Twenty graduate and undergraduate students were selected as the 2026 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.
Elizabeth Alford is a rising senior majoring in Government with a minor in European Studies and is pursuing certificates in German and Security Studies. She interned in the Texas House of Representatives during the 88th and 89th Legislative Sessions and with the Texas General Land Office, where she worked on issues impacting veterans, public education, and environmental protection. Her academic work includes research on Russian and European warfare, shifting sentiments toward government across Texas demographics, and ongoing research on the motivations behind political candidacy. Elizabeth is particularly interested in disinformation, hybrid warfare, civil society, education, religion and government, and women’s presence in politics. She is driven by a commitment to serve her global neighbors and a belief in democracy’s capacity to advance human dignity and opportunity worldwide.
Rebekah Besserman is a rising senior majoring in Plan II and Government, with a minor in History and Bridging Disciplines Certificate in Human Rights & Social Justice. She is particularly interested in genocide prevention, peace and conflict studies, and Holocaust memory. During her time at UT, she has interned at the Texas House of Representatives and Davis Kaufman PLLC, and she currently works as a Swedish Language Tutor and Research Assistant. She serves as the Historian for the Plan II Students’ Association, DJs at KVRX, and loves her printmaking class this semester.
Siddharth (Sid) Dasari is a current freshman majoring in Plan II Honors and International Relations and Global Studies with a concentration in political economy. His interest in governance grew through his work delivering student-focused global education programs with the World Affairs Council of Houston, where he engaged with diplomats and policy practitioners. He also served as a Houston Youth Ambassador, helping create the city’s first Youth Mental Health Guide. At UT, he researches public institutions with the Global Macro Team, does public sector consulting with the Honors Consulting Association, and leads community projects as a Walker Fellow. He is motivated by a belief in young people’s capacity to build a more connected, compassionate world and plans to pursue a career in diplomacy or public policy.
Elizabeth Donaway is a rising third-year Ph.D. student in Government, focusing on public law. Her research interests include constitutional design, constitutional political economy, and administrative law. She has a Master of Science in Economics from Purdue University and graduated summa cum laude from Hanover College with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History. She has studied abroad in Spain and Ireland. At UT, she has worked as a teaching assistant in classes on constitutional law, public policy, and British politics. She previously worked in due diligence consulting.
Trinity Elkins is a rising second-year graduate student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, currently pursuing a master’s degree in Global Policy Studies. She is particularly interested in the intersection between democratic governance and anti-corruption initiatives, especially in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. She has worked as a Data & Policy Research Analyst with the Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts for three years, completed an internship with LifeWorks Austin, and is a member of the Clement’s Center’s Strategy Club.
Angela Fraioli is a rising second-year Ph.D. student in Government, focusing on comparative politics and public law. She graduated summa cum laude from the Honors College at the University of Wisconsin, Madison with bachelor’s degrees in political science and vocal performance (opera). Her research interests include comparative constitutionalism, parliamentary systems, ethnic and religious politics, public opinion, and the development of political norms in new democracies. She is passionate about global democratic development and has spent her professional career thus far aiding US democracy at the Wisconsin Election Commission, the Wisconsin State Legislature, and VoteSmart.org. For the past four years, she has been Associate Editor of the PropWatch Project, an educational non-profit dedicated to inoculating the public against political propaganda.
Meera Hatangadi is a senior majoring in International Relations and Global Studies as well as Plan II Honors. She is also pursuing a minor in Communication Studies and a Business Spanish certificate. As the Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Journal of International Affairs, she is passionate about research, writing, and discussion on international relation topics. She has previously researched democratic backsliding, resilience, and disinformation mitigation at multiple research labs at UT Austin and hopes to continue developing these research interests.
Neëma Lubin is completing a master’s degree in Global Policy Studies at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, specializing in international development. She is passionate about addressing structural inequality through informed development and policy initiatives. Her current research explores pedagogical strategies for advancing economic and education reform in Latin America. She has led and consulted on socioeconomic development initiatives for universities, NGOs, and government agencies in Brazil, Haiti, Japan, Senegal, and the United States. Recognizing language acquisition as a core pillar of her work, she has pursued intensive Portuguese and Spanish study to complement her fluency in English, French, and Haitian Creole. Neëma seeks to advance resilient development strategies in her career in diplomacy and consulting.
Isabela Madrid is a rising senior studying Vocal Performance at the Butler School of Music. She has gained professional experience through her internship with the Austin-based law firm Gjerset and Lorenz, as well as through legal internships in South America, including her work in Peru with Asociación Wayra. In addition to her legal experience, she has been actively involved in community outreach, assisting educators through the Quispicanchi Project, where she supported teaching efforts at both a music school and a school for individuals with disabilities in Andahuaylillas, Peru.
Josie Mandrea is a rising junior majoring in Civics Honors, with a focus on how civic institutions and ethical leadership sustain democratic systems. She is also pursuing a certificate in Business Spanish. Her academic interests center on the impact of national security initiatives in Latin America on democratic freedoms. At UT, she has served as a volunteer at the Micah 6 Food Bank, a Campus Engagement Intern with Texas Hillel, Programming Chair for Israel Block Party, and Director of Facility Management for Texas Alpha Delta Pi. She is eager to further develop her professional Spanish proficiency and gain hands-on research experience in order to deepen her understanding of democracy and international civic institutions.
