Meet Our Leadership and Community Engagement Fellows

Emily Abbey

Emily Abbey is a sophomore at the college of William and Mary pursuing a double major in Public Policy and Hispanic Studies, and eventually a law degree. She is from Midlothian, VA right outside of Richmond and is a graduate of the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies. On campus she is an active member of the W&M Mock Trial team and a recent initiate of Delta Gamma sorority. Last summer, Emily studied abroad in Cadiz, on the southern coast of Spain, and had a wonderful and enlightening experience living abroad. She is very excited to see where the institute takes her in terms of both professional and personal development, and what opportunities living and learning in the nation's capital will provide. 

Rebecca Beale

Rebecca Beale, originally from Chicago, is a freshman at the College. She plans to double major in Government and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s studies, reflecting her passion for gender equality at both the cultural and institutional level. As an active member of Aim 4, social justice is front and center in her daily activities. In her free time, she volunteers at Avalon and is involved in Virginia 21, College Republicans, and the Native American Student Association. With a strong commitment to justice, Rebecca aspires to attend law school and, ultimately, develop a successful career in public office. With a strong debate background, Rebecca loves to argue and is looking forward to spending a summer in the city that lives and breathes politics.

Julia Burzynski

Carolyn Calder

Carolyn Calder is a sophomore at the College, currently in the process of self-designing a Global Community Studies major with a Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies minor. Though she was raised in Cary, North Carolina, she currently calls Bronxville, New York home. On campus, she is involved in AIM4, a program she joined her freshman year aimed at combatting social justice issues, through which she has worked with non-profits such as Avalon, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girl Scouts of America, and Kaboom. She is also chair of Reading is Fundamental for her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, as well as vice president of communications for the William & Mary chapter of Free the Children. Additionally, Carolyn works as a climbing wall attendant at the rock wall on campus, and has been a resident camp counselor at YMCA Camp Thunderbird for the past four summers. She hopes that this opportunity with DCSI will help her in her goal of eventually working for an international non-profit aimed at providing girls access to education. 

Carolyn Cunniffe

Carolyn Cunniffe is a junior at the College double majoring in Government and Kinesiology (public health concentration). Growing up in a military family took her all over the world, but she finally settled in Chesapeake, VA. On campus, Carolyn spends most of her time running as she is a member of the varsity cross country and track teams. She also enjoys helping kids work towards the goal of completing a 5k race by volunteering with the Matthew Whaley Elementary School running club. Carolyn is interested in the formation of governmental policies, especially those aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles. The DCSI program allows Carolyn to explore both her government and public health interests by placing her in the nation’s capital among countless non-profits and other organizations dedicated to bettering the health of the community. In her free time, Carolyn loves to watch Law and Order and go on walks through Colonial Williamsburg. She is excited to spend the summer in DC as a fellow of the Leadership and Community Engagement Institute. 

Sophia Farion

Hailing from Philadelphia, Sophia Farion is a rising Senior at the College of William & Mary double majoring in English and Government. During the Spring 2014 semester, she studied abroad at Oxford University in the United Kingdom with an academic focus on English and Music. Sophia is also heavily involved in music on campus as a member of the co-ed a cappella group DoubleTake and frequently sings with the Opera Workshop. Passionate about sharing her love for William & Mary, Sophia interacts with prospective and incoming students through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a Tribe Ambassador and the Office of First Year Experiences as an Orientation Aide. Sophia is very excited to participate in the DC Summer Institute program and explore Washington DC! 

Hannah Ferster

Hannah Ferster is a current freshman at the College, originally from Rockville, Maryland. Though she isn’t exactly sure what she’d like to major in yet, she’s interested in Sociology, Public Health, and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies. When not in class, Hannah can be found singing and playing ukulele in her room, at a yoga class, or exploring Williamsburg with her friends. She is also a Sharpe Community Scholar, and a member of William and Mary’s Voices for Planned Parenthood club, and American Sign Language club. Hannah continues to look for ways to be involved in creating an open environment on campus willing to combat issues surrounding social inequality. Some of her passions include feminism and health education, and she’s thrilled to have the opportunity this summer to learn more about becoming meaningfully engaged in these passions through DCSI. In the future, Hannah hopes to work for a nonprofit organization as an advocate for women’s health, or improved health education in general.

Melinda Heim

Melinda Heim is a junior at the College, originally from Centerville, Virginia. She is majoring in Government with a minor in Accounting.  On campus, she is involved in Tribe Ambassadors, Students for University Advancement, and serves as Webmaster for Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She is also a leader of a local Girl Scout Troop. In her spare time, she enjoys cider walks in CW, spending time with friends, and hanging out with her dog. Melinda is also taking part in the Spring 2016 Semester Program and is excited to continue to learn and study in the nation’s capital this summer!

Samuel Houmaoui

Samuel Houmaoui is currently a sophomore at The College of William and Mary. Though he was born and grew up in California, he has lived in McLean, Virginia for the past seven years. Sam is pursuing a degree in Economics with a minor in Finance. He hopes to combine his coursework in business with his interest in the clean energy sector for which he has recently been granted a position as an independent research assistant. Sam has been involved in Model UN for the past five years where, for the past two years, served as W&M Conference Secretariat. In addition, Sam has recently collaborated with a group of friends to establish The Consulting Club through the Mason School of Business.  He is also involved with an on-campus social fraternity as well as working as a Personal Trainer at the campus Rec Center.  Sam also has a strong interest in music and media relations. 

