2022 Fellows
Sara Downing
Originally from Hudson, NC, Sara graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2014 with a degree in Economics and commissioned as an Intelligence Officer in the Army. As an active-duty officer, she worked primarily in response to National Security threats in the Pacific Theater, compiling intelligence and reconnaissance reports to shape the maneuver of infantry and armored units. Her varied assignments inspired her to pursue a Master's of Public Policy focused on measurements of armed forces combat preparedness and how the Department of Defense shapes the interests of the United States on the international stage. In her spare time, Sara enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, and creative writing.
Benjamin Dratch
Ben is a first year Master of Public Policy candidate from Fort Collins, CO. After graduating from the United States Military Academy with a degree in Comparative Politics, he commissioned as an Officer in the United States Army. Ben began his career as an Infantry Officer at Fort Drum, NY and has most recently served as a Civil Affairs Officer at Fort Bragg, NC. Ben has deployed multiple times to the Middle East and plans to pursue a concentration in National Security and Foreign Policy to gain a deeper understanding of the national security challenges facing the United States.
Tate M. Russack
Tate is an active-duty Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in the US Army. Tate completed his undergraduate education in 2012 at Roger Williams University with a major in Political Science. Tate has spent the majority of his career conducting bilateral exercises and operations, support to special operations and strategic planning across Southeast Asia including Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines and South Korea. Tate enjoys cooking, travel, and competitive sailing.
Alice Shih
Alice is a first year MPP student. Originally from New Jersey, she earned her BA in International Relations from American University in Washington, D.C. Upon graduation, she also commissioned into the Army Reserves as a MI officer from the ROTC program. She worked at the RAND Corporation as a research assistant prior to coming to Duke University – a federally funded think tank that primarily focuses on national security issues. Alice is most excited for the extensive network found in the high-performing Carlucci fellows.
2021 Fellows
Blake C. Corbitt graduated from Augusta University in 2012 with a degree in Biology, and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Active Army as a Medical Service Corps Officer. Prior to obtaining his bachelor degree, Blake was a professional Arabic translator in the United States Army from 2003 to 2009 having obtained his Associate’s of Art in Arabic from the prestigious Defense Language Institute and deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006 in this capacity. Since commissioning as an officer in 2012, Blake has functioned as a Chief Medical Administration Officer for a Cavalry Squadron, Deputy and Chief Logistician for a Combat Support Hospital, Deputy Chief of a Resuscitative Surgical Team in Afghanistan in 2017, and most recently as Chief of the largest of 16 regional medical recruiting missions for the U.S. Army. He remains on active duty, and he is interested in Health and National Security Policy which will help him shape the future of Army healthcare.
He is married to his wife Sophia, and they have a dog named Pete and a cat named Atticus. In addition to his love of learning, Blake enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, and brewing beer.
Gia DeHart commissioned as a Naval Officer in 2012 from the US Naval Academy, where she graduated with distinction as a Chief of Naval Operations Distinguished Graduate and a Bachelor of Science in English. She has spent the majority of her career advising executive leadership on policy implementation in the areas of public affairs, legal, and human resources. Most recently, she was the Director of the Crisis Operations Center in response to the 6 December 2019 terrorist attack in Pensacola, Florida. Gia enjoys spending time with her husband, a Marine Corps pilot, and their two sons. When she is not managing chaos, she enjoys reading, cooking, exploring the outdoors, and running. She continues to serve as a Naval Reservist.
Marc Losito is a career military officer with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis from Norwich University. He has spent the majority of his career in special operations units and national level combat support agencies, serving abroad in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, and France. Marc is also fluent in Colloquial Egyptian and Levantine Arabic. Most importantly, Marc is a husband and father of three wonderful children. He enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors and in the kitchen, preferably merging the two.
Robert Mixon graduated from the University of North Georgia in 2010 with a degree in Exercise Science Pre-Physical Therapy and commissioned into the United States Army. While in his first assignment, and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, he decided he wanted to focus his career on the local population of foreign countries. Transitioning into Special Operations, he deployed to numerous locations throughout Africa, South America, and the Caribbean working with various organizations on projects to improve local communities and enhance governmental support of the population. This further enhanced his desire to continue working in international relations and strategic studies. In his free time, he enjoys competitive kayak fishing, spending time with his wife Hanna and two children, Logan (10) and Carly (8), and exploring local restaurants.
Adam Schaffernoth graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2008 with a BS in Business Administration. He then spent nearly four years in investment banking, focused on mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance. Hoping to serve a greater cause, he left finance and joined the Marine Corps as an infantry officer. In his eight years of service, he deployed to Afghanistan, Romania, Latvia, Serbia, Bulgaria, South Korea, and Japan. His final assignment was at the historic Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., performing ceremonial duties and full honors funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. He is married with a young daughter and is pursuing a dual Master of Public Policy and Master of Business Administration at Duke.