Veronica Martin is a graduating senior studying Government with a focus on Latin American politics and democracy studies. Previously, she’s worked in various research labs analyzing demographic representation in Latin American legislatures, Cuban migration, and Latin American reproductive policy. She has also worked as a First Amendment research intern under a professor at the University of Idaho College of Law, and she has been a member of the Texas Undergraduate Law Journal, a staff writer at Afterglow ATX, and a member of the student government.
Caleb Mulugeta is a rising senior majoring in Government and Economics in the Liberal Arts Honors program. His academic interests center on development, governance, and democratic institutions, with a particular focus on low-income and post-authoritarian contexts. He is currently completing an honors thesis examining divergent infant mortality outcomes in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara regions. At UT, Caleb serves as Vice Chair of the University Unions Board of Directors, is a Texas Civic Ambassador with the Annette Strauss Institute, and is actively involved with TX Votes, where he has led student voter registration and civic engagement efforts.
Jackson Nichols is a rising senior majoring in Government and Sociology and minoring in Anthropology and is pursuing a career in the legal field. He is on UT’s mock trial team and competes nationwide against other collegiate teams, taking fourth place last year and individually earning all-national recognition twice. He has worked in the Texas Legislature as a legislative intern for State Senator José Menéndez, focusing on education jurisprudence and criminal justice policy. In addition, he has worked for Lone Star Justice Alliance in both mitigation and policy to better our criminal justice system for juveniles and sexual violence survivors. He has spent his academic career developing a passion for civic engagement and political advocacy, striving to achieve equality through equity.
Brittni Palkert is a rising second-year Master of Global Policy Studies student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, with a certificate in data science and policy analysis. She is interested in impact evaluation methods and Latin America-focused regional research. After working as a health and public service consultant for five years, she transitioned to the social impact sector. Brittni lived in Bolivia as a volunteer at a children’s home for a year, before serving as a program manager for a nonprofit based in Honduras and the Dominican Republic. Through these experiences, she cultivated a love for the Spanish language and development work. She is eager to deepen her technical and fieldwork skills through this internship to prepare her for a career in research and M&E.
Rendon Reinarz is a graduating master’s student, receiving her degree in Global Policy Studies at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Rendon received her Bachelor of Art in International Relations and Global Studies from UT Austin. Her previous academic experiences include coursework and research on Russian disinformation, democratic backsliding, and US-Russia relations in a Post-Cold War context. Rendon previously worked as an international marketing specialist at the Texas Department of Agriculture and plans to continue a career engaging in security and diplomacy.
Darcy Renfro recently completed her master’s degree at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, studying global policy and specializing in Latin American Studies, diplomacy, and immigration. She graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word with a bachelor’s in international relations and history. She is passionate about the promotion of human rights and the establishment of dialogue in finding a solution to regional conflicts. She previously interned with the State Department in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and with the United Nations SSR Unit, drafting media briefs and developing thematic content to support global outreach efforts. She is looking forward to the opportunity to use her Spanish in helping support immigration communities and work towards a future in development.
Samantha Robinson is a rising sophomore, majoring in International Relations and Global Studies. She is interested in political institutions and international cooperation with a focus on Latin America and civic engagement. She lived in Chile and grew up bilingual. She values a balance between academics and sports and was a member of the Chilean national rhythmic gymnastics team. Samantha has also developed strong research and writing skills through her coursework and academic projects and is particularly excited to share her knowledge while learning the collaborative aspects of group work during her internship. Her future interest lies in pursuing a career in diplomacy and government.
Juan Romero is a senior majoring in Economics and Philosophy after having transferred with an associate degree from Tyler Junior College. He has a long-term focus on expanding access to education and helping address fundamental needs that shape opportunity, with a focus on Latin American development. At UT, he serves as President of the Texas Student Media Board of Trustees, where he works with student and professional leaders to support independent student journalism, strengthen transparency, and build long-term stability while safeguarding the First Amendment rights of our community; before this, he worked as an opinion columnist for the Daily Texan. Juan has also been active in student government, including serving as Transfer Student Representative and Chairman of the Ethics & Oversight Committee. He previously interned with Texas State Senator Royce West, supporting legislative work and writing research and policy memos. He is inspired by the experiences of hardship, sacrifice, and resilience in the community he was raised in, and strives to achieve meaningful change.
Hana Sawaf is a junior from Dallas, majoring in International Relations and Global Studies with a minor in Arabic. She plans to pursue a career in foreign service and policymaking, with the long-term goal of working abroad in an international capacity. Her interests center on international security, human rights, and global governance. Hana has spent the past two years studying Arabic, drawing on her Syrian heritage, and is fluent in Spanish. She has experience working with both Middle Eastern and Latin American communities, which has shaped her commitment to cross-cultural engagement and international advocacy. She is particularly passionate about refugee rights and hopes to build a career at the intersection of human rights advocacy, humanitarian aid, and public policy. On campus, Hana is a member of the Texas Cyber Clinic and serves as the Philanthropy Director of the Arab Student Association. She is also an active member of Alpha Delta Pi.
Eva White is a rising senior majoring in Russian Studies, International Relations, and Government, with minors in History and Russian and a certificate in Security Studies. She currently leads Project Tearline’s Russia research team in collaboration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and is a member of the Texas Orange Jackets, UT’s oldest female honorary service and spirit organization. Eva has participated in the Clements Center London Maymester, the Perspectives Leadership Trip to Israel-Palestine, and spent this May Term in D.C. with the Texas Intelligence Academy. She is also the recipient of a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship for Russian language study.