As part of our effort to launch our top student leaders into careers that further our mission, AHS is proud to announce and congratulate the 2022 cohort of Hamilton National Fellows. Emerging from a competitive applicant pool, these twenty student leaders each secured internships in Washington, DC for Capitol Hill offices, the federal government, think tanks, and the private sector. As a part of this program, fellows will have the chance to participate in: 1) six seminars on American Grand Strategy; and 2) a staff ride to the historic battlefield of Gettysburg; and 3) attend briefings with distinguished practitioners on career opportunities in foreign policy and national security.
Through AHS’ financial assistance and coordinated in person programming, our Fellows will be able to take full advantage of their summer. We’re eager to welcome them, hoping further that this Fellowship encourages all AHS students to pursue their professional passions in foreign policy, national security, and economic statecraft.
2022 Hamilton National Fellows
Carolina amparo, ashland University ‘24
U.S. Department of State
Carolina Amparo is a third-year student and Ashbrook Scholar at Ashland University. She is majoring in political science and international political studies with a minor in ethics. Growing up, Carolina was surrounded by diverse peers as well as great professors who sparked her interest in other cultures and the American government. She has decided to combine these passions by pursuing a career in diplomacy. Within the next five years, she aspires to finish her undergraduate studies, obtain a master’s degree in international relations, and become a Foreign Service Officer. This summer, Carolina will be interning for the U.S. Department of State in the Office of Andean Affairs. Her responsibilities will include drafting and editing reports on countries, policies, and trends concerning U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. She may also be translating embassy reports from Spanish to English. Carolina looks forward to learning more about American Grand Strategy through the Hamilton National Fellowship. She believes the fellowship is an excellent opportunity to understand her internship assignments in the context of long-term national goals.
OLEKSII ANTONIUK, YALE University ‘24
National Security Think-Tank
Oleksii Antoniuk is a rising junior at Yale University, studying Global Affairs and Economics. In his studies, Oleksii specifically focuses on Russia, its domestic politics, and warfare. He is the President of Yale’s AHS chapter. This summer Oleksii will be a National Security and Intelligence Analysis intern at a DC-based think-tank. He will use open-source intelligence to help US policymakers and the public understand Russia's warfare in Ukraine and beyond. As a low-income student from Ukraine, Oleksii says the Hamilton National Fellowship was critical in making this internship happen. He also believes the fellowship will help him get to know AHS officers from other chapters and learn more about the American Grand Strategy. In his future career, Oleksii envisions himself as an open-source intelligence analyst on Russia's warfare. He first hopes to work in DC and then pursue a Master's degree in international relations.
aden barton, harvard University ‘24
American Enterprise Institute
Aden Barton is a rising Junior studying Economics and Government at Harvard. He's especially interested in economic research, monetary policy, and political analysis. Aden first became interested in these subjects through his time on his high school's policy debate team, researching and arguing about complicated economic and foreign policy topics. Outside of class, he competes for Harvard's debate team and serves as captain of the Federal Reserve Challenge. He'll be working in the American Enterprise Institute's Poverty Studies department this summer, researching how best to design safety net programs. After graduating, he aims to work for a year or two before attending law school and eventually plans to work at the intersection of economics and politics. Aden looks forward to leaving the Hamilton Fellowship with a more nuanced understanding of foreign policy and grand strategy, hoping to apply the lessons learned through his economic and legal work in the years to come.
avery bower, cornell University ‘23
Claremont Institute
Avery Bower is a rising senior at Cornell University studying History and Government. His grandfather always wanted to be a history professor and instilled in him a reverence for the past and the importance of the lessons to be learned from our ancestors. He will be working at the Claremont Institute's Center for the American Way of Life as a research intern. While at Claremont, he will be conducting research on comparative family policy in other Western nations and studying critical race theory and gender ideology in the American education system. He hopes to complement his domestic research with the Hamilton National Fellowship, which will provide him with the chance to study our engagements abroad and our strategy putting American interests first. He plans on entering a career in Intellectual Property law in an effort to protect our robust culture of ingenuity against a rising China.
