I started work at CID Gallup in Panama City right at the beginning of June. Their office sits on the 18th floor of a massive building right in the center of the city. On day one, the staff welcomed us with a wonderful orientation where they explained the value of public opinion research and survey design. In the first few days, we acclimated to the office, getting to know the other employees and the beloved cats, Simba and Estrellita.
By Siddharth (Sid) Dasari, UT International Relations and Global Studies major
I’m going where?
That was my reaction this past January, when I found out that I had been placed with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in North Macedonia through UT’s Embedded Scholars Program. Six months later, and I can confidently say that this has been the most rewarding experience of my life.
By Brittni Palkert, second-year graduate student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs
I spent the summer in Panama City, Panama, interning with CID Gallup, a leader in public opinion, social, market, and political surveys. This internship provided our intern team with the opportunity to both design our own research project and participate in ongoing research studies, while learning from experts in the field. My group’s research project centered on women in Latin America that are being “sandwiched” between caring for children and elderly parents which limits them from participating in the workforce, civic life, and elsewhere. It also impacts general well-being, including levels of happiness, stress, and burnout. In the design of this research project, we applied skills we learned from workshops with CID Gallup, conducting a literature review on the topic, identifying the theoretical survey population, and designing the research methodology. The literature review for this project gave me a deeper understanding for the concerns of women in Latin America today and the impact of changing demographics and societal pressures.
By Elizabeth Donaway, Ph.D. Student in Government at the University of Texas at Austin
This summer I had the opportunity to work with the National Democratic Institute in Albania, where I focused on the relationship between civic education, civic participation, and democratic institutions. Much of my work centered on the Albanian Parliament and its Parliamentary Institute, a nonpartisan institution that supports members of Parliament through research, library services, and civic education programming. Through this work, I came to appreciate that democracy assistance is not only about elections, parties, or formal institutional reform. It is also about helping citizens understand that democratic institutions belong to them and helping institutions create meaningful ways for citizens to participate.
The University of Texas at Austin’s Embedded Scholars program is sending its 2026 cohort to the Balkans, Eurasia, and Latin America this summer to support democracy and electoral assistance programs abroad this summer. In Latin America, the fellows will work in the CID Gallup headquarters in Panama, and in International IDEA’s Chile Country Office. In the Balkans and Eurasia, the fellows will work with the National Democratic Institute’s offices in Albania, Armenia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Ukraine.
Funded by Texas Global, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, and the Center for Law and Democracy, the program provides academic training and on-the-ground experience to launch students’ work in the field while supporting democratic development. Following their preparatory course at UT this spring, the 2026 fellows head to their country assignments to work on democracy assistance programs this summer.
The 2026 fellows hail from departments across UT, bringing diverse academic and research experience in civics, communications, data science, diplomacy, economics, European studies, government, history, human rights, international relations, Latin American studies, law, philosophy, public policy, Russian studies, and sociology—all with an interest in democratic institutions. Below are the 20 graduate and undergraduate students interning in the Balkans, Eurasia, and Latin America as Embedded Scholars in Summer 2026.
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 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.
For more information on this year’s activities or applying for the fellowship in future years, please reach out to Zachary Elkins (zelkins@austin.utexas.edu) and Ashley Moran (ashleymoran@utexas.edu).
By Ella Ponthier, Graduate of the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
Zdravo! My name is Ella, and I am a May 2025 graduate of the LBJ School of Public Affairs. I received my master’s degree in Global Policy Studies with a focus on Central and Eastern European Studies. During my time at the LBJ School, I developed a strong interest in coursework on informal institutions and the state of democracy in post-communist states. Communism in this region ended, seemingly overnight, in the 1990s—but post-communist states did not automatically transform into consolidated democracies. Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of those countries.
By P. Salomé Valdivieso Santillán, Graduate student at the UT Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies
Our research project began with the aim of studying how different birthright nationality laws shape migrant integration in four diverse settings: Panama, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. These countries differ not only in terms of language, policies, and economies, but also in the levels of inclusion towards migrants, which significantly impact how we conceptualize the south-north divide. The United States, for instance, grants citizenship to anyone born on its soil, while Colombia and the Dominican Republic impose stricter conditions that can leave children of migrants in legal limbo. Panama is a rare case, given the antecedents of the “Crisol de Razas” (melting pot) policies, where a melting pot ideology, similar to that of the United States, has been established as one of the primary identity markers of the country.
By Alexander Dominiak, Graduate of the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department
This summer I had the privilege of working with the National Democratic Institute’s office in Skopje, North Macedonia, in a program that has spurred my professional and personal development. I was fortunate enough to be placed with the Integrity Driven Communities project, one of two long-term NDI projects (along with the Parliamentary Support Program), that aims to strengthen anti-corruption measures at the local level. As a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in International Relations and Global Studies, this experience has allowed me to witness firsthand how international collaboration in good governance procedures occurs at the ground level and how that collaboration has tangible effects on the lives of everyday citizens in the country. It’s inspiring to see the passion with which my colleagues and fellow interns work to strengthen democratic governance in the country.
By Leah Tharakan, Undergraduate student in UT’s Government Department, Sociology Department, and Economics Department
Just weeks before International IDEA marked its 30th anniversary, I walked into its Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office in Panama City’s Financial District—an office tucked above a busy thoroughfare of honking taxis and fondas, where regional democracy is studied in quiet persistence. It’s here, in the hushed office above the commotion, that I joined the Latin America and Caribbean team of International IDEA as an Embedded Scholar. I hadn’t arrived in the middle of a national election or political upheaval. Instead, my arrival came during a slower season, one marked by IDEA’s 30th anniversary and a moment to take stock of what three decades of democracy assistance has built.
