Team Bios

Anna MacLennan

Co-President

Anna MacLennan is a junior at Harvard originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. At HUFPI, she was previously the Senior Director for US Gov Policy and has been a policy researcher for the fall 2021 US Space Force project and the spring 2022 European Court of Justice project. She also led the Harvard-Fudan US-China Dialogue’s Space Team and was the deputy director for HUFPI’s fall 2022 research project with USAFRICOM. On campus, Anna is also involved with programs at the Institute of Politics and she co-directs the Chinatown Big Sibling program at the PBHA. Outside of Harvard, Anna is a National Board member for the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU) where she runs a high school outreach program for Asian American youth.

Jamaal Willis

Co-President

Jamaal (Jama) Willis is a junior at Harvard College, with a concentration in Government and African American Studies and a secondary in Arts, Film, and Visual Studies. He is pursuing the public policy track within Government, with a specific focus on foreign and social policy. In African American Studies, his area of focus is on the Caribbean and its connection to the African American diaspora. At HUFPI, Jama previously held the position of Senior Director of Corporate Sponsorships. In this role, he conducted research to identify potential corporate sponsors that would be a good fit for the organization and conducts outreach. During the previous semester, Jamaal served as Deputy Director of the U.S. Government and Businesses, overseeing two research projects. The first project was with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, and the second project was with the United States Department of Defense, US Cyber Command. In Spring 2024 he is on a study abroad in Oxford, but will be returning to Harvard in the Fall.

Kay Rollins

Senior Director of US Policy

Kay is a junior studying history and government. Having joined HUFPI in the fall of 2021 as a research associate, Kay has been the chair of the AFRICOM team, a Deputy Director for US Government branch, and is now senior director of the US Government branch. Outside of HUFPI, Kay is interested in domestic extremism and homeland security, and is working on a project on the development of the American anti-government far right in the 1980s. As a history major, she is also passionate about the importance of historical knowledge in shaping American foreign policy, and she currently works on the Applied History project at the Harvard Kennedy School. She also serves as the President of the Harvard Alexander Hamilton Society at the college. In her free time, Kay enjoys puzzles, horror movies, archival work, and reading about early American history.

Shriya Yarlagadda

Senior Director of Foreign Policy

Shriya Yarlagadda is a junior studying Social Studies and Statistics. Her passion for foreign policy comes from a long-standing interest in geography and she enjoys reading and writing about issues related to human rights, conflict resolution, diplomacy, and development. At HUFPI, she has researched Chinese political propaganda and the intersection of environmental and developmental policy. Additionally, Shriya serves as the president of Harvard South Asian Americans in Public Service, writes for the Harvard International Review, and advocates at Harvard Undergraduate Women in Foreign Policy. In her free time, she enjoys sharpening her trivia skills, practicing martial arts, and eating Zinneken’s (unfortunately she isn’t sponsored…yet).

Jessica Chen

Senior Director of Finances

Jessica is a junior in Eliot studying Computer Science and Economics. She was born in Taipei, Taiwan, but grew up in Northern Virginia. Growing up being surrounded by news of cross-strait relations and the weight of semiconductors in Hsinchu Science Park, she has always been interested in the intersection between technological development and political economics. She loves learning languages, dancing, and petting her cat.

Vik Kethamukkala

Senior Director of Professional Development

Vik is a junior in Adams studying South Asia and Linguistics. As the Senior Director of Professional Development, He is tasked with curating pre-career events that enhance your understanding of the policy, thinktank, writing, and other relevant spaces. He will also be co-directing the comp workshop process to enhance your reports and advise you on various topics. His interests are in economic corridors, Indian foreign policy, and affairs in the Indo-Pacific.

Theo Harper

Senior Director of Relations

Theo Harper is a British junior studying History with a secondary in Economics and a focus on the 19th-century Middle East. Theo joined HUFPI in September 2022 working in Finances as the Senior Director, focusing on introducing financial best practices so that HUFPI’s finances are handled appropriately and responsibly in the fallout of previous internal issues. He now focusses on Relations, where he is focussed on improving recruitment, publicising our programs, and building a community. Outside of HUFPI, Theo works primarily in the International Relations Council handling finances there; he has been responsible for the six-figure ICMUN budget, as well as assisting with the finances of the world’s largest MUN conference and auditing other conferences.