sean carver, johns hopkins university sais ‘23
The Brookings Institution
Sean Carver is currently studying International Relations & International Economics at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies with a focus on Security Studies in Africa and the U.S. He became interested in this area after his experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda, as well as writing an Honors Research Thesis about Kenya’s tech boom at Cornell University. This Summer, he will be interning at Brookings Institution as a Researcher assisting Professor Landry Signé with his work on the Global Economy and Development. As a fellow at AHS, he hopes to gain a stronger understanding of U.S. foreign policy decision-making that is rooted in data and logic and promotes individual liberty, economic freedom, and democracy. In the next five years, he hopes to assist with U.S. foreign policymaking decisions in the Great Lakes Region at the Department of State or the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Gabrielle dankanich, the catholic university of america ‘23
The Vandenberg Coalition
A rising junior at The Catholic University of America, Gabrielle Dankanich is pursuing a major in politics and a minor in theology. She first became interested in world politics through research into the horrors of human trafficking, genocides, and through mission trips to El Salvador. Recognizing the enormous and growing threats that face the United States, her primary goal is to advance U.S. leadership on the world stage while protecting human dignity and American national security. With her ambitions directed toward a position in the next White House, she hopes to uphold peace and stability in American foreign policy, as well as encouraging the spread of the values which make the U.S. great, such as individual liberty and economic freedom. The Hamilton National Fellowship will undoubtedly shape her goals going forward. This summer she is privileged to work as a policy intern for The Vandenberg Coalition, which focuses greatly on American national security secured by U.S. leadership on the world stage. Spending much of her time on rapid response research and event coordination, she is more than excited to begin this summer.
Maura brennan, university of notre dame ‘23
U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security
Maura Brennan is a current rising Senior at the University of Notre Dame studying Political Science, Global Affairs and Theology. She is interested in the intersection of national security and human rights, specifically religious freedom, and this summer will be working at the U.S. Committee on Homeland Security's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. She is incredibly excited to be a Hamilton National Fellow this summer and learn so much about how we can create a more secure nation and free world, supplementing her interest in the origins of issues causing risks to international peace and stability and solving those issues through the lens of human rights. She is seeking out a future in this field to protect the rights and safety of both those in our country and those across the world. She is so grateful for the opportunity to establish a community in DC through AHS this summer.
max goldberg, syracuse university ‘23
U.S. Department of Defense
Max Goldberg is a Junior at Syracuse University's Maxwell School pursuing a BA and accelerated MA in International Relations, with minors in Geography, and Atrocity Studies and Practices of Social Justice. His concentration is on conflict in Europe and Eurasia but has worked significantly on subjects relating to African and Latin American regional issues. Max previously interned for AEI's Critical Threats Project tracking insurgency in Ethiopia, USDOS monitoring the Syrian civil war, and USAID Peru on alternative crop programs. This Summer, Max will be interning for the DoD, in the hopes of kickstarting a career in counter-extremism, national security, and the promotion of global freedoms. Max believes the AHS provides an opportunity to develop the necessary skills to thrive in this field and to engage in proactive dialogue with fellow students and experienced professionals for the betterment of our nation's foreign policy.
john desordi, the catholic university of america ‘23
U.S. Department of State
John Desordi is a rising Junior at The Catholic University of America and is studying politics with a concentration in global politics. He became interested in this field because of his intrigue for history and our government. Another motivator as to why he wanted to pursue a career in public service is because of his two grandfathers, who served in the Army during WW2. They instilled in him the importance of giving back to the country which has given us, as Americans, so much. He will be working in the office of the Chief of Protocol at the Department of State where he will be assisting the bureau in building a successful environment for diplomacy. This will include helping prepare for a wide range of diplomatic events and receptions. He is confident that this fellowship will not only give him the financial means to support himself over the summer, as well as expose him to the vast network that AHS has to offer. In the next five years, he sees himself entering government service and going to graduate school.
axel de vernou, yale university ‘25
Hudson Institute
Axel de Vernou is a rising sophomore at Yale University, where he aims to major in Global Affairs. He developed a strong interest in statecraft, world order, and grand strategy after taking an introductory international relations class and joining the Yale chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society as an Officer of Communications. Since then, he has organized seminars with foreign policy experts, led speaker events, and traveled to DC to meet senators and judges. This summer, he will be working at the Hudson Institute as a Nuclear Strategy Intern for Mr. Peter Huessy, researching deterrence, tactical weapons, and Washington’s response to foreign nuclear buildup. The Hamilton National Fellowship will enable him to understand how his findings fit into American Grand Strategy generally and how past leaders have responded to threat perceptions and military escalation abroad. He is excited to add a historical and conceptual lens to his research. After graduation, Axel plans to chart his path through foreign policy or diplomacy. In his career, he hopes to explore the evolution of today’s Great Power competition, the U.S.’s role in the global alliance system, and whether American economic predominance can sustain dedollarization.
