marketing and communications for GO GPS. Rogers aspires to bridge science and policy through a career in environmental diplomacy. She aims to foster international collaboration on environmental challenges and advance equitable policies that balance climate action, community priorities and long-term resilience.

Alex Ross, BA-MIA

Career Tracks: International Politics
Region: Latin America

Alex Ross graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in political science and international affairs and a minor in Spanish literature. His research interests include governance, democratic backsliding, and 21st-century challenges facing democratic institutions, particularly in Latin America. Upon graduation, Ross hopes to pursue a career in public service.

Ross participated in the UCDC program and interned with the U.S. Agency for International Development's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, where he analyzed foreign assistance programming in the region and supported diplomatic engagements. He has assisted in faculty and doctoral research on authoritarian regimes and political legitimacy using quantitative and qualitative methods.

He previously served as editor-in-chief of the Prospect Journal of International Affairs at UC San Diego and held a leadership position in undergraduate student government. Ross is a Robertson Foundation for Government Fellow, received Provost Honors throughout his undergraduate studies, and is an Eagle Scout.

Nomuna Surkhiisaikhan, MIA

Career Tracks: International Politics
Region: Southeast Asia

Born and raised in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Nomuna Surkhiisaikhan graduated cum laude from NYU Shanghai with a bachelor's degree in social science (international relations track). Prior to joining GPS, Nomuna worked at The Asia Foundation, supporting education and literacy programs in her home country. 

During the summer of 2026, she interned at the International Rescue Committee's Digital Inclusion department in San Diego, developing multilingual learning materials and supporting digital access programs such as low-cost internet to migrant communities. Her interest in digital governance is grounded in experience supporting access to education and technology.

At GPS, she serves as a teaching assistant for Microeconomics for Policy and Management and editor-in-chief of the Journal of International Policy Solutions (JIPS). She aspires to do work focusing on AI governance, technology policy, innovation and digital inclusion to ensure that the benefits of technological changes reach underserved communities.

Tara Wu, MIA

Career Tracks: International Environmental Governance
Region: China

Tara Wu’s professional interests lie at the intersection of science and public policy, with a focus on advancing science-informed decision-making. She is a graduate student researcher at UC San Diego’s Power Transformation Lab studying how protected areas impact power system modeling as well as China’s renewable energy siting. 

Her interdisciplinary background spans journalism and conservation, with a consistent emphasis on geospatial analysis and statistical methods. Most recently, she interned at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington, D.C. as part of their physical infrastructure team. 

She received her bachelor’s degree in environmental science and journalism from Northwestern University. Following her undergraduate studies, she taught English in Taiwan for two years on a Fulbright grant and subsequently joined AmeriCorps to do water quality monitoring work in New Hampshire. In her free time, Tara enjoys hiking and listening to podcasts.

Renhao Ye, MCEРА

Disciplinary Specializations: Chinese Politics and Public Policy

Renhao Ye is a current student in the MCEPA program, specializing in Chinese politics and public policy. His primary research interests lie in state building, distributive politics, elite politics and state-business relations under authoritarian regimes, with a regional focus on China and Southeast Asia. 

At GPS, his research examines why and how states, particularly authoritarian regimes, address and coordinate the uneven distribution of infrastructure investment and public service provision across regions, as well as the institutional and developmental consequences of this distribution. 

He works as a graduate student researcher at the school’s 21st Century China Center and the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. He received his master's degree in political science and his bachelor's degree in political science, with a minor in economics, from Peking University in China.

Abdirisak Ali, MIA

Career Track: International Economics
Region: Latin America

Abdirisak Ali was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, and holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Nairobi’s Department of Diplomacy and International Studies. Prior to joining the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS), he worked in Nairobi as a marketing and business development consultant, an experience that sparked his interest in international trade and led him to pursue graduate studies in international economics with the goal of building a career as a trade analyst. While at GPS, he has worked as an intern for the admissions team and completed a summer internship with the Global Leadership Institute at UC San Diego. He is fluent in Swahili, Somali and English.

Vincent Alulu, MPP

Specialization: Program Design and Evaluation

Vincent Harry Alulu holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in applied statistics from Maseno University and Jomo Kenyatta University, respectively, in Kenya. His academic journey has equipped him with advanced skills in econometrics, data analytics (STATA, R), and policy evaluation, which he applies to research at the intersection of agricultural economics and climate resilience.

As a Senior Research Officer at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Alulu led impact evaluations of index-based livestock insurance programs across the Horn of Africa, co-developed the Kaznet crowdsourcing application for data gathering in remote locations, and published research findings in peer-reviewed journals including Food Security and Scientific Reports. His research demonstrates how environmental shocks propagate through pastoral economies, with policy implications for drought risk management. As a graduate student researcher for professor Meera Mahadevan, he analyzes electricity sector reforms in India.

