Meet our National Security Fellows
2013
Haley Bauser
Haley Bauser is a rising sophomore and is planning on majoring in Physics and International Relations with a possible minor in Women’s Studies. She would like to combine her interests in both the natural sciences and the social sciences by working with weapons and intelligence, specifically within the CIA. Haley is proficient in French and is currently studying Arabic. At the college, Haley is involved in the International Relations Club with which she chaired a committee at the high school conference. She also tutors at Berkeley Middle School as part of Project Phoenix. She is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia where she has lived for her entire life. In Virginia Beach, she spent most of her time performing with her band in which she sings and plays both the guitar and mandolin.
Josh Cohen
Josh is a rising senior at the College, and is pursuing a major in Government and a minor in East Asian Studies. He has studied Mandarin for two years, and will be spending the spring 2013 semester studying and abroad at Beijing University. He is very interested in international security, particularly as it relates to East Asian affairs. Josh is an active participant in the William & Mary martial arts community; he has practiced Tae Kwon Do and various other disciplines for over twelve years. He is currently vice-president of the Tae Kwon Do Club, and teaches Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido lessons. In his free time Josh enjoys playing the piano, reading, and writing.
Alexandria (Joe) Foster
Alexandria Foster is a rising junior at the College hoping to major in International Relations with a minor in Marketing. She is an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and volunteers as a tour guide for the W&M Admissions Office. In addition, she works as a research assistant for AidData, an organization within the International Relations Institute that investigates global development aid. During her junior year she intends to study abroad in Goa, India concentrating on studying international development. In her free time she enjoys playing music, sports, drinking coffee, and traveling extensively. After having lived overseas for 10 years, Alexandria is very interested in bringing an international perspective to national security issues, focusing on where U.S. national security and international relations overlap.
Melanie Gilbert
Melanie Gilbert is a sophomore at the College and an International Relations major with a potential Sociology minor, and an interest in policy's effect on humanitarian issues. On campus, she is an active member of the International Relations Club, traveling to conferences in the US and Canada, hosting conferences for all age groups, and directing committees. She is also a brother of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, with tutoring middle schoolers being her main service project, and a member of Alma Mater Productions, the College's substance-free student event planning committee.In her free time, Melanie tries to keep up with her courses and enjoys relaxing with friends.
Sam Glover
Sam Glover is a freshman at the college and intends to major in Government. Originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia, Sam has a passion for politics that has lead him to become the head of his high school’s student government as well as a summer fellowship with the local Obama headquarters. A former People to People Ambassador and Virginia House of Delegates Page, Sam hopes to further his interests in politics, both foreign and domestic. A proud Sharpe Scholar, Sam studies problems related to the opportunity gap while tutoring with Project Phoenix. In his spare time, Sam enjoys watching the Daily Show hosted by Jon Stewart ’84, as well as the pundits on MSNBC, running, and writing poetry.
Ariana Guy
Ariana is a junior at the college, majoring in Government with a minor in French. Upon graduating from William and Mary, she hopes to have a career that pertains to national security or international diplomacy. Since graduating in 2010 from Courtland High School, Fredericksburg, VA, she has spent her summers interning for the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Executive Office of the President. Ariana is also the Publicity Chair for William and Mary’s Young Democrats, which requires her to publicize the activities of the Young Democrats, as well as work with the Social Chair to form bonds with other clubs. She was especially active in the 2012 Obama campaign: registering students to vote, canvassing door-to-door, and phone banking for the Democratic Party. Ariana also works with Campus Kitchens, helping cook and prepare meals for hungry families in the Williamsburg area. In her spare time, Ariana enjoys playing classical piano, watching movies, and reading.
Bryan Joyce
Bryan Joyce is a sophomore at the College, majoring in International Relations. His interests pertain to security and economic relationships within the Middle East, and he recently began learning Arabic. On campus Bryan is a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity and he enjoys doing service projects for the Pathways organization and the Heritage Humane Society. Bryan is an Eagle Scout and is actively involved in the Boy Scouts of America. Over the past summer, Bryan worked in the kitchen at his local Boy Scout Camp in Gore, Virginia. Bryan is from Winchester, Virginia and he is interested in traveling abroad to expand his studies. In his spare time, Bryan likes to play his guitar, listen to music, and watch movies.