Samantha Wilhoit

Deputy Director of US Policy

Samantha is a first-generation, Indigenous student at Harvard. She is a Junior studying Government on the honors track, with a focus in Public and Foreign Policy. After being admitted to Harvard at the age of 16, she moved to Boston from Southern California and now splits her time on both coasts. At Harvard, Samantha is a Deputy Director of US Government Policy for HUFPI and a Senior Staff member for Harvard Model Congress Boston and San Fransisco. Samantha enjoys studying international relations and US Foreign Policy, as well as classical literature. Outside of her studies, Samantha is deeply passionate about public service and giving back to her community in any way that she can. She enjoys practicing martial arts, dance, creative writing, photography, travel, and spending time with loved ones.

Mike Greenway

Deputy Director of US Policy

Chad “Mike” Greenway, Jr. is a sophomore at Harvard from Little Rock, Arkansas, studying Economics and East Asian Studies. Mike is a cadet in Army ROTC, captaining the military skills team and conducting research for the Military Strategy Initiative. He was selected to engage in Operation Sage Eagle – three weeks of guerrilla warfare and intelligence collection training with a Special Forces ODA in the mountains of West Texas. Mike gained hands-on experience in policy development and research through his internship with Senator Tom Cotton. He has a focus on defense budget analysis and emerging military technologies. As Deputy Director of US Policy for HUFPI, Mike is currently spearheading a partnership with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.Beyond academic and professional pursuits, Mike is enthusiastic about CrossFit, swimming, and playing for the historic Harvard Football Rugby Club.

Alex Bell

Deputy Director of Foreign Policy

Alex Bell is a junior in Adams house studying economics and computer science. Originally from Hawaii, Alex enjoys surfing, playing sports, and spending time with family and friends. He is interested in business and entrepreneurship and hopes to start his own venture upon graduating from Harvard. Alex has worked on two HUFPI teams in the foreign government branch, traveling to Brussels, Belgium in a collaboration with NATO in the spring of 2023 and to Strasbourg, France, the subsequent fall. He is particularly interested in the intersection of business and public policy and is excited to serve as a deputy director for both the Institute of Economics and Peace and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation teams this upcoming semester.

Bahar Moradi

Deputy Director of Foreign Policy

Bahar really looking forward to this year and all that it holds – the HUFPI community is one that she is very grateful to be apart of. She has found like-minded individuals who share the same passions as I do for foreign policy, international relations, and humanitarian aid. She is eager to learn from the variety of stakeholders the organization engages with, in addition to the relationships that will flourish during this time.

Anna Gamburd

Deputy Director of Foreign Policy

Anna Gamburd hails from Europe and NYC. She is particularly interested in European law and integration, post-Soviet studies, and US-EU relations. She has been involved in HUFPI since her Junior year of high school, when she participated in the HUIRSP. Last semester she worked as a researcher for a project commissioned by the Section for European Affairs at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, focusing on the impact of the War in Ukraine on EU-China relations. She is now chairing a project commissioned by NATO investigating the Alliance’s strategic dependencies on China. Beyond HUFPI and her university classes, Anna pursues her interest in foreign affairs through her work at the Harvard-Fudan student dialogue and the Harvard International Review. Her past and ongoing areas of study include Russian constitutional reform, German law, Green Industrial Policy in the U.S. and China, and sustainable agriculture in the Kulunda Steppe.

Sebastian Juarez

Deputy Director of Foreign Policy

Sebastian Juarez is a first-year at Harvard College studying Government. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, but his family is from the Philippines, Mexico, and El Salvador. Besides HUFPI, he is involved in competitive debate, chairing model congresses globally, and tutoring elementary school students. Sebastian has had the opportunity to travel extensively, including the opportunity to study Arabic in Morocco through the U.S. Department of State. His travels have sparked his passion for learning languages and international relations. His work in advocacy and his passions have led him to aspire to work in international development or human rights law.

Jack Silvers

Deputy Director of Private Policy

Jack Silvers is a junior at Harvard who grew up in Scarsdale, New York and studies Social Studies with a secondary in Mind, Brain, and Behavior. Jack’s passion for international relations was sparked by his experience in high school speech and debate, where he developed a love for The Economist and an interest in democratization, US-China relations, and counterterrorism. Through HUFPI, he has researched Chinese disinformation for US Cyber Command and the security implications of climate change in Africa for US Africa Command. Apart from HUFPI, he is an editor for the Harvard Political Review, a member of the JFK Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics, a sports writer for the Harvard Crimson, and host of a politics podcast with his roommates.

