Current Students

Co-chairs:

Committee Members:

Zev Brown (2028)

I am an American politics concentration and I will be studying abroad this fall in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I have been working on municipal and state-level campaigns since 2021, now focusing my efforts on fundraising. For the past two years, I have been working for a fundraising firm in Los Angeles (where I am from). I was recently hired as a consultant for a Democratic club in LA, helping to build-out their financial structures. At Wesleyan, I served 1 term as a WSA senator, was the Treasurer of Psi Upsilon and am an incoming Junior Captain/Financial Manager of the Equestrian Team. 

Leonidas Boutris (2027)

I am a rising junior at Wesleyan University majoring in Government with an interdisciplinary focus in comparative politics. My academic interests center on the intersection of international relations, political theory, and economic development, with particular attention to how institutional structures and government regulations impact the economy, public and private. I have interned in financial services for two summers at Morgan Stanley and interned at K&L Gates this past summer.

Patrick Brady (2027)

I am a rising Junior concentrating in American Politics under the Government Major. I am also completing the Data Analysis and Planetary Science minors. My specific interest is to pursue policy and regulation as it intersects with space exploration and commercial launch companies, and I have been enjoying classes in the government department that have taught me about policy writing and research of public opinion. I am also very interested in the government at large and care about local communities. Last semester I joined the Wesleyan Institute for Policy and worked with fellow government majors on a project to help River Valley Transit make changes to their network. I also spend time tutoring Middletown Students through a program with the JCCP, and am joining the Wesleyan Writers Room as a writing tutor this semester. 

Tiana Cabrera (2027)

I am a member of the Class of 2027, concentrating in International Relations and East Asian Studies. I am originally from Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the Pacific, and I am of Chinese, Chamorro, and White heritage.

This past semester, I studied abroad in London at Queen Mary University, where I took a course on British Politics and gained first-hand insight into comparative political systems. This summer, I interned for my home district in the U.S. House of Representatives, where I developed media projects to help our Congresswoman King-Hinds engage with constituents back in the Marianas and highlight her work in the community. I aim to leverage my experience to foster a more collaborative and engaging community within the Government Department, involving students and faculty members. 

Soha Chowdhury (2028)

I am a Government major with a concentration in International Relations and a minor in Human Rights Advocacy. Outside of the classroom, I work in congresswoman Grace Meng’s office and have fondly built my experience in congressional constituent casework. I also actively participate with IRIS and work with immigrant and refugee services. At Wesleyan, I take part in civic engagement research with other very passionate Political Action Initiative Fellows. I am a board member of Wesleyans’ Muslim Student Association, and have researched in Korea for my human rights fieldwork. I also love being a pi barista! 

Adah Coluzzi (2028) 

I am a junior double majoring in History and Government with a concentration in American Politics. On campus, I help run Wesleyan's history journal Historical Narratives, and I work at Wesleyan's Archeology Anthropology collections. I am also this year's Meigs Fellow, where I work as a liaison between Wesleyan University and the Middlesex County Historical Society. My interest is in U.S. national security, the formation of the U.S. government, and the relationship of the U.S. government with Indigenous tribes and nations. 

Saul Ferholt-Kahn (2027)

I am a senior double majoring in Government (with a concentration in American Politics) & the College of Social Studies, with a minor in Film Studies. On campus, I am a Research Assistant Lead at the Wesleyan Media Project, where I contribute to our database of TV and digital political advertising by and for federal and gubernatorial candidates. I also proudly serve as Chair of the Wesleyan Student Assembly's Community Committee and organize with the United Student-Labor Action Coalition. Back home, I've worked on several local political campaigns, leading fundraising, digital communications, organizing, and research efforts. I am always happy to talk about political organizing, musical theater, and where to eat in NYC!

 

Raiza Goel (2027)

I am majoring in Government with a concentration in International Relations and Economics. My academic interests include international security and security decision-making, political violence, extremist groups, and U.S.-India relations. Over the past year, I had the opportunity to present research at the University of Oxford on pathways of radicalization in Afghanistan and the West, and I will be studying at the University of Oxford during the Spring 2027 semester. I am also continuing to conduct research with Professor Kolby Hanson at Wesleyan.

Outside the classroom, I am currently interning with the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum. At Wesleyan, I serve as the Operations and Programs Fellow at the Patricelli Center for Entrepreneurship and am on the leadership boards of the Debate Society and The Argus.