Ben Kenzer
Ben Kenzer, a junior at the College, is an International Relations major. Growing up in Richmond, Ben became interested in international security by his attendance at Maggie L Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies. He has participated in two major research ventures at William and Mary- The Project on International Peace and Security (PIPS) and the Teaching, Research, and International Policy Project (TRIP). He has also benefitted from studying abroad in Lille, France, where he attended classes at Sciences Po Lille. Ben is an active member of William and Mary’s International Relations Club – regularly staffing the club’s high school and middle school Model United Nations conferences. He is also a reviewer for The Monitor, a campus-wide journal of international studies. Ben looks forward to living in Washington, not only for its many education opportunities, but also for the variety of cultural and culinary opportunities it provides!
Evan Meltzer
Evan Meltzer is a rising senior at the College, majoring in international relations and minoring in geology. Originally from Millington, New Jersey, he plans to pursue a career in the intelligence field with a focus on the Middle East. His interest in studying the Middle East is due in part to learning Arabic and Hebrew and traveling to the region. In the summer of 2012, Evan had the opportunity to travel to Jordan on a study abroad program, where he focused on improving his language skills. On campus, Evan is highly involved with the tutoring and mentoring group, Project Phoenix, in which he serves as the operations coordinator. During his past three years on campus, Evan has worked some interesting jobs such as assisting the county’s parks and recreation office, teaching religious school, and offering food and historical of Colonial Williamsburg. In his spare time, Evan enjoys cooking and baking, as well as outdoor related activities like kayaking and hiking.
Ryan Neuhard
Ryan Neuhard is a freshman at the College from Stafford, Virginia. He plans to major in International Relations and intends to explore academic interests in computer science, economics, and Chinese language, which he may incorporate into a second major. Ryan is particularly interested in studying the areas of International Relations that involve evaluating the likely causes, future implications, and potential responses to new and evolving security threats. After college, Ryan is interested in pursing a career pertaining to national security. On campus, he is involved in the International Relations club, Muay Thai club, Jiu Jitsu club, Judo club, Outdoors club, and the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing a variety of sports, spending time outdoors hiking and camping, and spending time with friends and family.
Haroun Rahman
Haroun is a senior at the college, majoring in Government with a minor in History, with focus on international issues. After traveling to many countries, culminating in a study abroad trip to Galway, Ireland dealing with Irish Foreign Policy, his interests in to US policy towards other nations emerged. At the College he enjoys access to, and the experience of, visiting speakers relating to security and international life as a whole. Additionally, he worked as a research assistant to the college’s TRIP program in the Institute for the Theory and Practice of International Relations. A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Haroun spends his free time keeping up with the news, exploring new music and the beauties of the great outdoors.
Wes Reichart
Wes is a sophomore at the College of William and Mary. He is double majoring in Government and Economics. Upon, graduation Wes intends to attend law school with aspirations of becoming a practicing attorney or legal consultant. He has interest in legal issues surrounding National Security such as legal responses to terrorism, international legal precedence on security matters, and the legality of U.S. national security measures. He hopes to explore these areas further as he expands his knowledge by participating in the DC Summer Institute. At the College, Wes is a member of the College Republicans, Public Policy Club, and the Delta Chi Fraternity. Wes is from Hanover, Pennsylvania and in his spare time he enjoys participating in intramural sports, watching sports, reading, hunting, spending time outdoors, and participating in political organizations.
Kelsey Sakumoto
Kelsey Sakumoto is a rising senior majoring in International Relations with a possible minor in Economics. On campus, she is a research assistant with the Persistent Institutional Development project, studying the sustainability of World Bank projects. Kelsey is involved in the William & Mary International Relations Club, where she was the committee director for SPECPOL at William & Mary High School Conference. She will be furthering her interest in U.S.-China relations and Chinese culture through a language intensive course in Beijing during the Spring 2013 semester. Originally from San Diego, CA, Kelsey enjoys ballet, reading and writing in her spare time.
Tom Scott-Sharoni
Tom is a naturalized American citizen who is a Junior who is studying Economics and International Relations who finds the systems that tie the world together particularly fascinating, and hopes to one day get the chance to study the relationships between economics and countries actions closely. He is a member of the International Relations Club, who is running his own simulation on Scottish Independence at the College's first ever College Model United Nations Conference, as well as being a debater and member of the economics club. He also works for the college as a student caller to help keep the college growing and expanding. Tom has spent much time living in the United Kingdom and Germany, and enjoy travelling to new places when he can, having already visited 10 countries in three continents. He currently lives in Virginia Beach and enjoys reading, swimming, playing chess and other strategy games in his free time. See Tom's published work on The Hill.
