Grace Wu is a sophomore undergraduate student at Syracuse University. She is majoring in Policy Studies and is a member of the Renée Crown Honors Program. As a technology policy Summer Fellow for ACE, she is interested in policies governing emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and data privacy. She is also interested in the foundations of social science and public policy- examining legal and ethical aspects that contribute to the development of responsible policies for societal well-being. She is excited to present complex subjects in an informative and comprehensive manner. At Syracuse University, Grace is a consultant for Slice Consulting: a student-run and pro-bono consulting firm assisting local businesses and organizations. She recently finished a data analytics project for a Syracuse non-profit; constructing an effective survey, analyzing survey data for patterns, and delivering visual presentations of the results. Outside of school, Grace is a certified ski instructor and enjoys spending time outdoors.
Day: June 11, 2023
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Molly Wilcoxson, Grinnell College
Molly Wilcoxson is a rising second-year student at Grinnell College. She plans to major in Anthropology with a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies. She first developed an interest in housing policy through the Build a Better Grinnell, 2030 Project, a community needs assessment of Grinnell. Here, where she served as a research assistant, she analyzed housing and economic policy within the town of Grinnell, and how it impacted the stability of town residents. She is interested in researching the interaction between housing policy and how decisions may interact with sociocultural norms. Following her time at Grinnell, Molly plans to pursue a career in urban planning and community development, where she hopes she is able to make a difference in the way housing policy is enacted..
Outside of academics, Molly is an avid fan of journalism, geography, and music. She enjoys visiting local coffee shops and hanging out with her friends.
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Lucas Vaidean
Lucas Vaidean graduated from Ardsley High School in Ardsley, New York in the summer of 2022. In the fall of 2022, he began his freshman year at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and is now a rising second year student enrolled in the Saunders College of Business at RIT with an undergraduate major in marketing and a minor in psychology. Aside from academic work, Lucas is also devoted to disability rights and advocacy. He is a member of the Disability Leadership Scholars (DLS), a Microsoft-partnered scholarship group at RIT composed of 8 students who work together to amplify disability issues on campus and empower individuals with disabilities. Having experienced hearing loss at the age of seven years old, Lucas feels very strongly about Deaf culture and the Deaf community and is passionate about Deaf advocacy and Deaf issues within the disability community, particularly the issue of language deprivation amongst Deaf children. He aims to present research on policies regarding these issues, in order to raise awareness and improve conditions. During his free time, Lucas enjoys spending time with his friends and his family. His hobbies include sports – especially basketball and soccer, movies, music, and reading.
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Martha Tripsa
Martha is a student-athlete at Davidson College majoring in Economics with a minor in Classics. As the daughter of two Romanian immigrant parents, her interest in economics stems from her upbringing, as she was able to experience firsthand the opportunities that arise from a free and fair economy. She is also interested in how society continues to change and advance, as well as the adverse effects of progress, such as inequality and unemployment. With a focus mainly on the labour market, Martha is interested in the effects of wages and employment policies. For example, this past year at school, she has researched the effects of increasing the minimum wage on employment amongst marginalized groups in Virginia. Along with her interest in economics, she swims competitively for her college, and in her free time, she enjoys history, art, fitness, and playing with her dog Gromit.
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Atta Tantratian
Attamongkol (“Atta”) is a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) candidate at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Additionally, he serves as a Graduate Affiliate for the IU Center of Applied Cybersecurity Research (CACR), where he prepares reports on the data broker industry and the global AI governance frameworks. His research projects, which explore the intersection of intellectual property law, the right to privacy, and emerging technology, have been accepted for presentations at the University of Toronto and Stanford University. Prior to starting his doctoral studies, Atta worked as a policy researcher at Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), where he and his research team analyzed Thailand’s first data protection legislation and drafted compliance guidelines for various industries, including healthcare and education. Atta obtained his initial law degree (LL.B.) from Thammasat University in Thailand and a master’s degree in law (LL.M.) from Indiana University. He also holds certifications as a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E and CIPP/US) from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
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Lilly Rice, Colby College
Lilly Rice is a rising junior from Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated high school in 2020 and is currently attending Colby College in Maine, where she is double majoring in psychology and anthropology. As an anthropology major, her area of focus is Justice and Liberation. In the past, she has worked in many types of education settings, such as summer school, after-school tutoring, and daycare. She currently works in a pottery studio. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with friends, painting, drawing, and doing pottery, reading, and hiking. Her work, personal, and education experiences have all made her interested in understanding how policy impacts the children she works with. Working in many different types of eduction environments with children from many different backgrounds, she has seen how larger policy choices can heavily impact each child individually. Specifically, she researches how policies surrounding some of her own interests, such as art and the outdoors, are valued and devalued in the school system through public policy.
