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Critical Race Theory and the First Amendment

 Daylie Umbarger
Daylie Umbarger
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Daylie Umbarger

Daylie is studying neuroscience and planning to graduate in Spring 2025. Her favorite class was microbiology with Forsythe and her favorite book she's read whilst at W&M is "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer. After graduation, she plans on gaining further clinical experience and then pursuing Physician Assistant studies. Regarding involvement with William & Mary, she enjoys spending time as a research assistant, lab teacher assistant, RA, and on the Women's Rugby Team. Outside of academics and W&M, Daylie enjoys running, napping, playing guitar, and reading. Daylie is participating in Critical Race Theory and the First Amendment and is very excited. She hopes to visit lots of museums whilst in DC.
 Elienai Tesfaye
Elienai Tesfaye
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Elienai Tesfaye

Elienai (or Ellie) Tesfaye is a senior at William & Mary majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology, Law, and Society and minoring in Philosophy. She resides in Lorton, in Northern Virginia. In her free time, Elienai enjoys listening to jazz music (Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, and Wes Montgomery are among some of her favorites) and taking amateur photos of the different places she visits (some of her personal favorite photos she took are from her time in Rehoboth Beach). Ellie has volunteered as a community center teacher for several years, mentoring children ages 6-14 and creating optimal safe environments for children ages three and above. Because of her experiences in watching over children and hearing their stories of how the education system has treated them, Elienai is very passionate about minority children's rights and legislative policy that impacts their lives, particularly in terms of education. She hopes that her time in the D.C. Winter program learning about Critical Race Theory and its contentious history within the education system will help her be more informed of the policy side of this discourse and ultimately show up in better ways for her community. 
 Christopher Bright
Christopher Bright
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Christopher Bright

 Griffin Must
Griffin Must
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Griffin Must

Griffin is a senior majoring in government and minoring in education policy. He also is a 1st year Masters of public policy student, which he will complete in May 2026. He is from New York City. On campus, Griffin is very active in the local politics as well as the Merry Men, W&M Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Team. This is his fifth time doing the Washington program and is excited to make new connections and continue to strengthen previous ones.
 Audrey Parker
Audrey Parker
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Audrey Parker

Audrey is a junior double majoring in psychology and English at William & Mary. She aspires to go to law school postgraduate and is excited to deepen her understanding of public policy during her time in D.C. Audrey has had the opportunity to study abroad in La Plata, Argentina and Cambridge, and enjoys learning about new cultures and deepening her understanding of the world.
 Sydney Robertson
Sydney Robertson
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Sydney Robertson

 Raven Padua
Raven Padua
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Raven Padua

Raven is a sophomore studying Biology and Government at William & Mary. After graduating, she intends to earn her PhD in either virology, microbiology, or bioengineering.
 Makhaila Johnson
Makhaila Johnson
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Makhaila Johnson

Makhaila is a sophomore at William&Mary studying public policy and psychology. Once finished with her undergraduate degree, she plans to complete an accelerated fifth year Master's of Public Policy program and attend law school. She would like to become a family lawyer and Guardian ad Litem.
 Sam Grove
Sam Grove
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Sam Grove

 Ty Redmond
Ty Redmond
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Ty Redmond

Ty is from Midlothian, VA. He is a junior at the university studying public policy. On campus, he is active in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and the Black Student Organization. After he graduates from William & Mary, he plans to attend law school.
 Lily Arnold
Lily Arnold
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Lily Arnold

 Gerald (Jed) Burke
Gerald (Jed) Burke
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Gerald (Jed) Burke

Jed is a senior at William & Mary, expecting to graduate in the spring of 2025. Jed is a double major in International Relations and Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian studies, and is interested in a career in diplomacy or analysis of international events, with a focus on the former Soviet Union. Over the summer of 2024, Jed had the opportunity to be a Global Research Institute Summer Fellow in Tbilisi, Georgia, where he worked with a local NGO to analyze local events and take interviews of local migrants. On campus, Jed is an active member of the IPAC (International Political Affairs in the Caucasus) research lab, the Botetourt Squat satirical newspaper, W&M Men's Rugby, the Melodia Music Ensemble, and the Gazeta Russian-language newspaper. Jed is also a member of both the Pi Sigma Alpha and Dobro Slovo Honor Societies, which recognize academic excellence in Political Science and Slavic-related studies, respectively.
 Matthew Luisi
Matthew Luisi
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Matthew Luisi

Matthew is a sophomore at William & Mary, from Vienna Virginia, currently working toward a double major in Accounting and Data Science. Matthew is on track to get his CPA licence and hopes to pursue a career in Accounting.
 Zoe Wang
Zoe Wang
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Zoe Wang

Zoe Wang is a senior and first year masters student in the BA/MPP program at William & Mary. She is from Northern Virginia and serves as the '26 Class President in Student Assembly. On campus, she is also involved in the International Relations Club and is the Treasurer of the Taiwanese American Student Association. In her free time, you can find her reading, napping, or catching up on the latest episode of Abbott Elementary.
 Gabe Valverde
Gabe Valverde
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Gabe Valverde

Gabe is a senior studying Kinesiology, looking to work in Public Health.
 Rafael Albolote
Rafael Albolote
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Rafael Albolote

Rafa Albolote is a senior at W&M pursuing a dual degree in Business Analytics with Data Science and Philosophy. As an Honors Thesis Candidate in the Philosophy Department, he is currently examining Reformed theology's contribution to contemporary philosophical arguments concerning the inclusion of religious arguments in the public square. Born and raised in Japan, Rafa brings a unique global perspective to campus as a dual U.S. and Canadian citizen of Filipino background. At W&M, he serves as a Leadership Team Member for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, where he leads weekly Bible studies and previously coordinated chapter meetings for over 60 students. He was selected as a Paideia Fellow at Cambridge House Christian Studies Center to study the Christian intellectual tradition's application to pressing issues such as politics, education, and A.I. His professional experience includes policy research at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission in Washington, DC, and global compliance work with International Justice Mission. In his free time, Rafa enjoys classical and jazz piano and stays active through Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and weightlifting. After graduation, he plans to work in the D.C. area before attending law school to work in religious liberty advocacy.