Clayton Southerly
Clayton Southerly is a sophomore at the College from Fairfax, Virginia. As an International Relations major, his interests center on International Justice and what the enforcement of international criminal law means for global security. On campus, Clayton is involved with the International Relations Club, having served on the Secretariats of two Model UN conferences. He is also a member of Company W-4 of the National Society of Pershing Rifles and the Queens' Guard. In his spare time, Clayton enjoys cooking, chilling on campus, and spending time with friends.
Christopher Stephens
Chris is a rising senior at the College from Arlington, VA. He am a government and history double major with a particular emphasis in international relations and security issues as well as Middle Eastern studies. He am a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and the William & Mary Rowing Club. Chris also enjoys doing service work at the College and is an Eagle Scout. Last summer, he interned with a lobbying group in D.C. where he did research on conflict in the Middle and Africa. After graduation, Chris would like to pursue a law degree or an advanced degree in international relations or security studies. He is ultimately interested in a career with the government or with a D.C. think tank.
James Willard
James Willard is currently a freshman at the College from Wythe County in Southwest Virginia. He just declared his major in international relations. His interests include the promoting of human development and human rights abroad, as well as the more domestic concerns of national security. He hopes to find an internship that can reconcile social goodwill and national security. He is excited for the multitude of opportunities to be had in the DC over the summer in the field of international relations. On campus, he is active on the debate team and with Model UN, just serving as chair on a committee at the William and Mary High School Model UN Conference. He hopes to develop and channel his current interests in the spring semester and over the summer so that he can discover his passions. When he is not busy with schoolwork or club activities, he likes to spend time with friends, play pointless games on Facebook, and drink lots of coffee (hold the cream and sugar, please).
Nicole Wright
Nicole is sophomore at the college and an International Relations major with a Russian and Post-Soviet Studies minor. After graduation, she hopes to pursue graduate studies focusing on international security or international development and one day work for the Federal Government. Her primary region of interest is Eastern Europe. She also enjoys studying languages and has a background in French as well as Russian. She plans to spend a semester studying abroad in St. Petersburg her junior year. Nicole is actively involved on campus as a member of the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, the club field hockey team, and the equestrian club. While at home, she works at Little River Veterinary Clinic as a veterinary assistant. She is from Falls Church, Virginia and in her spare time, enjoys playing the piano, reading, and cheering for the Washington Capitals.
Darice Xue
Darice Xue is a rising sophomore at the College of William and Mary. Although she is still undeclared, she looks forward to double majoring in International Relations and either Computer Science or Finance, which would appeal to both her avid love of learning foreign languages and cultures and of quantitative problem solving. On campus Darice is involved with Intervarsity, her Christian fellowship, and the International Relations Club, having chaired the 1993 Russian DUMA in their Fall high school Model UN conference. As a Sharpe Community Scholar Darice tutors English at Literacy for Life, an adult literacy program hosted by the School of Education. In between classes and clubs she interns at AidData as a newborn geocoder. A product of Richmond, Virginia, Darice likes to strip herself of her corporate facade during her free time and channel her energies into creative self-expression, such as dancing, drawing, writing, and playing the piano. Darice also enjoys improving her Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, and taking long walks, runs, and naps anywhere and everywhere.
Jimmy Zhang
Jimmy is a sophomore at the college planning to major in Government and Economics and a native of Allendale, New Jersey. He has lived in China and Australia, and stays in touch with his cousins from Oklahoma and Vienna, Austria, endowing him with great interest in international relations and the political and cultural nuances of US public diplomacy. As a research intern for the Government Department’s Project on International Peace and Security, Jimmy is brainstorming international strategies to reduce censorship and promote human rights, and analyzing the connection between US foreign policy and the legislative process. Having worked in the political process on the federal, state, and local levels in Virginia and New Jersey, he plans to pursue a career on Capitol Hill or in the State Department after graduation. Outside of class, Jimmy is heavily involved with Virginia 21, debate, the Young Democrats, International Relations Club, and Reformed University Fellowship. He is proficient in Chinese, Spanish, and French, and enjoys music, nature, and homemade chocolate chip cookies.
