M.A. Student – Class of 2022

Citizenship: United States

I grew up in a small town in Northeastern Massachusetts but moved to Salem, MA for college where I have resided for six years. Living near Boston, beaches, and mountains have given me the opportunity to explore, grow, and determine where I belong. I graduated from Salem State University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. While I was there, I pursued my interest in global policy and wrote my senior thesis on Ecuador’s environmental management of the Galapagos Islands, and proposed theoretical solutions to improve governance. I am currently working as a research assistant with a professor from Salem State University, analyzing data to understand the human dimensions of policies protecting sharks and seals on Cape Cod. At Columbia University, I intend to study environmental politics within a theoretical and international framework. More specifically, I plan on studying the underpinnings of South American politics and its impacts on the health and management of the Amazon Rainforest. After graduation, I hope to publish further research on the international community’s approach towards environmental policy to guide decision-making and eventually become a professor in the field of global politics to educate others on our world’s complex problems.