Anabel Goode (2027)

I am in the Class of 2027 and a Comparative concentration. I am studying abroad at Oxford this Fall, doing tutorials in Imperial History and Russian Politics. At Wesleyan, I am a News Editor for the Argus and I help with admin work at the Center for the Study of Guns and Society.

Lila Greenberg (2027)

I am a double-majoring in Government and American Studies, with coursework focused on comparative politics, including women in politics and Russian politics, plus a semester in Copenhagen studying European counterterrorism and democratic backsliding. Outside the classroom, my focus has been elections and civic engagement: I am an Election Accessibility Intern with the Maryland State Board of Elections, a Research & Analysis Fellow with the Wesleyan Political Action Initiative, and I was a Democracy Summer Fellow on Rep. Rosa DeLauro's campaign last year.

Montana Gura (2027)

I am a rising Junior majoring in Government and minoring in Human Rights Advocacy (with a potential additional minor in environmental studies or planetary science). Presently, I work as a Legislative Intern for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro in her Washington, D.C. office. I am deeply passionate about community organising, political engagement, social justice and environmental advocacy, and all things music. At Wesleyan, I serve as a WSA Senator on the Equity and Inclusion Committee, an Editor for the Wesleyan Human Rights Policy Review, the Financial Manager and an Event Coordinator for The Shed, and I lead Uproar Collective. Additionally, I work for the Office of Residential Life as a Residential Advisor and for the Office of Student Involvement as a member of the Concert Committee. Further, I work as a Live Sound Engineer for Sound Co-Op, a driver for the WesGo community rideshare service, and as a childcare provider. Concurrently, I volunteer for political campaigns, write/play/perform/record/mix/release music with my band montana&thescarf (among other bands, and individually), and host a radio show as a DJ on WESU 88.1 FM Middletown. In all of my work, I dedicate myself to upholding the values of universal design, equity, empathy, creativity, and curiosity.

Nargis Hussain (2027)

I am a rising junior majoring in Government with a concentration in International Relations and minoring in Human Rights Advocacy. I plan to study abroad in the spring semester, either in Lisbon, Portugal, or Athens, Greece, to fulfill requirements for my Human Rights Advocacy minor. In addition to my academic focus, I work as a Marketing Assistant for Wesleyan University’s Resource Center, where I help develop and implement strategies to promote events and initiatives across campus. I am also a member of the Wesleyan Institute for Policy Research, where I participate in the Social Core. This experience has strengthened my ability to think critically about policy challenges while also honing my skills in teamwork, communication, and applied research. I see this work as deeply connected to my Government major and Human Rights Advocacy minor, as it allows me to bridge academic study with real-world applications.

 Jake Karmin (2027)

I am a rising senior majoring in Government (American Politics) with a minor in History. This past summer, I interned at a personal injury law firm (Steinger, Greene & Feiner). On campus, I serve as the standing chairman of our Community Standards Honor Board. For my junior year, I was away from campus, studying and researching political science at Dartmouth College. I will be graduating early this fall and working in New York City for a Private Equity Firm — Bregal Sagemount — as an analyst working primarily in DD. 

Ajooni Kaur (2028)

I am a rising Junior with a concentration in International Relations. My academic interests lie in understanding migration and formation of new states. I am also a part of the Wesleyan Mock Trial Team, a researcher for the Wesleyan Institute for Policy, and have worked as a fellow for an ESG-based investment firm in past summers.  

Elena Kim (2028)

I am a junior double-majoring in Government (International Relations concentration) and the College of East Asian Studies. As an international student, I grew up across Asia, living in Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong before spending eight years in Korea. This shaped my interest in how regional expertise and IR theory intersect. I currently work as a research assistant for Professor Joan Cho, studying Korean megachurches and political polarization, and I spent this past summer in Seoul conducting fieldwork for that project. 

Cynthia Lei (2027)

I am a senior with a concentration in Comparative Politics and minoring in the College of East Asian Studies. I serve as the outreach chair for the Wesleyan Asian American Student Collective. I enjoys bouldering, binging sitcoms, and a good smoothie. 

Aaron Arthur Lin (2028)

I am a senior concentrating in International Relations. I have done research with Prof. Kolby R. Hanson and Prof. Rudabeh R. Shahid during my sophomore and junior years. I am researching and writing a senior thesis on the delegation of annexation.