victoria gallegos, texas a&m university ‘23
U.S. Department of State
Victoria Gallegos is a graduate student at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, pursuing a Master of International Affairs with a focus on national security and diplomacy. In undergraduate, she studied non-state actors while living overseas in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Colombia. Her research interests include civil conflict, illicit transnational networks and international terrorism, particularly with respect to international law. She has held previous internships at #NatSecGirlSquad and the Brookings Institution. This summer, she will be interning in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, within the Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers. Victoria looks forward to the educational and professional opportunities offered through the Hamilton National Fellowship, especially deepening her understanding of American Grand Strategy. She plans to spend a life-long career in public service and eventually attend law school.
will kielm, university of michigan ‘23
Center for European Policy Analysis
Will Kielm is a Junior at the University of Michigan majoring in Public Policy with a focus in International Relations Theory and U.S. Foreign Policy at Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. He will be interning at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) on the Transatlantic Defense and Security Team supporting administrative tasks and conducting research on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and NATO's security policy in Europe. He hopes to network with his Hamilton National Fellowship cohort and is looking forward to actively participating in the American Grand Strategy seminar taught by Dr. Kenneth Pollack, whose work on the Middle East has inspired Will's passion for the region. Career-wise, he hopes to integrate theory and practice by working on U.S. security and defense policy in Europe, East Asia, and/or the Middle East as a practitioner and pursuing his passion in international relations theory, namely the structural realist and neoliberal institutionalist academic discourse, through a doctoral program.
esther ko, university of texas at austin ‘23
Nuclear Threat Initiative
Esther Ko is a master's student studying Global Policy with a focus on nuclear security at the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin. As a Korean-American with family living on the Korean peninsula, she has always been interested in the impact nuclear weapons and doctrine have on the security environment of the region. She is very grateful to be able to study this in-depth through UT Austin's master's program. This summer, she will be an intern at the Nuclear Threat Initiative in their Nuclear Materials Security program working on various projects creating ambitious, actionable solutions to address pressing nuclear security challenges. Through the AHS fellowship, she hopes to be able to further develop her understanding of American Grand Strategy and strategic decision-making as it is ultimately what all U.S. security policy is rooted in. Over the next five years, she aims to dedicate herself to public service within the realm of national security and continue to work on issues regarding nuclear proliferation and other weapons of mass destruction.
mackenzie manofsky, washington university in st. louis ‘23
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Mackenzie Manofsky is a Senior at Washington University in St. Louis studying Global Studies and Economics with a minor in Chinese Language and Culture. Her interest in these areas began in kindergarten, when she was first introduced to Mandarin Chinese. She quickly became enthralled by the intricacies and widespread use of the language, taking classes in Chinese politics and learning about the significance of diplomacy in navigating international conflict. This summer, she will be interning at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee under Senator Risch. Not only will she have the opportunity to combine her love for cultural diversity, strategy, and discussion, but she will also learn more about foreign policy in congress, the legislative process, and the operations of an office on Capitol Hill. She is excited to participate in the Hamilton National Fellowship. She hopes to hear new perspectives, as well as further develop her analytical thinking skills. Mostly, she is eager to join a community of passionate students. In the next five years, she hopes to gain work experience on Capitol Hill and later pursue a graduate degree to prepare her for a career in either the creation or regulation of international trade policy.
alexandra orbuch, princeton university ‘25
Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Senator Tom Cotton
Alexandra Orbuch is a freshman at Princeton University from California interested in the intersection between law and public policy. At Princeton, she writes for The Princeton Tory, is an editor for the Nassau Weekly, and serves as Treasurer of the Princeton Legal Journal. In addition, Alexandra is a fellow in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions and Deputy Chair of the Clio Party, the nation's oldest collegiate conservative debate society. Alexandra has spent time working in the worlds of both corporate activism and criminal justice, at Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft LLP and the Loyola Project for the Innocent respectively. This summer, she will be interning in the House of Representatives and the Senate, working on policy memos, fielding constituent phone calls, and writing Op-Eds. Alexandra is excited to be participating in the AHS fellowship, where she hopes to gain knowledge of American Grand Strategy and supplement the education she will be receiving on Capitol Hill.
