2025 Next System Fellows
Daniel Cruz-Cortez is a Global Affairs major, concentrating in Global Governance. He is interning at Public Citizen in their Congress Watch Advocacy division. His research explores how different areas of our system hold up to international human rights standards.
Cat Culbertson is pursuing a Bachelor's in Social Justice and Human Rights. Cat is currently interning with Move to Amend, helping them combat the notion of corporate personhood. Most of her research revolves around LGBTQIA+ and Women's rights.
Rachel Ickowitz is a Sociology Student from Knoxville, TN. Rachel will be interning as a research assistant with the Next Constitutions Research Lab here at GMU. She will research constitutional development and democracy movements from countries across the globe.
Hanaan Kazia is a government & sociology student from Ashburn, Virginia. She is interning at Move to Amend and researching how campaign finance reform can help build a more democratic society. She looks forward to learning how to create a truly equitable society for us all.
Amanda Leach is a BA Integrative Studies student from Yorktown, Virginia. She is interning with the Digital Commonwealth Project as well as helping with the development of the Next System Teach-Ins. They hope to integrate previous coursework from various fields into the values and ideas of Next System Studies.
Siena Michener is studying sociology here at Mason, with the goal of attending law school and becoming a public defender. Siena will be interning at Democratizing NOVA, which will involve researching and engaging with local democratization projects.
Cindy Minalla is a Sudanese American student currently working towards a BA in sociology. She will be interning with the Next Constitutions Research Lab here at GMU. Her research will center Africa and the Middle East with a specific focus on Sudan.
Beze Nkemanjong is a Criminology major at GMU. she will be interning with the NAACP's Fairfax County branch as part of their Legal Redress Committee. Throughout her internship, she will investigate discriminatory cases and recommend tailored solutions to each case.
John Smith is an undergraduate student at GMU studying history, with a particular interest in political and social history. He is working with multiple teams, including DNOVA, helping to support teach-ins, and more. After undergrad, John plans to get his master's
Aaron Thompson is a senior studying Global Affairs with a concentration in the environment and global governance. His research surrounds the effects of climate change, namely desertification and human-induced deforestation, impact Indigenous tribes in sub-Saharan Africa. This semester, he plans on interning at One Fairfax to gain experience in addressing racial disparities within Fairfax County.