Gabrielle Johanek

Gabrielle (Gaby) Johanek was born in Georgia and grew up as a military child before graduating high school in Yorktown, Virginia.  She is currently a sophomore at the College and is planning on majoring in Marketing and is deciding between a minor in Public Health or Kinesiology.  On campus Gaby is on the Varsity Gymnastics team and is the team's apparel coordinator.  She is also involved in the Delta Delta Delta sorority and serves as their licensing chair.  In her free time she enjoys reading, traveling, and playing with puppies.

Abigail Jones

Abigail Jones is currently a sophomore at the College from Woodbury, Connecticut. She plans to major in either Marketing or Finance and is deciding between a minor in American Studies or Economics. On Campus Abby is a high jumper on the track and field team, a representative for the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, a member of Camp Kesem, and a sister of Kappa Kappa Gamma. In her free time, she loves to keep up with current events, travel, spend time with family and friends, and catch up on whichever Netflix series she is obsessed with. Abby hopes to find a career that combines her interests in business with government and history. 

Peter Kinton

Peter Kinton is a rising junior at the College of William and Mary from Vienna, Virginia. He is pursuing a major in International Relations and a potential minor in Arabic Studies. At the College, you can find him hanging out with friends, exploring new music at the Daily Grind, or participating in various campus organizations. Peter is a campus tour guide, a Student Assembly Undersecretary for Events and Programming, an Orientation Aide, and a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity on campus. Peter’s passions stem from his love for foreign languages. In the past, he has taken six years of both French and Spanish and now is taking Arabic at the College. He hopes to eventually work for the State Department and travel as much as possible in order to continue learning languages and culture. He is also interested in a possible gap period to volunteer in the Peace Corps after graduation. Peter wants to be able to communicate with as many people as possible and hopes to use his William and Mary experience to help him further advance his goals. 

Kady Kriner

My name is Kady Kriner and I am a Junior here at William and Mary. I am Pursuing a major in Public Policy and deciding on a Marketing Minor. Originally, I am from Panama City, Florida now living at the National Harbor in Maryland. I am apart of the Women's varsity soccer team here at William and Mary and the Morale Director for TribeTHON. I enjoy the commitment and experience of being a student-athlete very much. I look forward to the opportunity to study in DC this summer with the Leadership and Community Engagement Institute, as well as fulfilling my role as the Washington Center Blogger. 

Nura Mariscal del Moral

Nura Mariscal del Moral is a sophomore at the College who intends to double major in International Relations and Kinesiology. Originally from Spain, she now calls Fredericksburg, VA her home. On campus Nura is a Resident Assistant and really likes spending time with her residents and creating fun programs for them to participate in. She also interns for the Undergraduate Admissions Office as a Multicultural Recruitment Intern (MRI) to help add diversity on campus. Her favorite part of being an MRI is reaching out to potential Hispanic students. Aside from this, Nura loves to stay physically active by weight-lifting and taking exciting classes like yoga and spin at the Rec. Eventually, she hopes to become a personal trainer there. Fun fact: Nura has an eclectic collection of socks and taste in music.

Abby Newell

Abby Newell is a sophomore at the College from Concord, Massachusetts. She is currently deciding between a major in either Government or International Relations. On campus, Abby is the Vice President of Panhellenic Activity within Delta Gamma sorority, is involved with Humans of William and Mary, is a member of the Cohen Career Center Committee, and is also a political communications intern in the Social Networks and Political Psychology Lab (SNaPP Lab). In her free time, Abby likes catching up with anything on HBO, especially Game of Thrones, reading, and having coffee dates with friends. While she is unsure of her future career path, she’s positive the DCSI program will make a powerful and impactful impact in her goal to save the world.  

Anee Nguyen

Anee Nguyen is from Fairfax, Virginia and is a freshman at the College. She is an English major in the William and Mary St. Andrews Joint Degree Programme and will be heading to Scotland to study for the next two years. On campus, Anee works with the Alma Mater Productions as an intern, tutors fourth graders at a local elementary school, and writes for the Virginia Informer, an on campus newspaper. She is hoping to pursue a career in secondary education or education public policy after college. In her free time, Anee likes to use the metro system, write bad poetry, and watch what Audrey Hepburn movies are still left on Netflix.

Terelle Robinson

Veronica Silva

Veronica Silva was born in Miami, Florida and moved to Northern Virginia in the fourth grade. She is a freshman at the College of William and Mary and plans to major in International Relations and minor in Hispanic Studies. She has a strong interest in politics, social justice, human rights and history and hopes to attend law school after her undergraduate education and live in Washington, D.C, her favorite city. In her junior year she hopes to participate in the La Plata program to study human rights in Argentina. On campus, Veronica is involved in club tennis and William and Mary's Chi Omega sorority and her interests include reading, traveling, the beach, music, theatre, public speaking and writing. She is incredibly excited to take part in the DSCI program this summer!

Wynne Tidwell

Wynne Tidwell is a junior at the College of William & Mary where she is studying Government with a minor in Geology. Born and raised in Texarkana, Texas, Wynne has been an engaged member in her community from a young age. Whether it was attending school board meeting or creating a club to help restore downtown Texarkana, she has had an interest in community participation.  Wynne is currently a member of Students for University Advancement and serves as Event Chairman for her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. She is also part of Greeks for Respect, Inclusion, and Diversity were she hopes to create a more welcoming space to all students within Greek life. After spending last summer studying abroad in Prague and learning about the Czech political system and atmosphere, Wynne is excited to further explore the educational and cultural opportunities that Washington D.C. has to offer. In her spare time Wynne enjoys tennis, hiking, cuddling with her cat, and brewing the perfect cup of coffee.