Alulu plans to pursue doctoral studies in agricultural and applied economics to further investigate market-based solutions for food security challenges. Beyond his research, Alulu is an avid runner and soccer enthusiast.

Christine (Hyejee) An – MIA

Career Track: International Economics
Region: Korea

Christine (Hyejee) An earned her bachelor’s degree in global studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she developed an early interest in international relations and refugee issues, particularly the economic impacts of migration on host countries. After graduation, she worked in Korea as an assistant supervisor, coordinating and managing foreign instructors in English institutions, which strengthened her skills in cross-cultural communication and organizational management. She also gained private sector experience at a semiconductor company, where she worked with partners in multiple countries, particularly China and the U.S. This experience offered her a firsthand perspective on how Korea’s economy is shaped by global trade policies and international relations.

At GPS, An serves as the president of Mannam, a student-led graduate organization for those interested in learning about Korea.

Jeisson Gómez Colmenares, MPP

Specializations: Inequality and Social Policy, Program Design and Evaluation

Jeisson Gómez Colmenares holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics from Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia. Growing up in Bogotá shaped his awareness of the challenges and opportunities in advancing equitable development, which has inspired his academic and professional journey. Before beginning the Master of Public Policy program at UC San Diego, he worked with the Inter-American Development Bank and Colombia’s National Planning Department, focusing on impact evaluation, rural development, and social policy. He currently works with professor Gordon McCord at the SDG Policy Initiative, contributing to research on sustainable development and climate action. His research interests include climate change, energy transition, and the design of policies that expand access and sustainability. Outside of academics, he enjoys hiking, running and playing soccer.

Jimmy Guzman, MIA

Career Tracks: International Management, International Economics
Region: Latin America

Jimmy Guzman began his educational voyage at Cosumnes River College, a community college in Elk Grove, California. Prior to this, he had primarily worked blue collar jobs since graduating high school. Guzman then transferred to University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, graduating in 2024 with a degree in international relations and minors in economics and political science. While at University of the Pacific, Guzman was fortunate enough to advance his global mindset by studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain, for a semester and participated in the Model United Nations program, which enabled international opportunities in the form of conferences in Paris, France, and Taipei, Taiwan. While at GPS, Guzman has worked as a TA for both the history department and the International Studies Program (ISP). He also has participated in and led multiple outreach trips with the Career and Professional Development Center to the Bay Area, Washington, D.C., and New York City. During the summer, Guzman interned with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) as a business analyst for the Distribution Systems Operations Department and a policy analyst for the Market and Procurement Policy team.

Travis Hayden, BA-MIA

Career Track: International Politics
Region: Latin America

As a first-generation American and first-generation college student from San Diego, Travis Hayden exemplifies the transformative power of education and community support. Growing up in a low socioeconomic environment, he is deeply appreciative of the opportunities provided by his community, the VA, and the UC system—experiences unlike any in his family's history.

A proud Navy veteran who served as Damage Controlman Second Class and Surface Rescue Swimmer (2016-2020), Hayden has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout his academic journey. He completed his bachelor's degree in political science while simultaneously finishing his first year of graduate studies—all while serving as president of the Student Veterans Organization and earning recognition as UC San Diego's Student Veteran of the Year in 2024.

During this intensive period, Hayden secured over $40,000 in funding for UC San Diego's Basic Needs Hub, served as student advocate to the UC Regents and led advocacy efforts in Sacramento. As a transfer student, he was selected as Eleanor Roosevelt College's Associated Students senator, where he coordinated the Student Veteran Town Hall and successfully managed a $6.5 million Associated Students budget while participating in advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.

Hayden aspires to be a transformational leader in the U.S., working to create social and economic change that ensures others have the same opportunities to achieve their goals and break generational barriers.

Holly Harwood, MIA

Career Tracks: International Development and Nonprofit Management
Region: Southeast Asia

Holly Harwood is a systems strategist, nonprofit leader and consultant working at the intersection of sustainable development and human rights. She is bridging local policy implementation with international development, from co-founding the South Bay Resource Team for disaster relief to directing global climate justice campaigns at COPs. Her work focuses on accelerating investment in community-led solutions with an expertise in climate education, just transition, circular economy, climate finance,and public-private partnerships.

A proud community college transfer from De Anza College in the Bay Area, Harwood completed an associate’s degree in liberal arts and went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in sociology at UC San Diego, where she served as Civil and Human Rights Director at the Student Sustainability Collective.