Sara Kumar

Deputy Director of NGO Policy

Sara Kumar is a freshman (Class of 2027) from Chicago, IL studying Government and Classics. As a Deputy Director of NGO Policy, Sara is looking forward to working with incredible service organizations while showcasing our diverse HUFPI community! Sara previously served on the White House Coalition for Native American Affairs Committee with HUFPI researching the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Peoples. At Harvard, Sara also edits for the Harvard Independent and Harvard Undergraduate Law Review and is a volunteer for the Small Claims Advisory Service. Passionate about educational equity and advocacy, Sara also works with the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s EdRedesign Lab. In Sara’s free time, Sara can be found going to yoga, napping, and spending college savings on Celsius and matcha.

Sofia Detjen

Deputy Director of Foreign Summits

Sofia is deputy director of Foreign Summits and was formerly the DD of the Speakers Branch. She is a first year studying history and government with a focus in Middle Eastern studies and is dual enrolled at the Berklee College of Music studying music business and global entertainment.

Patil Djerdjerian

Deputy Director of High School Conferences

Patil is a sophomore studying Government and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations with a language citation in French. She is Canadian, originally Armenian, and was born and raised in Dubai. Growing up with a culturally diverse background in a cosmopolitan city sparked her interest in international affairs, which led her to join the Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative as the Deputy Director of High School Conferences. Outside of HUFPI, she is involved in Model UN and the Armenian Student Association.

Aryeh Padwa

Deputy Director of High School Conferences

Aryeh Padwa is a first year at Harvard college interested in studying Statistics and Molecular and Cellular Biology. He is the second youngest of five children in his family, and lives in Riverdale in the Bronx, NY. In his free time, he enjoys playing and watching sports, hanging out with friends and family, reading, and board games.

Tracy Jiang

Deputy Director of Cross-College Initiatives

Tracy Jiang is a Chinese-American senior from Brooklyn, New York. At Harvard, she studies Government on the Data Science track with a secondary in Economics and language citation in Chinese and hopes to pursue a career in human rights and immigration law. Previously, Tracy served as the Deputy Director of Relations for HUFPI and also worked on policy research examining partisanship and polarization in South Korea and the rights of persons with disabilities in detention and hospital facilities. Outside of HUFPI, she is involved with The Crimson, Asian American Dance Troupe, and Harvard College in Asia Program. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, attending concerts, and crocheting.

Ellie Strong

Deputy Director of Finances

Eleanore (Ellie) Strong is a first-year student at Harvard, pursuing a concentration in Economics, a secondary in Computer Science, and citations in French and Czech. Having grown up in six countries, Ellie is passionate about international relations and economics. Ellie began her career at HUFPI as a policy analyst for Citigroup Global Marketing, delivering recommendations on campaigns targeting women veteran entrepreneurs. She is now honored to serve as a Deputy Director of Finance for HUFPI. Ellie is also involved in Harvard Undergraduate Capital Partners, the Emerging Technology Group, and Charles River Economics Labs. In her free time, she enjoys running, playing piano, and learning new languages.

Carrie Hsu

Deputy Director of Relations

Carrie Hsu is a junior studying Government and Economics. She is deeply interested in the intersection between macroeconomic and foreign policy, as well as its impact on labor markets. She has worked on various policy papers commissioned by organizations including the European Court of Justice, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the US, and the National Resources Defense Council. Previously, she worked on the communications team for current Boston mayor Michelle Wu’s campaign. Outside of HUFPI, she is an editor at BreakBread Magazine, The Advocate, and The Crimson. Carrie served as a Young Global Professional intern at the Atlantic Council’s Geoeconomics Center and continues there as a consultant.

Michelle Stern

Deputy Director of Professional Development

Michelle is a junior in Mather House concentrating in government and mathematics, and serves as deputy director of Professional Development in HUFPI. Coming from a family of Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union, Michelle has long been interested in foreign policy and conflict resolution in the post-Soviet sphere. As such, she has taken coursework in diplomatic multilateral negotiations, national and international policy, and the process of democratization (or the lack thereof). Her interests are supplemented by her experience as a Government Affairs intern at Americans for the Arts, wherein she combined her interests in quantitative analysis and policy to help develop and pass legislation on various levels of government. It being her second term with the Prof Dev team, Michelle is excited to further develop these passions at HUFPI and collaborate with others on creating opportunities for hands-on experiences and professional development. Outside of HUFPI, she is a violinist and serves as the Vice President of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, and additionally plays with the Brattle Street Chamber Players and the Harvard College Opera.