2023-2024 Scholars

Eileen Ackley '26

Eileen Ackley is from Mystic, Connecticut, and is studying Government. She hopes to attend law school to pursue a career in either international or corporate law. Eileen takes great pride in her W&M community and enjoys welcoming new students to campus in her roles as a New Student Orientation Aid and an Academic Peer Advisor. She loves to spend time outdoors with family and friends and is interested in learning about the history of national security and international diplomacy.

Carson Belmear '25

Carson Belmear is a sophmore Government & History student at the William & Mary. While studying to be put on the Pre-Law path, Carson also has many interests in social media management, fashion marketing and production, photography, and videography. Carson is a member of the Production team of ROCKET Magazine, Style Editor of Flat Hat Magazine, Spotswood Society Member, and William & Mary's Global Scholars program. An imaginative and collaborative student, Carson has experience in leadership, webpage/social media design, marketing, production, and photography. Proficient in communication, organizing, and developing ideas.

Elizabeth Brady '25

Elizabeth is a junior studying Public Policy and English and plans to pursue law school after she graduates. International law and geopolitics are new areas of study to her, but she is excited to see how legal systems and processes factor into creating actionable policy. Outside of class, she enjoys sharing her opinions as a writer for the Flat Hat newspaper and sails on the sailing team.

Kate Carline '26

Kate Carline is a sophomore Murray 1693 Scholar with a deep interest in issues at the intersection between the sciences and public policy, specifically exploring how we maintain national security, establish global standards, and promote social well-being and acceptance of various novel biotechnologies. She is currently studying chemistry, biology and public policy, while actively conducting research in several major initiatives spanning both the scientific and political fields. As part of William & Mary’s international genetically engineered machine (iGEM) team, Kate is developing synthetic biology for real-world applications concerning bioengineered bacteria and bacteriophage in soil. This work builds on Kate’s recent discovery and analysis of a novel actinobacteriophage from soil during her freshman year. On the policy side, Kate has been working for the Geopolitics of Technology Initiative, a joint research project with Yale University, where she evaluates the economic and geopolitical impacts of China’s strategic investments in technological infrastructure for the Indo-Pacific. She has presented her findings on these patterns and proposed policy responses to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (“the Quad”). Kate also sits on the executive board of William & Mary’s Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics organization, where she has developed a women in STEM mentorship initiative with a local high school. Through the Global Scholars program, Kate hopes to broaden her understanding of her field of interest by approaching it from an international lens featuring discussions with those of varied backgrounds and specializations.

Owen Dyer '26

Owen is a rising sophomore at the College of William & Mary studying International Relations and Economics. His interests are quite diverse, though he has developed a keen curiosity for security and economics in the developing world. Owen has explored his varied interests through study abroad and research. In the academic year of 2021-2022, he conducted research on the European Union with mentor William Edwards, CFE of Edwards Global Services. During the summer of 2023, he completed a William & Mary study abroad program in Quito, Ecuador to study Spanish. He also held an internship with the United States Army War College to study intrastate conflict.

Outside of the formal academic setting, Owen serves as a Policy Researcher in the Alexander Hamilton Society and plays for the William & Mary Club Rugby team. A native of California, he also enjoys surfing and mountain biking.

Gabriella Flores '26

Gabriella (Gaby) is a rising Sophomore studying International Relations and Psychology at William & Mary. Gaby hopes to combine her love of working with children with international policy, to facilitate a career in education policy, global education, or children's rights. She spends much of her free time working with children as a Religious Ed teacher and as an early childhood education assistant. These have given her a unique perspective on how developing personal relationships can promote global change. At W&M, she participates as the Publicity Chair of the Barksdale Treble Chorus and enjoys reading, watercolor painting, traveling, and singing!

Brennan Greeves '25

Brennan Greeves is a Junior at William & Mary, majoring in International Relations with a minor in Data Science concentrating in Geospatial Analysis. Brennan is a qualitative analyst with William & Mary's DisinfoLab, concentrating research in Russian and domestic disinformation, as well as the Vice President of Inclusion for the Virginia Gamma chapter of Pi Beta Phi. Brennan's research interests center around international security, nuclear proliferation, and alternative warfare (such as cyber warfare). Brennan is excited to be with the Global Scholars Program, and plans on conducting research through their time in the Program.

Patrick Hoover '26

Patrick is a Sophomore from Alexandria, Virginia studying Public Health and Environmental Science at William & Mary. He wants to give back to others by making the world a safer place to live in not just for humans, but for every living thing on the planet. To do this, he plans on working with the United Nations to become a part of a team advising major companies on how to manage their climate emissions. He will use his grit and determination to work hard through his research. By reducing global warming, he hopes that less animals will go extinct, and less natural disasters, such as droughts and fires, will occur. With the reduction of global emissions, future generations will be able to enjoy the outdoors. Outside of his job, he hopes to continue to better the environment we live in by working with local organizations for river and field clean up days. He plans to volunteer to give communities knowledge, support, and compassion in regards to our ecosystem.

