Government Majors Committee

The Government Majors Committee works with the Government Department faculty in planning, promoting, and running events for Government majors and prospective Government majors. The goal is for the committee members to function as a liaison between the students and professors in creating a close-knit and engaging environment. Past events include Pizza with the Professors, panels on current events with multiple faculty members, meetings with government representatives, and internship/job panels. Committee members also participate in the Open House for prospective Government majors by meeting with students to answer questions and relay any relevant experience or advice. Anyone interested in serving on the Majors Committee should contact the Government Department Chair, Doug Foyle.

Government Majors Committee, 2023-2024

Co-chairs:

Anton Lulgjuraj (2024) alulgjuraj

My name is Anton Vasel Lulgjuraj and I am a senior on the three year accelerated graduation track majoring in Government (International) and minoring in CEAS. On campus, I am a delegate on the WSA's SLC committee, the Vice President of the Class of 2023, the Volunteer Coordinator with the Wesleyan Refugee Project and IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services), along with a host of other things!

I am interested most in the study of ethnic relations and conflict, focusing on Genocide Studies and the development of techniques for monitoring, preventing, and punishing perpetrators of mass violence (ethnic cleansing, genocide etc.). Based on this academic backing and experience, I will be pursuing a legal education focused in International Prosecution and Human Rights, with the hopes of preventing further human rights abuses and providing support for survivors.

Nicole Motherway (2024) nmotherway

My name is Nicole Motherway and I am a senior majoring in Government (Political Theory) and Psychology and completing a Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory Certificate. I am a member of Wesleyan’s Mock Trial Team, co-host a radio show on WESU, and am a Constitutional Law Course Assistant. I studied abroad at King’s College London in Spring 2023. I have interned for Washington D.C.’s Public Defender Service and for a criminal and capital defense firm in Virginia. I am currently a research assistant for a legal treatise and am writing a senior thesis on D.C.’s second-look sentencing legislation. 

I hope to make a positive impact in the fields of public interest, civil rights, and criminal defense law before pursuing further education in law school.

 

Committee Members:

Julia Armeli (2025) jarmeli

I am a rising junior (class of 2025) and have a concentration in Comparative Politics. I am also pursuing a Data Analysis minor. Outside of class, I work as an RA, and will begin working with the Wesleyan Media Project this fall. This past summer, I worked with Professor Dancey through the QAC Apprenticeship program on research regarding public opinion of Supreme Court expansion. Next year, I will continue working with Professor Dancey on civic engagement research. Generally, I am interested in quantitative political science research.

Macarena Barrio (2024) mbarrio

My name is Macarena Barrio; I am a senior from El Paso, Texas, majoring in Economics and Government with a concentration in International Politics. Living in a border city, I have always been interested in learning about the different policies in each nation and how these influence one another. 
During the summer of my sophomore year, I interned at a law firm, where I got the opportunity to witness up close what life as a lawyer would be like. In my junior year, I had the incredible chance to study abroad at Cambridge University; I loved working closely with the faculty and getting to work on my dissertations throughout the year. Throughout college, I have partaken in volunteer work focused on helping children with the lack of resources to achieve a higher education. 

Violet Becker (2025) vbecker

My name is Violet and I am a current junior at Wesleyan University. I am an American Government major, though I also enjoy taking English, history and French classes. My interest in Government work can be traced back to what I learned as the granddaughter of refugees from 1960’s Egypt. I am currently abroad in France (Reid Hall) this fall semester. I am a passionate reader and writer and I enjoy writing research-driven papers. I am especially interested in advocacy work, and this past summer I had the opportunity to intern for the International Rescue Committee (IRC). There I researched and reported on how the IRC is responding to humanitarian crises and supporting refugees globally (specifically in Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru). Last year, I interned for the Center for Justice Innovation in New York City – a nonprofit dedicated to advancing equity and social justice within NYCHA public housing. I worked directly with a council of youth leaders living in NYCHA housing. Together we advocated for neighborhood improvements, placed the initiatives on a ballot, and hosted voting events at developments throughout the city. Significantly, the stakeholders – young people living in these developments – participated in initiatives that would tangibly affect them. 

