February 24, 2026

The Public Policy & International Affairs Program (PPIA) announces the selection of the 2026 Junior Summer Institute Fellows, an extraordinary cohort of emerging leaders chosen through a highly competitive national application process.

This year’s Fellows will attend the Junior Summer Institute at Harvard University, Princeton University, and the University of Michigan.

Over seven intensive weeks, Fellows complete rigorous graduate-level coursework, strengthen their quantitative and policy analysis skills, and collaborate with peers and faculty to tackle real-world policy challenges while building a lifelong professional community committed to public service leadership.

PPIA Fellows receive financial assistance for travel and living expenses during the Junior Summer Institute. They also receive graduate school application fee waivers and scholarship opportunities through the PPIA Graduate School Consortium, a network of more than 50 leading public policy and international affairs programs.

For nearly five decades, PPIA has expanded access to careers in public policy and international affairs. With over 5,500 alumni serving in government, nonprofit organizations, academia, and the private sector, the PPIA community continues to influence policy, governance, and global affairs at the highest levels.

“This experience was transformative as it opened doors of possibility and built a powerful network I still rely on today.” said Josh Diosomito, Executive Director of PPIA and a PPIA Junior Summer Institute Alumnus.

We proudly welcome the 2026 Junior Summer Institute Fellows to the PPIA community.

Meritxell Ambrocio, University of Mississippi

Derrick Doh, Stetson University

Jordyn Fieulleteau, Florida State University

Aarushi Garg, The University of Texas, Austin

Walat Gozeh, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Mahro Hashimi, University of California, Berkeley

Mathew Hernandez, Bowdoin College

Lucas Kim, Washington and Lee University

Quynh Le, Arizona State University

Janelle LeRoy, Loyola University Chicago

Sarah Martelly, New York University

Gad Nkurunziza, Wesleyan University

Samantha Padilla, University of California, Berkeley

Leah Peterson, Howard University

Ethan Pyscher, Michigan State University

Nikki Quartuccio, Pepperdine University

Valery Reyes, University of California, Los Angeles

Dabria Taylor, Boston University

Vy Truong, Arizona State University

Camrynn Wimberly, Jackson State University

Lila Abdullah, Michigan State University

Joselen Contreras, University of California, Berkeley

Ariah Crosby, University of St. Thomas 

Viviana Diaz Pacheco, George Washington University

Josh Evans, University of South Carolina, Columbia

Jerrin Glade, University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities

Mauricio Gonzalez, University of North Georgia

Milanno Jones, Eastern Michigan University

Esdras Juarbe, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras

Jenna Kreedman, University of California, Berkeley

Dave Labor, Hampton University

Hattie Martinek, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

Jai Patel, Michigan State University

J'nae Player, University of Notre Dame

Dylan Repertorio, University at Albany, State University of New York

Zakia Safsaf, The City College of New York, CUNY

Jada Turner, North Carolina State University

Amy Weng, Claremont McKenna College