Seventeen graduate and undergraduate students were selected as the 2025 Embedded Scholars in democratic institutional development. They bring diverse academic and research experience in economics, government, international relations, law, migration, public policy, regional studies, religious studies, and sociology—all with an interest in democratic institutions.
Allison Andrade is a rising junior majoring in International Relations and Global Studies and Plan II, focusing on international security and Latin America. She is also completing a minor in French, a certificate in Business Spanish, and a Bridging Disciplines Program certificate in Public Policy. She has worked for the political campaign of U.S. Congressman Tony Gonzales, as a legislative intern for Texas Representative Carrie Isaac, and as a session intern for Texas Representative Eddie Morales. On campus, Allison is part of Minority Women Pursuing Law, Plan II Advocacy Committee, and the Rapoport Service Scholarship Program. She also studied abroad in Havana, Cuba last year.
Allyson Dean is a rising second-year graduate student at the LBJ School for Public Affairs, with current research on democratization and institution building. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she received her BA degrees in International Relations and Latin American and Iberian Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she also competed in NCAA volleyball. Her senior thesis focused on the impact of corruption on development in Latin America. This year she worked as a policy analyst at the Texas House of Representatives and previously worked as a public relations intern at DREAM Venture Labs, and organization creating business opportunities for immigrants.
Alexander Dominiak is a graduating senior majoring in Philosophy and in International Relations and Global Studies, with a minor in Russian. He spent a semester in Tbilisi studying Russian and ethnic conflict, and time in Warsaw studying Ukrainian language and culture. He has worked as a research assistant in UT’s Global Disinformation Lab and UT’s Department of Government, studying the political leanings of minority groups in the Baltics and conducting open-source research with the National Geospatial Agency. At UT, he is involved with the Texas Slavic Club and the Ukrainian Club. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in conflict management in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
Olivia Drew is a rising junior majoring in International Relations and Global Studies with a concentration in Latin America and Spanish language studies. She is particularly interested in the intersection between national security and human rights in the Latin American region. She has served as an intern with the City of Austin Development Services Department, a volunteer with Little Mavs Movement Academy at the University of Texas at Arlington, and a member of Texas Lassos, a spirit and service organization at UT. Her professional experience, community service, and international background have been a driving force for her interest in international affairs.
Zack Frailey Escobar is a rising second-year PhD student in Government. He has a BA in Sociology from the University of California San Diego and an MA in Political Science from San Francisco State. His primary research focuses on the politics of constitutional reform in Latin America. At San Francisco State, he was recognized for work in both political theory and empirical political science, reflecting an approach that brings together theoretical investigation and empirical analysis. Outside of his academic work, he has published extensively on politics in Latin America and the United States in outlets like Punto Rojo, Left Voice, and Socialist Worker.
Avin French is a rising junior majoring in Government, currently pursuing a career in the legal field. He is on the UT mock trial team and competes nationwide for UT against other prominent schools, taking third in the nation last year. He has worked in the Texas Legislature as a policy and research intern for State Senator Royce West and recently finished a fellowship with the communications firm Seeker Strategies. He is active in the community, engaging in voter registration efforts as the elected precinct chair for the 314th student precinct in West Campus. He attributes his success to the diverse community he grew up in and continues to work for the betterment of his community.
Mitchel McCormick is a rising second-year Master of Global Policy Studies student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, with a concentration in international development. He is interested in the intersection of democratic governance and infrastructure development in Latin America with a focus on climate change. He spent three semesters in Mexico as an undergraduate and a year as a Fulbright Grantee in Mexico City, working for an investment bank researching public infrastructure development in Latin America and the United States. For the last five years, he has been working at the North American Development Bank on sustainable infrastructure development in the US-Mexico border region.
Arion Moore is a rising second-year Government student in the Liberal Arts Honors program. He is inspired by a desire to bring a legal voice to others and encourage government reform through citizen participation and political efficacy. Arion is an active member of Texas UNICEF, the Environmental Justice Collective, and the Texas Pre-Law Honor Society, where he won his first case as a lawyer in the organization’s Fall mock trial. Arion brings a positive and collaborative attitude to his workplace environments. He has spent his academic career developing a passion for legal advocacy and democratic participation with the intent of one day becoming a criminal defense attorney.