Emilia Hughes '24

Emilia Hughes is currently a member of the Class of 2025 and is majoring in Kinesiology with a concentration in Public Health. She is interested in how global policy and funding can help nations prepare and respond to natural disasters to mitigate the effect they have on human health. Around campus, she enjoys doing work for CHAP (Conduct and Honor Advisor Program) and HOPE (Health Outreach Peer Educators) to help students succeed and thrive at William & Mary.

Alena Jones '26

Alena Jones is a sophomore from Atlanta, Georgia studying History and Education. Alena hopes to someday work in Education Reform and find new inventive teaching methods. Outside of school, she loves finding new music and hanging out with her friends!

Daniel Kalish '25

Daniel Kalish is a junior studying Government and Philosophy. He is a Research Assistant at the Global Research Institute where he studies Chinese history and politics and is a News Editor at The Flat Hat.

Emma King '25

Emma is a junior at William & Mary from Chesapeake, Virginia. She is majoring in International Relations and minoring in History. On campus, Emma is the Executive Vice President of Circle K International and is a member of last year's Courageous Leadership and Authentic Excellence cohort. Additionally, Emma works at the William & Mary Alumni House. In her free time, she is either in Colonial Williamsburg or Sunken Gardens petting a dog and drinking a coffee. Emma's hobbies include going to the gym, playing soccer, reading, and binge-watching shows with friends and family.

Kaleea Korunka '25

Kaleea is an undergraduate Chemistry student with a passion to investigate the toxicological effects of plastic on society and the environment. She leads microplastic research at W&M and works on water quality research with the College Creek Alliance at the W&M Keck Lab. Currently, she is founding the Hampton Road Eviction Lab Project (HELP) at W&M to collect, analyze and disseminate eviction data. As PR chair for the W&M National Organization for the Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers(NOBCChE) club, she works to expand STEM opportunities for everyone. Kaleea is also a Sharpe Mentor in the Charles Center and a Substitute Teacher at her high school in Virginia Beach.

Ella MacLean '26

Ella MacLean is a sophomore at William & Mary from New Hampshire studying International Relations and Economics. She hopes to attend law school and is particularly interested in international criminal law. Ella is a News Writer for The Flat Hat and enjoys playing the piano, reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family in her free time.

Madeleine Riggs '26

Madeleine Riggs is a current sophomore from Chicago, Illinois. She is an international relations major at William & Mary and is interested in foreign policy, international security, and human rights initiatives. Madeleine holds an internship position at Skinner Law Office, is a member of the Service Team in the International Relations Club, and is a tutor for adults with developmental disabilities through the ARC of Greater Williamsburg. In her free time, Madeleine enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her friends.

Aiden Sanders '24

Aiden is a senior studying Economics and Japanese Studies at W&M. His interest in both of these subjects began with his time living abroad in Sydney, Australia. By living in a major port city Aiden grew a deep interest in the economic relations between nations, particularly in East Asia, due to his proximity. Since entering William & Mary, he has furthered his studies in Econometrics and International Trade Theory while also having studied abroad in Osaka during the summer of 2023 for language immersion.

Leo Sereni '26

Leo Sereni is a senior and Monroe Scholar studying Government and Data Science. Leo is currently a research fellow with both the Project on International Peace and Security and the International Justice Lab, two GRI affiliates. He was also a research assistant for PIPS Co-Director Amy Oakes' book project on positive inducements and credibility. After he graduates, Leo hopes to enter the workforce before earning his law degree or master's degree.

Leo's main academic and professional interests - promoting good governance and preventing democratic backsliding in the United States - come from the 2020 presidential election's contested transfer of power. Leo is also interested in national security, particularly counter-terrorism, disabled people's rights, and migrants' rights.

Natasha Yotmanee '26

Natasha Yotmanee is a rising sophomore at William & Mary majoring in International Relations. She is fluent in English, conversationally fluent in Thai, and is currently learning Chinese. At school, she is a member of several cultural clubs and the Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies. Outside of school, she is currently gaining experience working at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College to support the development of an analysis of the Russo-Ukrainian War and will be working for the Royal Thai Embassy this upcoming summer. Natasha is passionate about International Relations, Human Rights, International & Economic Development, and Public Policy. After school, she plans to continue learning and gaining more professional experience to grow her interpersonal and technical skills to become the most successful version of herself. Natasha wants to drive change and aspires to become a Foreign Service Officer.