Pre-2021 Fellows
Matt Buchanan graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2008 with a degree in Art (with a focus on drawing and painting) with minors in Music and French. After college, he commissioned in the Army as an infantry officer. While serving in several regular and special operations units, Matt deployed to combat in Iraq once and Afghanistan six times. Ten years of experience in defense has honed his interest in environmental issues and their effects on global security. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, cycling, and hiking with his wife Kristen, and children, Piper and Dale.This summer, Matt will work at NC State’s Laboratory for Analytic Sciences as part of their Radicalization Working Group.
Danelle Gamble graduated from the University of Louisville in 2003 with a degree in Business Economics. After college she joined the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant and continues to serve on active duty today. As a Military Police Officer who served in various environments, Danelle developed an interest in both national social and security policy development and analysis. In addition to investing in her son’s daily development, she enjoys photography, reading, and exploring creation.This summer Danelle will intern with the Jerusalem Institute of Justice in Israel. She will work on policy recommendations to address human rights violations in the region, specifically those regarding the survivors of human trafficking.
Ben Hunter, a Captain, has proudly served in the US Army since 2001 when he first enlisted after September the 11th 2001. Since commissioning as an officer in 2009, CPT Hunter has served in both conventional and special operation forces, including the 75th Ranger Regiment. Other assignments include Fort Lewis, Washington, Fort Stewart, Georgia, and Fort Benning, Georgia. Throughout his military career, CPT Hunter has deployed numerous times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2015 CPT Hunter was selected to attend the French Infantry Captain’s Course in Draguignan, France. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Troy University. CPT Ben Hunter is married to the former Lori Brannum from Birmingham, Alabama. They have three beautiful daughters; Addie (14), Lilli (12), and Cami (9).
This summer, Ben will be working with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in Manhattan, New York. He will be an intern embedded with Counterterrorism Team 6.
Kelly Ann McCarty graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2008. Over 10 years of service as a Military Intelligence Officer, she completed five deployments and found a passion for problem-solving and leadership. Kelly Ann's unique career experiences include being the first woman integrated into special operations aviation and assuming command as the first female commander of a tactical special operations company. As an intelligence advisor to senior leaders in Washington, D.C., she prepared briefings to Congress and Pentagon Staff while supporting national, sensitive special operations programs. Professional opportunities to influence policy and strategy, ingrained a desire to develop solutions in nonproliferation and counter-terrorism policy. She enjoys basketball, quilting, and visiting national parks with her husband.This summer, Kelly Ann will be working at Amazon Web Services Public Policy on policies bridging national security and technology at the federal, state, and local levels.
John Pratson is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the Sanford School of Public Policy. Prior to studying at Duke, he served for over six years as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps. His assignments included operational deployments to Afghanistan and the Western Pacific, and The Basic School in Quantico, VA, where he served as a Warfighting Instructor. This past summer, John worked as a strategic consultant for a firm based out of Alexandria, VA. He graduated from Elon University in 2012 with a degree in Business Management.John will be spending his summer completing an internship with Booz Allen Hamilton, where he will be learning about how the Department of Defense and other federal agencies use private firms to find and develop innovative solutions to their problems.
Julie N. Snyder is a first year MPP student at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. During the 2018-2019 academic year, Julie is interning with RTI International's Conflict and Transition Program, conducting gender analyses and supporting management of USAID projects. She is the former research and advocacy associate with the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) U.S. Program. Prior to CIVIC, she was program manager and research associate with CSIS’s Human Rights Initiative, with a primary focus on the human rights and security nexus, protections and rights for LGBTI persons, and countering closing space for civil society. A graduate of the College of William & Mary, her research interests include conflict and human rights in postcolonial Francophone states; embedding human rights into U.S. national security policy; and the vibrancy and strength of civil society around the globe. She is an adjunct fellow with CSIS.
This summer, she will be working at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in its Centre for Women, providing technical advice and strategic guidance on a national level regarding women, peace, and security plans for Arab states. Julie will develop recommendations for the protection of Arab refugee women, and engage with national women machineries in the Arab world.
James R. Caldwell received his commission in the US Army from North Carolina State University’s ROTC program in 2008, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science. Currently an active duty Captain in Civil Affairs, his military career has spanned over nine years while serving in various Army Special Operations units. He has multiple deployments, including to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Special Operations Task Force - South and Beirut, Lebanon in support of Special Operations Command - Central and US Embassy – Beirut. During the summer, J.R. worked for the Pentagon at the Army Futures Command Task Force. He will garner warfighter feedback from across the Army Special Operations community in order to develop recommendations to modernize those units for future conflict.