cole penz, the george washington university ‘23
Federal Government
Cole Penz is studying international affairs at The George Washington University. He became interested in international affairs after he purchased a subscription to the magazine Foreign Affairs. Ever since then his interest has only grown. He is fascinated by the debate surrounding the extent to which American foreign policy should be centered on promoting our values. He hopes that the weekly sessions on American Grand Strategy through this fellowship will analyze that debate and the differing perspectives of presidential administrations. He also looks forward to hearing what the other fellows are doing this summer and what their interests are. Another hope he has for this summer is that through this fellowship he will get a better understanding of what opportunities he can pursue after graduation and what steps he can take now to prepare himself. Over the next five years his goal is to establish himself in the federal government working to execute American foreign policy. Another goal of his is to get a master's degree in intelligence studies or something similar. Finally, he also wants to work abroad. This summer I will be interning for the federal government.
cate pitterle, wake forest university ‘24
U.S. Department of State
Cate Pitterle is a rising junior at Wake Forest University. Her love of languages led her to a Politics and International Affairs major, along with minors in Russian and History. She is particularly interested in post-Communist international relations, and her studies center mainly on Eastern Europe. This summer, she is interning at the State Department in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, where she will be focusing on Europe, Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere. Through the Hamilton National Fellowship, she is excited to meet AHS members from across the country and learn from experts in the field. She hopes to connect her AHS coursework on American Grand Strategy to the policymaking initiatives at the State Department. Eventually, she hopes to pursue a career in international relations, whether that be in the government or a private sector field, and continue to explore conflict resolution and peace processes.
maya reddy, vanderbilt university ‘24
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Maya Reddy is a rising junior at Vanderbilt University pursuing a double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Political Science. On campus, she is a member of the debate team, a Learning Assistant for the Biological Sciences department, and a research assistant in both the biology and political science departments. Her two favorite topics to debate are bioethics and education policy. She is also passionate about science communication and hosts a podcast titled Miss Informed, which aims to tackle misinformation. This summer, Maya will be interning at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where she will be researching scientific policy. She is excited to delve into the role that science and scientific advancement plays in national security and policymaking. Her career interests lie in biodefense, most specifically the intersection of infectious disease and genetic engineering as it pertains to national security and international affairs. Through the Hamilton National Fellowship, Maya hopes to learn as much as she can about international affairs and American Grand Strategy. Being from Oregon, she is also very excited to see what living in Washington D.C. is like! In her spare time, Maya loves baking, shooting rifle and archery, watching sitcoms, and brushing up on Mandarin Chinese.
kevin xiao, yale university ‘23
Federal Election Commission
Kevin Xiao is a rising senior at Yale studying Political Science in the joint BA/MA program. He first became interested in national security from studying administrative politics and how the federal government sets, coordinates, and implements policy across the many agencies in the bureaucracy. He is interning at the Federal Election Commission in the Office of Chairman Allen Dickerson this summer, where he assists with Commission policy initiatives, Federal Election Campaign Act enforcement, and legislative recommendations. As a Hamilton National Fellow, Kevin would like to learn about the theory and practice of grand strategy and the basic elements of both overt and covert warfare. He would like to learn about how rapidly advancing technologies can fortify public administration, as well as serve as tools for crippling potential attacks before they occur. After graduation, he hopes to work in the federal government and understand how agency decisions, once aggregated, impact our national security and military readiness.
ryan sullivan, texas A&m university ‘22
U.S. Department of Defense
Ryan Sullivan pursued a BA in both International Studies and History, with a minor in Russian, graduating summa cum laude from Texas A&M University in May 2020 with Liberal Arts as well as departmental honors. During his undergraduate career Ryan spent a semester in Ukraine studying and touring the region to explore and discuss global matters of policy, conflict, and hybrid warfare. These experiences with post-Cold War cold conflicts helped to drive Ryan’s interests in national security matters, specifically in Eastern Europe and Russia. Ryan got his start in government as an honors intern with the Department of Justice, working to protect the US from domestic and international threats. The FBI drove Ryan towards a career of service to the nation and to pursue higher education at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. At the Bush School, Ryan pursued a Master of International Affairs, focusing on intelligence, defense, and cyber policy. This summer Ryan will be interning with the Department of Defense in an analytical capacity which Ryan hopes to turn into a life-long career with tours across the world. The AHS National fellowship offers a unique opportunity to engage in dialogue and discourse over pressing matters of foreign policy and national security central to the future careers of defense and intelligence personnel. These discussions will be paramount to preparing for a future of service and in defense of the US.