Currently, Harwood is a UN Local Pathways Fellow with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), where she is developing strategies to address the Tijuana River sewage crisis through SDG 11. This past summer, she worked as a program intern with The Asia Foundation to design donor mapping and fundraising strategies in response to USAID cuts. At GPS, she serves as president of Southeast Asia Link (SEAL) and vice president of finance for Women Going Global, while also serving on the board of the housing justice nonprofit Our Time to Act.

Daniel Hershfield, MIA

Career Track: International Development and Nonprofit Management
Region: Southeast Asia

Daniel Hershfield has a broad background in international development and policy research, previously working as an undergraduate with the Program on Security Institutions and Violent Instability at UC Berkeley and also researching communal violence with the Centre for the Study of Society and Secularism in Mumbai. He has also coordinated diversity, equity and inclusion research as part of the nonprofit UpStart’s inaugural Jews of Color Career Development Program. As a senior research assistant at the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, he led the analysis of political violence, civil unrest and domestic extremism in regions such as North America and Oceania. Hershfield holds a B.A. in political science with a minor in global poverty and practice from UC Berkeley. During summer 2025, with work continuing through the fall, he served as a global networks intern at the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), where he has supported initiatives such as the Africa Evidence Summit, CEGA Fellowship and Collaboration for Inclusive Development Research

Tiffany Liu, MIA

Career Tracks: International Development and Nonprofit Management, International Politics, International Economics
Region: China

Tiffany Liu graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political economy. Before coming to GPS, she attained familiarity with economics and politics research through her work as an undergraduate research assistant, where she conducted studies on tariffs and non-tariff measures between China and Taiwan and collected evidence of collusion in China's public bidding system. She was also a director at the International Relations Council of Berkeley, where she led the Podcast Committee in creating podcast episodes related to international topics such as COP 26, the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and the rise of isolationism in many countries. Liu's interest in international development and nonprofit management started with Alkaid Nonprofit Educational Association (ANEA), an organization she co-founded with a friend. At ANEA, she established and supervised an online, year-long English lesson program that directly connects 300+ local students in Taiwan to volunteers in California.

Over this past summer, Liu interviewed activists who were integral to Taiwan's democratization movement, as well as nonprofits such as Amnesty International and the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association. She plans on editing the filmed footage into a short documentary that explores the past, present and future of Taiwan through the lens of human rights.

Beyond this experience, Liu is a teaching assistant, a Doming Liu Award recipient and the president of GO GPS.

Nahal Lotfi, MPP

Specializations: Program Design and Evaluation, American and Comparative Business Regulation

Nahal Lotfi brings a background in journalism, communications and content leadership in multinational companies in Turkey, along with internships at the United Nations Development Programme.

At GPS, Nahal serves as editor-in-chief and contributing author of the Journal of International Policy Solutions, is a teaching assistant for Math Camp and Quantitative Methods, and has contributed as a consultant with the GPS Consulting Club. She combines strong data analytics and strategy skills with a deep geopolitical understanding of the Middle East. Her professional interests lie in business strategy, consulting and technology policy, with a focus on how AI and digital transformation can be leveraged to drive innovation and inclusive growth. She speaks Persian, Turkish, English and Arabic.

Rio Namegaya, MPP

Specializations: Environmental Policy, Program Design and Evaluation

Rio Namegaya graduated as valedictorian of her class at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, with a bachelor’s degree in North American area studies, concentrating in U.S. history. Prior to enrolling at GPS, Namegaya worked as a legal translator and translation coordinator at TMI Associates, translating contracts, memorandums and other legal and policy documents between English and Japanese. During her summer at GPS, Namegaya interned with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) at the World Bank Group, where she contributed to the establishment of the pioneering global eco-industrial park certification system, engaging in both quantitative and qualitative aspects. She also gained experience in applying AI, GIS and other digital technologies to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of global innovative projects. Outside of these pursuits, Namegaya writes for theatre and has served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Sona Ovasapyan, MIA

Career Tracks: International Management, International Economics
Region: Latin America

Sona Ovasapyan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in international relations, with a focus in business, and a minor in environmental studies from UC San Diego. During her first year at the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS), she served as the BA/MIA first-year representative on the GO GPS board, working to strengthen connections between faculty and advocate for a more cohesive cohort of undergraduates transitioning to graduate studies.

