Meet the Team
Meet the Team
Learn about our students.
Fall 2025 Vinson Fellows
The Vinson Institute Fellows Program is an educational opportunity for UGA's undergraduate students interested in state and local government. Meet our current Vinson Fellows students.
Learn more about the Vinson Fellows program.
Thomas Griner
Second-year political science, economics, and philosophy student
Shriya Garg
Third-year genetics and economics student
Nila Karunakaran
Third-year international affairs and management information systems student
Claire Scafidi
Third-year international affairs, Spanish, and Latin American and Caribbean Studies student
Anna Rachwalski
Fourth-year political science and economics student
Abby Kirry
Fourth-year economics and sociology student
2024-2025 PROPEL Rural Scholars
Undergraduate UGA students committed to boosting Georgia’s rural communities are named as PROPEL Rural Scholars at the UGA Institute of Government. The experiential learning opportunity is made possible through a generous $250,000 gift from the University of Georgia Foundation. PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) is a unique public service program that launched in 2021 to support economic and community development. PROPEL Rural Scholars work alongside Public Service and Outreach mentors and community leaders to conduct data analysis and other research, present findings and help facilitate stakeholder meetings.
Most of the students have roots in rural Georgia and a vested interest in helping such communities thrive.
Learn more about the PROPEL Rural Scholars program and the PROPEL program.
Lydia Belflower
Major: Agricultural Communication
Expected Graduation: Spring 2026
Olivia Cook
Majors: Agribusiness, Agriculture and Applied Economics with a minor in Environmental
Law
Expected Graduation: Spring 2026
Sophie Dechant
Majors: Political Science and Economics
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Christian Dent
Major: Political Science with a minor in International Affairs
Expected Graduation: Fall 2025
Ansley Greer
Major: Agribusiness
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
Macy Hall
Majors: Advertising and Agricultural Communication
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Robie Lucas
Majors: Agricultural and Applied Economics, Real Estate with a minor in Studio Art
Expected Graduation: Spring 2027
Anagha Menon
Major: Economics
Expected Graduation: Spring 2026
Alexa Moore
Major: Biochemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Spring 2026
Lauren Park
Majors: Economics, International Affairs with a minor in Women's Studies
Expected Graduation: Spring 2026
Susannah Parker
Major: Landscape Architecture
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
Yash Sajjan
Majors: Microbiology, Applied Biotechnology, and Biomedical Physiology
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
Taylor Siefken
Major: Political Science
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
Charlie Stout
Major: Biology with a minor in General Business
Expected Graduation: Spring 2026
Chase Walker
Major: Political Science
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
2025 GLIP Interns
Every spring semester, around 35 junior and senior students from Georgia's public and private universities and colleges intern with the Georgia General Assembly. These students gain first-hand experience in the lawmaking process through the Georgia Legislative Internship Program (GLIP).
Learn more about the GLIP program.
Kyleigh Cook
Claire Ivey
Valencia John
Lauren Pederson
Brenton Sykes