Grace Morris is a rising fourth-year PhD student in Government, focusing on comparative politics. Her research interests include electoral rules, voter behavior, and urban and immigration policy, with current projects on local noncitizen voting, sanctuary cities, immigration policy, and gentrification. She has an MA in Government from UT and graduated magna cum laude from Bryn Mawr College with a BA in Political Science and Growth and Structure of Cities. She has studied abroad in Denmark and England. At UT, she has worked as a teaching assistant in classes on political parties, American government, US national security, and US foreign policy, and she previously worked in management consulting.
Siyona Nayampally is a rising junior, majoring in Economics and Plan II Honors. She is also pursuing certificates in Applied Statistical Modeling and Business Spanish. During her time at UT, she has served as a fellow for the Wendy Davis for Congress campaign, a student campaign organizer and volunteer deputy voter registrar for the Travis County Democratic Party, a legislative intern for Texas Senator José Menéndez, and a communications intern for We Defend Truth. She volunteers as the advocacy department chair of the Plan II Student Association and in high school founded and led the community service organization Chaps 4 Change.
Emma Niewald is pursuing a Master’s in Global Policy Studies at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, focusing on Balkan and Eastern European studies, security issues, and rule of law. She graduated with honors from Austin College in International Relations and French. She previously interned with the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and the Center for National Policy, then worked for more than ten years in political campaigns, including Wendy Davis for Governor, Elizabeth Warren for President, Steve Bullock for U.S. Senate, and Beto O’Rourke for Governor. Niewald began her own consulting firm, The Campaign Catalyst, in 2019 and was selected for the 2021 cohort at the LBJ Women’s Campaign School.
Ella Ponthier just completed her Master’s degree at the LBJ School of Public Affairs studying global policy and specializing in Central and Eastern European Studies. She is passionate about using her policy knowledge and language skills to support democratic institutions’ ability to protect marginalized communities, particularly children with disabilities impacted by war and violent conflict. She previously interned in the Texas House of Representatives, conducted research for Publish What You Fund, and led a study abroad program in the Czech Republic. She hopes to work full-time with an NGO like the NDI to protect democracies and human rights around the world.
Douglas Ramirez is a rising junior, majoring in Biochemistry on the pre-med track. He has served as a research assistant at the UT Latino Research Institute, conducting data collection and analysis through a range of research methods, including surveys, interviews, computer modeling, and data analytics. Part of this involved translating information for participants and finding ways to communicate it in easily digestible formats to increase understanding among study participants. He has lived in the Austin area his whole life and was raised in a bilingual family. He is eager to cultivate his Spanish-speaking skills in a professional setting and gain experience working in the field for research.
Leah Tharakan is a rising senior, majoring in Government and Sociology. She is a director for the Governmental Relations Agency in UT Student Government and a staff writer for the Texas Undergraduate Law Journal. She tutors students as an Ignite Fellow for Teach for America and cycles for Texas 4000. Leah was a Bill Archer Fellow in Spring 2025, where she interned with Girl Up through the United Nations Foundation to further her passion for human rights, gender equality, and education equity. She also previously worked at the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Texas House of Representatives, U.S. Department of State, and Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center.
Isabella Thomas is a rising senior majoring in Government and Spanish, with a minor in Religious Studies, in the Liberal Arts Honors program. She has participated in the Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship, interned with Movement Labs and the Austin City Auditor’s Office, and served as a policy intern at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. They have served as vice president of DEI for her spirit organization Always Texas, recruitment director for UT’s Undergraduate Moot Court team, education co-director for Texas Political Consulting, and co-abbott of The Friar Society. She is passionate about gender and queer equality, youth advocacy, constitutional law, and DEI.
P. Salomé Valdivieso is a Latin American Studies MA student at UT. She graduated with honors from Luther College with a triple major in Political Science, International Studies, and Anthropology. She wrote two theses on the experience of Latin Student Athletes in a PWI, as well as Diaspora Ecuadorian Politics. Her research interests include social movements, political representation, environmental activism, and diaspora politics. She volunteers in leadership roles with the Institute of Latin American Studies Student Association and the United World College National Committee and previously served as the student representative on the Luther College Board of Regents and Curriculum Committee.