Driven by a passion for social entrepreneurship, sustainable development and leveraging innovation to advance economic and environmental justice, Ovasapyan brought her passions to life during her 2025 summer internship at Alvan Tsaghik NGO. There, she supported the economic empowerment of displaced women from Artsakh and local residents through their social enterprise projects. Her responsibilities included facilitating workshops on product management and financial planning, organizing business literacy and customer service training for women aged 30-60, conducting market research to guide product development, designing marketing materials, managing social media outreach, and coordinating community engagement events in Gyumri, Armenia.

To honor and give back to her undergraduate community, Ovasapyan serves as a teaching assistant for the social corporate responsibility course at UC San Diego’s Rady School of Business.

Raquel Padilla Cruz, MPP

Specialization: Inequality and Social Policy

Originally from Tlaxcala, Mexico, Raquel Padilla Cruz holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Tecnológico de Monterrey, where she specialized in government and public transformation. She is co-president of the GPS Latin American Student Organization and vice president of political programming in GPS’s Women Going Global.

Prior to being at GPS, Padilla Cruz worked for two years as a legislative assessor at the Commission of Foreign Affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean in the Senate of Mexico. She is passionate about learning how to combat the region’s most pressing issues, such as migration, violence, poverty and inequality, as well as climate change and democratic backsliding.

This past summer, she interned with Al Otro Lado as part of the Communications Department. She has also collaborated with Caltrans as a government affairs Intern, focusing on the binational relationship between San Diego and Tijuana to advance common goals such as environmental protection, trade and strengthened diplomatic relations.

In her free time, Padilla Cruz enjoys swimming, painting, watching movies, practicing yoga, reading novels and spending time at the beach. She firmly believes that balance is the key of finding happiness while pursuing an academic career.

Rosa Maria Perez Vasquez, MIA

Career Track: International Management
Region: Latin America

Rosa Maria Perez Vasquez holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she graduated with honors and wrote a thesis on the development of financial technologies in Mexico. She also participated in an academic exchange at UC Berkeley, an opportunity that inspired her to pursue graduate studies at GPS.

She has five years of professional experience in the airline industry, holding roles at United Airlines in Mexico City and Sacramento, where she developed expertise in customer service, revenue management and sales. She currently works part-time in the banking sector at JPMorgan Chase, assisting a diverse range of clients with financial solutions. Her academic and professional interests focus on the intersection of management, finance and data analysis. Swimming and travel are among her favorite pastimes

Dishita Rajan, BA-MIA

Career Track: International Politics
Region: Southeast Asia

Dishita Rajan received her bachelor’s degree in political science, focusing in international relations, with a minor in human rights and migration, from UC San Diego, graduating magna cum laude. Through UC San Diego’s BA-MIA program, she began her Master of International Affairs coursework in the third year of her undergraduate studies and is now pursuing a career trac in international politics.

Her professional experiences span government and legal advocacy, including an internship with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs, where she supported congressional engagement and high-level diplomatic functions such as the Women, Peace, and Security NATO Reception. She also gained valuable perspective working at the Alliance for Children’s Rights, a nonprofit legal services organization providing critical support for those impacted by the foster care system, as well as the Office of a San Diego congressman, where she assisted constituents navigating federal agencies and essential services.

These experiences shaped her professional aspirations at the intersection of international law and human rights, complemented by an academic interest in domestic policy and constitutional law. Following her graduate studies, she plans to attend law school. In her free time, Rajan enjoys reading — finishing over 100 books a year — and delights in spending time by the ocean.

Anisha RajBhandary, MPP

Specializations: Program Design and Evaluation

Before attending GPS, Anisha RajBhandary received her undergraduate degree in geography and Asian studies from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She taught English in New Taipei City, Taiwan, through the Fulbright Taiwan program, and worked as a substitute teacher in Portland, Oregon. Recently, RajBhandary completed an internship at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the Science, Technology Assessment and Analytics (STAA) team in Washington, D.C. She enjoys reading mystery novels, playing badminton/soccer, and drawing.

Lauren Silver, MPP

Specializations: Environmental Policy

Since starting at UC San Diego, Lauren Silver has focused her research on determining what causes the prioritization of climate change policy using quantitative and analytical skills. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she graduated summa cum laude.

She interned with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Public Advocates Office, Communications and Broadband Branch where she specialized in data analysis. While at UC San Diego, she has served as a research assistant, where she worked with panel and large-scale policy datasets to support academic research. Before attending GPS, she interned for the U.S. Department of State, Global Women’s Issues Office, where she drafted policy briefs on gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence in Uganda and Zimbabwe. Previously she worked at Clarkson Law Firm, a consumer protection law firm focused on environmental litigation.

