Online Citizenship Fellows

Alden Di Dio is a junior at William & Mary majoring in government and minoring in history. He is originally from Stafford, Virginia and is the youngest of five siblings. Before coming to the university, Alden was a student at Richard Bland College in Petersburg, Virginia where he was the president of the Ultimate Frisbee Club, vice president of Student Assembly, and the 2020 virtual commencement student speaker for his graduating class. On campus, Alden is a leader for a non-denominational Christian outreach group called Young Life. He is also a part of College Republicans, Poker Club, and Ultimate Frisbee Club. While back at home in Stafford, he spends his free time woodworking and breaking bread with his closest friends and family. Alden has been interested in politics since he was in middle school, when he attended his first political rally. He craves discussion surrounding the foundations of the United States and the Constitution. He also is interested in the civil rights and liberties violations as a result of the attacks on 9/11 and the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. After William & Mary, Alden plans to attend law school to earn his J.D. and intends to practice law in either intellectual property or contracts.

Gabrielle is currently a junior at the college of William & Mary. Gabrielle is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., E.S.S.E.N.C.E Women of Color, and the National History Honor Society of Phi Alpha Theta. Gabrielle is a History major with a possible future minor in Hispanic Studies at the university. With her love and passion for history, she is looking to pursue a career in law after undergrad. Gabrielle is looking forward to all the opportunities the institute has to offer.

A.J. Giddings is a senior English Major and Philosophy Minor at W&M with a passion for discussion, politics, and communication through all different kinds of media. As an Air Force brat, he has lived in countries all over the world, and gained an appreciation of the importance of serving one’s community and broader world. In his time at William & Mary, A.J. has taken on the rule as Secretary (a.k.a. “Email Guy”) for several organizations including the Presbyterian campus ministry UKirk Williamsburg, the W&M Board Game Club, and Nerf Club. In his free time, you can find him reading fantasy literature, enjoying classic rock and pop music, and writing short stories and essays on topics he finds particularly interesting. A.J. is excited to gain workplace experience through the Online Citizenship Institute and see how to apply his skills to better his community.

Jackson is a member of the class of 2023 studying International Relations at W&M and participating in the Online Citizenship program during the D.C. Summer Institute. Jackson is from Roanoke, Virginia which has fueled his affinity for the outdoors, expanded on the W&M campus by participating in the rock climbing club. His other interests include music, sports, movies, coffee, photography, and clothing, and he is wholeheartedly looking forward to spending an extended period of time in the vibrant culture of Washington, D.C. He is planning on living in the W&M housing for the duration of the Online Citizenship curriculum and subsequent internship, and hopes to intern with organizations based in either politics or journalism.

Nina Raneses is a junior at William & Mary. She is a government major and sociology minor. Nina was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia but has also lived in Israel and the Philippines. At W&M, she works as a freshman resident assistant in Monroe Hall and as a Transfer Team intern in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. She also writes, edits, and helps manage social media for the Flat Hat, W&M's student-run newspaper, and the Flat Hat Magazine.

Nina has always been interested in journalism and media. As a government major, she is fascinated by the intersection of media relations and politics. Through communications and public affairs internships with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s mission in Manila as well as the U.S. Embassy in Manila, she has acquired a deep interest in public diplomacy and strategic communications.

Being an Alexandria native, Nina considers D.C. her second home. She loves taking the yellow line into the city and visiting the Smithsonian museums, especially the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of Natural History. She is eager to connect and engage with her peers and D.C.-based professionals and learn more about political media and journalism in a city that is a hub for both of her passions.

Megan Wu is a sophomore at William & Mary majoring in Government and Global Studies with a concentration in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. She is from Roanoke, VA and loves exploring all the different hiking trails Blue Ridge has to offer. On campus, Megan is a member of the sorority Delta Gamma where she serves on the executive board as VP Programming, and she is also the treasurer for her a cappella group the Intonations. Outside of her extracurriculars, Megan loves baking, spending time with family and friends, and educating herself on the social issues happening in America. Although she grew up in the United States, Megan has spent many summers in Taiwan visiting family members and, after graduation, she hopes to move to Taiwan and work for a non-governmental organization that specializes in human rights activism.