Elizabeth Littell (2027)

I am a senior with a concentration in American Politics and also a Human Rights Advocacy Minor. 

Amal Mallick (2027)

I am a Government major with a concentration in International Relations, minoring in Data Analytics and Global Engagement. I have been actively engaged in the Government Department through my research work with Professor Kolby Hanson on his book and my ongoing project with Professors Dancey and Grillo in the Government and Civic Engagement Department. These experiences have given me the opportunity to collaborate closely with faculty members which is valuable in liaising between students and professors. My passion for Government, especially in International Relations, extends beyond campus. I interned with the United Nations Permanent Mission of Pakistan as a Policy Adviser, where I contribute to policy analysis and attend high level diplomatic meetings. This summer I interned at McKinsey in NYC.

Bethzy Mejia Jaime (2028)

I am a Government major (American Politics) with minors in Global Engagement and East Asian Studies, passionate about justice, public policy, and cross-cultural understanding. As a Judicial Intern at the Superior Court of Los Angeles County under Judge Shelly Torrealba, I have gained firsthand exposure to courtroom operations and judicial reasoning. Through the USINDO Summer Studies program, I researched refugee livelihoods and policy in Yogyakarta and studied how religion, politics, and social dynamics shape Indonesian governance. I have also volunteered with IRIS and Cultural Connections supporting refugee and immigrant communities. 

Trevor Mangus (2028)

I am a member of the class of 2028 concentrating in International Relations and pursuing a major in Economics and a minor in Data Science. This summer, I worked as an intern on Luke Bronin's congressional campaign in Connecticut's First Congressional District, where I helped lead a project writing letters to the editor and op-eds. Last spring, I worked as a course assistant for MATH132. In addition, last fall I joined the Wesleyan Institute for Policy's Social Core and worked on a research project on behalf of the Community Foundation of Middlesex County. In the future, I hope to apply the skills and experience I gain from my Government major to work on congressional campaigns, in a congressional office, or in policy research. 

Landon Papertsain (2028)

I am pursuing the political theory concentration. I am highly interested in political theory and spend much of my free time outside of Wesleyan reading it from figures such as Marx, Lenin, Mao, Machel, Barre, and others. This summer, I stayed in Toronto, using the Wesleyan Summer grant to begin research with Professor Joe Pateman at York University. My research with him concentrates on the application of Marxism-Leninism across Africa. This research is ongoing and is being used for Professor Pateman's upcoming book, "African Marxism," and may also be used for articles I plan to co-publish with him. 

Myeisha Patnaik (2028)

I am a junior Government and Math double major. My concentration is in American Politics This past summer I had an internship with the Department of Justice, working for the FBI. 

Alana Penoyer (2027)

I am a junior double majoring in Government, with a concentration in American Politics, and History. I'm born and raised outside of Portland, Oregon and have enjoyed my summer at home exploring new cafes and hiking spots. I recently wrapped up my internship with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden in his Portland office; the opportunity to learn under my representative, for a place I hold so close to me, has been such a formative experience. At Wesleyan, I am a tutor at Traverse Square, where I help kids ranging from ages three to twelve with their homework and connect with them through other recreational activities. I am also a member of the Wesleyan American Civil Liberties Union and play clarinet in the school's Chamber Music Ensemble. 

Zoey Possick (2028)

I am a junior Government major with a concentration in International Relations. My passion for government and advocacy goes beyond academics and is reflected in my extracurricular and professional experiences at Wesleyan and beyond. This year, I will serve as co-president of the Wesleyan ACLU. This past summer, I worked in the office of NYS Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, where I gained experience in constituent services and insight into current policy and legislative work. I am also particularly interested in how nonprofits interact with the government, which led me to intern with Habitat for Humanity and co-coordinate its campus chapter. Additionally, I served as a reproductive rights intern focused on policy and community engagement at NCJW-NY two summers ago. I am a Peer Career Advisor through the Gordon Career Center, working closely with our Law and Social Impact Advisor to organize programming for students interested in government-related careers.I will be studying abroad in Bologna, Italy.

Yaju Pradhan (2027)

I am double-majoring in Economics and Government, with a concentration in American Politics. This past spring, I studied abroad in London, where I focused on the international dimensions of government through courses such as British Politics and International Politics in the Developing World. Outside the classroom, I have previously interned at a workers compensation and personal injury law firm. On campus, I currently serve on the university's Community Standards Board.