Mo Tao, MIA

Career Track: International Environmental Governance
Region: Japan

Mo Ta, a graduate student from China, studied environmental resources engineering in Japan and later earned a Ph.D. in geophysics in the U.S. Her academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of technology and policy, with a particular focus on advancing international cooperation in the energy sector. She is currently interning with the Office of Governmental and International Affairs at the California Energy Commission and with the United Nations Global Compact.

Yixuan Wang, MCEPA

Specializations: Chinese Politics and Public Policy

Wang is the Class of 2026 student representative of the MCEPA program, cooperating with the GO GPS student organization to support student welfare at GPS. Wang is also a certified inclusive professional, trained through the equity, diversity and inclusion program jointly organized by GPS and the Rady School of Management. Prior to attending GPS, Yixuan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and economics from Boston University. While at BU, Yixuan served as a member of the BU Chinese Students and Scholars Association for three years, dedicated to enriching the lives of Chinese international students. In summer 2025, Yixuan interned at Syntao Co,. Ltd, the leading ESG consultancy in China, promoting sustainable development and social responsibility in China's private sector.

Abraham Wu, MCEPA

Specialization: Chinese Politics and Public Policy

Abraham Wu earned his undergraduate degree in international studies and philosophy at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he developed a strong foundation in political economy and international relations. His research interests focus on authoritarian governance, state capacity and innovation policy, with particular attention to how states engineer institutional frameworks to drive technological development and sustain political power. He is currently a research assistant working with professor Tai Ming Cheung at the 21st Century China Center, where his work examines China’s whole-of-nation approach to innovation. His ongoing research explores the role of state-led innovation consortia in shaping China’s industrial and strategic capabilities.

Zilu Zhang, MPP

Specializations: Health Policy, Program Design and Evaluation

Zilu Zhang graduated from Peking University with a bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine. As an undergraduate, he conducted neuroscience research and worked on the clinical frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. After completing his clinical rotations at Peking University First Hospital, he shifted his focus to the social sciences, later interning at a provincial research institute before joining the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) at UC San Diego.

Zhang is committed to connecting medical expertise with quantitative policy analysis, aiming to balance specialized depth with interdisciplinary breadth. He is currently participating in research projects on continuous glucose monitoring and health data analysis. At UC San Diego, he has engaged in wide-ranging coursework in policy and methods, and his research interests include cross-national comparisons of health care systems and data-driven approaches to health policy.

Henry Zhou, MIA

Career Track: International Economics
Region: China

Henry Zhou holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics and economics from the University of Michigan, where he graduated with the highest honors. As an undergraduate, he spent a year as a visiting student at the University of Oxford, where he conducted an independent research project on sanction coordination between the U.S. and its European allies. He also completed an internship at the World Bank, where he worked on development-related topics such as central bank capacity building, reserve management and emerging currencies.

At GPS, Zhou has focused his research on economic statecraft, industrial policy and international security. He has undertaken various projects on European Union sanctions politics, China’s industrial strategy, and the politics of overseas evacuation operations. Beyond academics, Zhou is also a certified snowboard instructor.

Nathan Baylis, MIA '27

Nathan Baylis graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan in 2020, where he studied public policy with a focus on East Asian economic policy. Afterward, he worked at Hyundai as a product strategist and policy analyst, developing new vehicle proposals and market entry strategies by examining trade and environmental policy in the United States. 

Baylis’ interest in international affairs stems from his experience studying abroad in Japan as a high school student. Since then, he has aspired toward global work that bridges cultures and provides widespread benefits. He chose to attend GPS because of its strong ties to the Asia-Pacific, combined with the rigorous training it provides in empirical methods. 

At GPS, his coursework and research interests include international trade, industrial policy and economic development. He also is the vice president of external affairs for Asameshikai, where he leads outreach efforts to connect students with professionals in the Japanese business community. Over the summer, he interned in the economics department at the Japan Research Institute, one of Japan’s leading think tanks.

Daniel Hershfield, MIA '26

Career Track: International Politics
Region: Southeast Asia

Daniel Hershfield graduated from UC Berkeley in 2020 with a B.A. in political science and a minor in global poverty and practice, following his transfer from Glendale Community College. At UC Berkeley, he served as a research assistant with the Program on Security Institutions and Violent Instability. Hershfield also researched communal violence in India while interning abroad at the Centre for the Study of Society and Secularism in Mumbai. Post-graduation, he contributed to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the Jewish community as a member of the nonprofit UpStart's inaugural Jews of Color Career Development Program. As a senior research assistant at ACLED, Hershfield led the analysis of political violence, civil unrest and domestic extremism in regions such as North America and Oceania. After graduation, Hershfield aims to help build a more peaceful and democratic world by shedding light on critical issues relating to good governance and security through a career in research.