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Prince Osaji
Prince is a rising second-year undergraduate student (Class of 2026) at Yale University, and is a prospective political science and pre-law student. He first became interested in technology policy while participating in high school Model United Nations (MUN), where he had the opportunity to research and discuss topics like cyberwarfare and how more advanced methods of hacking threatened regional and international security. The chance to explore the intersection between technology and foreign policy is a major part of what drove him to become more involved in MUN, leading him to become a Delegate Affairs Officer and eventually the Secretary-General of his program. Prince further developed this passion for technology policy while serving as a co-founder of the Yale Foreign Policy Initiative (YFPI), where he helped to launch YFPI’s research fellowship where YFPI members will be working with former Taiwanese legislator Jason Hsu to research the role that semiconductors and AI play in relations between state actors like the U.S, China, and Taiwan. In his free time, Prince likes to play basketball and spend time with his friends and family.
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Quinn O’Connor
Quinn O’Connor is a sophomore at Barnard College, Columbia University, who possesses an unwavering passion for unraveling the intricate workings of the human brain, particularly in relation to trauma and chronic illness. Pursuing a major in Neuroscience & Behavior and a minor in science and public policy, she aims to forge a path towards a rewarding career in pediatric oncology and intergenerational trauma research. Through exploring these connections, she aims to contribute to the understanding of how trauma can predispose individuals to the development of chronic illnesses. Her ultimate goal is to make a tangible difference in the lives of young patients and their families, offering them hope and healing. As part of ACE, Quinn has decided to research the topic of how predatory insurance practices impact various social groups across the nation. She is dedicated to shedding light on the inequities and systemic disadvantages faced by vulnerable communities in accessing quality healthcare. Quinn aims to identify potential solutions and advocate for policies that promote fairness and equal access to healthcare services. Her commitment to serving others and making a positive impact is deeply ingrained in her character. She believes in using her skills and knowledge to give back to the community. Whether it’s mentoring youth, organizing health initiatives, or lending a hand in local elections, she actively seeks opportunities to foster a culture of compassion and improve the lives of those around her.
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Tatevik Nersisyan, University of California-Berkeley
Tatevik Nersisyan is a graduating third-year at UC Berkeley studying Political Science and Public Policy. Her policy priorities include environmental protection and the advancement of sustainable development. Through her fellowship with ACE, Tatevik hopes to highlight the intersection between economic and housing policy and sustainability, with research that aims to emphasize the significance of sustainable policy across various facets of daily life.
Alongside her position as an Economic & Housing Policy Summer Research Fellow at ACE, Tatevik is an administrative board member of a student run think tank at UC Berkeley, a research team leader for sustainable student government initiatives, and the president of UC Berkeley’s Armenian Students’ Association. After graduation, Tatevik hopes to continue to positively impact policy efficacy through enriching the available pool of transparent and relevant data in various fields that intersect with environmental policy. Looking ahead, Tatevik hopes to continue studying public policy and is planning on getting her Master’s Degree in the future.
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Olivia Nash, Brown University
Olivia is an incoming senior at Brown University, studying International and Public Affairs with a focus on policy and governance. She is passionate about policy work that increases access to affordable and safe housing. With a strong interest in public health, Olivia is focused on the intersection of homelessness and health inequity. She contributes to a housing justice organization at Brown called HOPE (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere), where she advocates for equitable housing policies and co-leads a meal sites program. Her past internship at the Bob Woodruff Foundation was spent doing research on challenges facing rural veterans, including homelessness. She hopes to pursue a career in public policy to promote increased access to housing. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and walking her dog Bear.