Maya Salzman (2028)

I am concentrating in American government, with a double major in Environmental Studies and a minor in Global Engagement. I am passionate about the intersection of law, policy, and environmental science. I am planning on pursuing a career in environmental law and policy, which combines my areas of interest. I have conducted research on Indigenous history at Wesleyan, which focused on treaties and legal developments in the U.S. and Canada with Professor Jeffers Lennox. I received the COE fellowship this past summer to conduct fire ecology research in a remote mountain range in Mexico. I am currently writing my thesis on the same subject.I am the social chair/events coordinator of the women's frisbee. I work in the Department of Academic Affairs as the department assistant, a position I have had since my freshman year.

Shreya Savur (2028) 

I am a government major (Political Theory concentration) and a film minor. 
I have known I wanted to be a government major even since I took the intro class for Political Theory freshmen year and loved it. I plan on going to law school down the line and becoming an entertainment lawyer. I am going to be studying abroad in Prague in the Spring!  At Wesleyan, I have been involved in multiple theatre productions as well as part of Spike Tape. I also recently joined the Wes ACLU which I have found very inspiring.

SJ Schaeffer (2027)

I am a double major in Government and History. My academic interests center on political theory and the relationship between state power, liberty, and democratic participation. I am very interested in the aesthetics of politics in relation to fascism, as well as American cultural politics over the last 30 years. I am also interested in the intersection of politics and urban life, particularly how governance, space, and community identity interact. Outside the classroom, I will be involved with Wesleyan Business Review, helping recruit writers, coordinating communication between contributors and editors, and ensuring columns stay on track with deadlines. I am also a Co-captain of the Wesleyan Club Soccer Team, which I will resume in the spring upon my return to Campus. I will be studying abroad during the Fall 2025 semester in London at Queen Mary University.

Ikimot Siyanbola (2028)
I am a rising junior, double majoring in Psychology and Government with a concentration in American government. During my time at Wes, I have been involved in a variety of initiatives, including tutoring Middletown students through Traverse Square, serving as the Post-Project Manager on the Green Fund Committee, conducting research through the Assessment Lab, and volunteering with refugees through IRIS. Through these experiences, I’ve deepened my passion for advancing social justice in lower-resourced communities and advocating for the people who live in them. By majoring in government I’m feeding this passion and getting a good grasp of how the American government system works and where it is heading. This teaches me how to advocate for such communities on a large scale effectively. I'm passionate about all kinds of justice projects, most especially environmental and social justice. Additionally, I have been a New Student Orientation Peer Advisor for the past two years speaking to my experience with meeting with fellow students to answer questions or lend a helping hand to give advice that will be beneficial to students’ undergrad journeys. 

 

 

 

Are there any specific courses I should take if I want to become a Government major?

No. To be admitted as a major, you must complete at least one government course with a grade of B- or better, and at the time you submit your major declaration, your General Education Report must show that you have already, by the end of your third semester at Wesleyan, completed Stage 1 of the General Education Expectations.

There are four introductory courses. Which one should I take?

Each of the introductory courses corresponds to one of the four concentrations (GOVT 151 corresponds to American; GOVT 155 to international relations; GOVT 157 to comparative; and GOVT 159 to political theory). You should look at the concentration descriptions on the website before making a decision. 

Do I have to learn statistics if I want to major in Government?

Taking a course in statistics is recommended, but not required, for the major. Political scientists use diverse quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The Government Department routinely offers courses in statistics and methodology. Many Government majors use knowledge acquired in such courses to improve their research projects.

How do I get AP credit toward the major?

The Government Department will not approve Advanced Placement credit toward the major or toward graduation.

Since I can remember, I’ve had a deep interest in coming to Kenya; I find the landscapes so beautiful, and for some reason, there’s just always been such a personal draw to this country in particular. Thus, it only made sense to study abroad here, and SFS Kenya seemed like an experience I would have a very hard time replicating elsewhere or at another point in my life. As a Government major and Human Rights Advocacy minor, choosing a program fully outside of my typical coursework also appealed to me as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

As of right now, one lesson I’ll take away from this program is to really lean into the Side Quest, especially if it’s personally challenging/safely scary. Choose the thing that’s going to blow Past-You’s mind, and that Future-You will be able to look back on with love, respect, and pride. I’m only halfway through my program, so I’m sure I’ll find many more lessons in my remaining time here, especially as we continue to travel and learn across Kenya and Tanzania.