The 2026 Embedded Scholars Application is now open for UT students to apply for Summer 2026 internships in democratic and constitutional development in the Balkans, Central Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Applications are due by November 1, 2025.
The Embedded Scholars program is an innovative fellowship that trains students at UT in the spring then places them in summer internships abroad focused on democracy assistance and research. By combining applied work and research, the fellowship aims to launch students’ work in the field while advancing democratic development.
By Mitchel McCormick, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
The Embedded Scholars’ experience in Panama City, Panama, proved to be both challenging and rewarding. Challenging because being an intern after working full-time for six years is a significant adjustment. Doing all of this in a second language abroad makes it even more compelling. Rewarding because of the quality of the work I had the opportunity to witness, the skills of the CID Gallup staff, and the opportunity to work with a creative and sharp team both at CID Gallup and UT. At CID Gallup, I held several different roles, some uniquely tailored to the company and others involving collaboration with UT students on a research study related to the experience of migrants across Latin America.
By Avin French, Undergraduate student in the UT Government Department
I cannot say that North Macedonia was the place I thought I would spend my summer last year, but after spending six weeks in this alluring place, engaging with the people, exposing myself to the culture, and studying the nation, I could not be more grateful for the opportunity Embedded Scholars has given me at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in North Macedonia.
By Siyona Nayampally, Undergraduate student in the UT Economics Department and Plan II Program
The weeks leading up to my flight to Panama’s Tocumen Airport, I was filled with excitement and nerves. My travels in Latin America had been limited to short trips in Mexico and Costa Rica, and I wasn’t sure what to expect for life in Panama. What I have encountered during my time here has been so much more than I could have imagined. The culture was so welcoming and kind and within a couple of days, I felt right at home. Riding alongside locals to work on the metro every day, I got to see a different side to this new city than I was used to from my travels. We immersed ourselves in the working Panamanian experience, eating lunch at the fonda almost daily, and spending time with our coworkers on the weekends.
By Allison Andrade, Undergraduate student in the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department and Plan II Honors Program
I had never considered visiting Panama, so when I excitedly told all of my friends and family that I would be spending the summer there, they were perplexed. The truth is that I had no idea what this experience would look like, but I knew that I was eager to explore and learn, and more than anything, I was passionate about being on a team focused on democratic development in Latin America. I can say now that my internship with International IDEA as part of the Embedded Scholars Program has been more than I imagined, and I am grateful for the opportunity to practice my Spanish professionally, work on fostering democracy, and learn about the diversity and history of Panama.
By Douglas Ramirez, Undergraduate student in the UT Molecular Biosciences Department
“…So like, why are you going to Panama?” A question I was pelted with from all sides in the days leading up to my departure. This question filled my head as I walked into the CID Gallup office on the first day. Admittedly, I felt like an outsider going in. As the only member of the cohort in STEM, at times I felt out of my depth for the program. Democratic development and social conditions have been something that I’ve been interested in but admittedly I didn’t have much formal education on these before the program. I’ve learned through my personal research and have conducted field surveys, but frankly that just can’t compare to full courses. Regardless of any doubts, I decided to go full steam ahead.
By Emma Niewald, Graduate student at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs
After interning with the National Democratic Institute in North Macedonia this summer, I feel more committed than ever to pursuing a career in the field of Rule of Law in the Balkans when I graduate next year. Though my path to a career in this space hasn’t been direct, it’s what I’ve always dreamed of. I’m a political consultant with 12 years of policy experience, ten of which I’ve spent in electoral politics. I graduated from Austin College with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and French in 2012. After graduation, I interned with nonprofits in Washington, D.C., including the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and the Center for National Policy.
By: Olivia Drew, Undergraduate student in the UT International Relations and Global Studies Department
When I arrived in Panama, I had no idea what I would find or how I would fit into the office there. Nevertheless on May 29, I was there and was slowly learning my place in the city. When I got to the CID Gallup office, I learned more about their work and the reasons why it matters. CID Gallup is a surveying company that collaborates with both the public and private sectors to collect public opinion data about a variety of topics. The work being done at CID Gallup is crucial to understanding the concerns and needs of people in Latin America.
By Grace Morris, PhD candidate in the UT Government Department
My time at the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in their headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden has been an enriching experience both professionally and personally on my path to pursuing my doctorate in Government at The University of Texas at Austin. From the moment I stepped into the Stockholm office on my first Monday morning of work, the warmth from my new colleagues resonated and it already felt like a place I could call home.
By Zack Frailey Escobar, PhD student in the UT Government Department
My experience working with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in Santiago, Chile has been transformative, both professionally and personally, and has left a lasting mark on the way I envision my future as a political science researcher. Working alongside a team committed to defending democracy in challenging contexts at one of the most critical junctures for electoral systems in Latin America and around the world has allowed me to deepen my technical and analytical skills while building collaborative networks that will continue to inform my research agenda for years to come.
By Arion Moore, Undergraduate student in the UT Government Department and Liberal Arts Honors Program
The time I have spent this summer in Skopje, North Macedonia has been an unforgettable experience that I will look back on with fond memories and invaluable lessons throughout the rest of my academic journey. As a Government major in the University of Texas at Austin Liberal Arts Honors program, the work I engaged in with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) aligned perfectly with my academic and professional pursuits and my desire to contribute to the promotion of democracy.