 

Tiger Bjornlund (2024) tbjornlund

My name is Tiger Bjornlund, and I am a senior majoring in Government (American Politics) and minoring in Data Analysis. I am a member of Wesleyan's men's hockey team and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. After college I plan to attend law school. I am interested in environmental work and have spent the past two summers interning with environmental nonprofits in Washington, D.C., a passion I hope to pursue in my professional career.

Christian Boudreau (2025) caboudreau

My name is Christian Boudreau, a junior from Avon, Connecticut, majoring in Government (American Politics) and Psychology. In the summer, I interned for the Connecticut’s Office of the Attorney General. Additionally, I will be interning for Senator Murphy (CT) this upcoming fall. At Wesleyan, I am a member of the varsity baseball team, work as a research assistant for the Wesleyan Media Project, and am an ambassador for a nationally recognized non-profit: The Hidden Opponent. I do not have plans to study abroad during my undergraduate career, but do hope to conduct research abroad following my graduation from Wesleyan. Following this, I plan to attend law school.

Sadie Cook (2024) scook

My name is Sadie and I am a senior majoring in Government (American Politics). I am involved in ASHA, specifically the sexpression committee, the Wesleyan Ski Team, and Psi Upsilon, of which I was the Community Service Coordinator. I studied at University College London in the Political Science and Sociology departments.

Margot Deguet Delury (2025) mdeguetdelur

My name is Margot Deguet Delury, and I'm a senior double-majoring in the College of Social Studies and Government (Comparative Politics concentration). I'm a member of Sunrise Movement Wesleyan, a Dean's Peer Tutor in French, and a research assistant for the Wesleyan Media Project. I spent the summers of my freshman and sophomore years working for Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, and this year I interned for University of Baltimore Law School's Center for Criminal Justice Reform while conducting research for my senior thesis. I studied abroad last year. 

Madeleine Dawson (2024) mdawson

My name is Madeleine Dawson, and I'm a senior majoring in Government and minoring in IDEAS. Last spring semester, I studied abroad in Nepal and conducted a research project on marginalized women. In the summer, I interned at a litigation firm in the San Francisco Bay area that focuses on construction, real estate, and business matters. I additionally shadowed at the Marin District Attorney's office and was a part of the GenHERation Connection 2022 cohort. I am interested in International Relations and Foreign Aid and plan on writing a senior thesis. 

Sophie Fetter (2025) sfetter

My name is Sophie Fetter and I am a junior majoring in Psychology and Government (American Politics) with a minor in Religion. I am a member of the Wesleyan Debate Association, Arcadia Political Review, and the Wesleyan Democrats. This semester, I will be researching civic engagement alongside Professor Dancey. I am interested in the interdisciplinary overlap between psychological states and political behavior. In QAC201, I examined the relationship between social trust and welfare attitudes. I hope to write a senior thesis expanding upon this research.

 

Eloise Gilbert Bartell (2025) egilbertbart

My name is Eloise Gilbert Bartell and I am majoring in Government (American Politics) and Economics with a minor in Environmental Studies. I am a member of Wesleyan’s club soccer and club tennis teams. I am really interested in pursuing a career in public policy or doing environmental/sustainability work after I graduate. I am studying abroad in Madrid this fall semester. 

Olivia Klein (2024) oklein

My name is Olivia Klein and I am a senior majoring in Government (International Relations) from Arlington, Virginia. At Wesleyan, I am a member of the varsity women's lacrosse team and work as a research assistant for the Wesleyan Media Project. 

Last fall I had the opportunity to study abroad at The University of St Andrews in Scotland to study international terrorism and emotional diplomacy. I have spent the last three summers interning for various government affairs teams and journalism forums in Washington, D.C. in areas inclusive of environmental policy, antitrust compliance, PAC management, and terrorism risk insurance. In the long term, my goal is to serve the public by learning to apply data analytics to government policy, whether that means developing comprehensive ESG policy or advancing sustainable terrorism mitigation strategy. 

Jack Johnston (2025) jjohnston

My name is Jack Johnston and I am a junior majoring in Government and College of East Asian Studies (CEAS). I am concentrating in Comparative Politics and Political Economy, and intend to study abroad at Doshisha University in Spring 2024. I currently serve as the Academic Affairs Chair for the WSA and also on the CEAS Majors Committee. I’ve worked as a research assistant for Professor Haddad and have had work published online through the CEAS website. I’m excited to begin a career in cultural or legislative affairs after graduation.

Will Livingston (2025) wlivingston

My name is Will Livingston and I am a rising junior. I am majoring in Government (American Politics) and minoring in Data Analysis. I am a member of the Football team and hoping to pursue a career in legal studies upon graduation. 

Cam McCrystal (2024) cmccrystal

My name is Cam McCrystal, and I am a senior majoring in Government (American Politics) and Environmental Studies. I am a member of the Community Standards/ Honor Board, the Women’s Ice Hockey team, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and Vice President of Hope Happens Here. I have worked at environmental nonprofits over the past few years, and I plan to pursue a career in law with an environmental focus. 

A.J. Minzer (2025) aminzer

My name is A.J., I'm a rising Junior ('25) majoring in Religion, Government and minoring in History. I am yet to select my concentration, but it will likely be International Relations. This fall I will be studying at the University of Cambridge at Pembroke College in their HSPS (Human, Social, and Political Science) and TRPR (Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion) programs. 

Over the past two summers I've worked as a Research Assistant for the Wesleyan Media Project, and as a management intern for a small person-to-person peacebuilding nonprofit in Washington DC. On campus I'm the Historian of the Alpha Delta Phi Literary Society, a founding member and Archivist of the Spike Tape Theater Company and a writer for several on campus publications (largely the Arcadia Political Review and the Argus).

Sumreen Moughal (2025) smoughal

My name is Sumreen Moughal and I am a double major in Government (American Politics) and Education Studies. On campus, I work with the Office of Student Involvement and I am on the Community Standards Board. Outside of Wesleyan, I plan on becoming involved in the Democratic Town Committee of my hometown, Waterbury. Last spring, I was a Congressional Intern at U.S. Senator Chris Murphy's Office in Hartford, working with Senator Murphy's team in delegating constituent issues. This past summer, I was a Law Firm Summer Intern at Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP. With the experiences I have fostered over the course of my educational journey, I plan on pursuing a career in shaping education policy.

Jessica Moy (2024) jcmoy

My name is Jess Moy and I am interested in the government major committee. I am a rising senior with a concentration in international relations and I have also completed the American concentration as well. A little about myself is that I am a tour guide, a member of Hysterics (a stand up comedy group), and member of the golf team on campus. This summer I interned on Capitol Hill in the Office of Congresswoman DeLauro. There I was able to work with the legislative and press teams. Furthermore, this past spring I studied abroad in Copenhagen, where I was able to dive deeply into EU and US relations. 

I am very interested in being a member of the committee because I went to many events as a prospective major that made the government major feel like a real community. Between the pizzas with the professors, the zooms during the 2020 election, and the guest lecturers, the opportunities outside of the classroom is what drew me to the major. Therefore, during my senior year, I am passionate about continuing to grow and contribute to the government major community. 

Chris Pyo (2024) cpyo

Mallika Srinivas (2025) msrinivas

I'm Mallika Srinivas, and I am a rising junior at Wesleyan. I am pursuing a Government and Spanish double major with a Data Analysis minor. Specifically, I plan to pursue the Comparative concentration. On campus, I am involved with Shakti, Wesleyan's South Asian organization. I also write for the Arcadia Political Journal. 

Ilaria Valentini (2025) ivalentini

My name is Ilaria Valentini (class of 2025) and I'm a rising junior double majoring in Government with a concentration in International Relations and Economics. I'm a member of the Swimming and Diving team, Women in Finance, and have worked as a research assistant for Professor Haddad. I plan to study abroad Spring 2024 at either the University of Amsterdam or the Stockholm School of Economics.