Dodger C. Eaton earned his commission in the U.S. Army from Valley Forge Military College in 2006 and graduated from Penn State University in 2008 with a BA in history. For the past eleven years he has served as a Field Artillery Officer with service in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Dodger has held various positions to include Liaison Officer to 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, WA, and Company Commander in 25th Infantry Division, HI. He most recently served as a military evaluator for mission command software at the Army Test and Evaluation Center, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. Dodger’s 2018 internship was at the Army Research Office in Research Triangle Park, Durham.
Agustin M. Gonzalez was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ and received his Army commission through the ROTC program at Rutgers University in August of 2006. He is an active duty Major in the United States Army, with service in conventional and special operations units over the last 11 years. He deployed to combat five times and once to the Republic of Korea as the commander of a Special Operations Task Force. Augie attended the Strategic Studies Fellowship at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2013 and is now serving as a General Wayne A. Downing Scholar while pursuing his MPP at the Sanford School. He is married to the former Melissa Walsh, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey. They have three children, Nicholas (7), Noelle (5) and Gwen who is 9 months old. During the summer, Augie interned with an international intelligence task force in The Hague, Netherlands.
Erin Moffitt is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the Sanford School of Public Policy. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, she served as an Army officer for ten years. She left active duty in July 2017 but continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. A formally trained Arabic speaker, Erin spent the last three years focused on bridging the civil-military divide and providing humanitarian assistance in response to the Syrian Crisis. Her policy interest is national security, particularly countering violent extremism, post-conflict stabilization and local governance. She has a B.A. in Humanities and Augustinian Traditions from Villanova University. Over the summer, Erin interned with The Global Strategy Network in Istanbul, Turkey.
Spencer M. Schaffer graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of science in business administration in 2012. He joined the United States Marine Corps through the Officer Candidate School pipeline and received his commission in 2013. He has held various assignments across the country as a Command and Control Systems Officer and deployed as a Logistics Officer to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He is currently a Captain in the Marine Corps Reserves and drills with Combat Logistics Battalion 25 in New Jersey. This summer, Spencer interned with Deloitte in Washington D.C. and attend annual summer training in 29 Palms, California.
Rex Steele graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2009 with a degree in American Politics and French. Rex has served as a Field Artillery Officer in Light Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry units with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He has commanded Airborne Field Artillery and Reconnaissance units in addition to serving in staff positions on multiple levels. Rex and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for four years and have two children. Today, he attends Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy as an awardee of the Army’s Performance Based Graduate School Incentive Program. During the summer, Rex interned with Congressman David Price from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Jackson Tufts graduated from Colorado College in 2007 with a degree in Political Science and an emphasis on International Relations. Prior to Duke, he worked in the Washington office of Congressman David E. Price (NC-04) from 2008-2016. Tufts served as the national security and foreign affairs advisor to Congressman Price, where he handled a broad portfolio of issues that included foreign affairs, defense, homeland security, intelligence, veteran affairs, and the associated appropriations matters before the U.S. House. He also helped lead the House Democratic policy and whip strategy in support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known as the Iran nuclear agreement. This summer, Jackson served as a Visiting Fellow at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Beirut, Lebanon, where he also enrolled in the American University of Beirut’s summer Arabic language and culture program.
Adam Cucchiara graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, with a degree in International and Strategic History. He is an Infantry Officer with service in Afghanistan and Iraq. Adam has served in numerous command and staff assignments in Stryker, Multi-functional, and Airborne Infantry units in the United States and Germany. His experiences have fostered a curiosity in national security policy formulation and implementation as well as American foreign policy. This summer Adam will be interning for the Congressional Research Services with the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division Team.
Michael Darden is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University with a concentration in Global Affairs and National Security. He received a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in Conflict and Security from The George Washington University. Prior to enrolling at Duke, Michael worked as an Associate for the Brazil Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., focusing on improving the bilateral relationship between the United States and Brazil by strengthening political, economic and social ties. Policy interests include global security dynamics and how that influences national decision making. This summer, Michael will be interning at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Corinne (Cori) Hayes' interest in national security stems beyond academics. Cori grew up in a military family and found a passion for science in college. Her undergraduate background in biology and summer internship opportunities piqued her curiosity in the national security risks of scientific research, considered Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC). Her desire to combine science with policy developed into a goal to encourage more thoughtful consideration of the potential implications of certain scientific advances. This summer, she is working at the intersection of science and national security policy.
Rachel Micklas grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, then moved to the Pacific Northwest to attend the University of Oregon, where she played soccer and studied education. After graduating, she moved to a small village in western Ethiopia to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer. While there she specialized in improving small business development and education systems, while also coaching the local youth soccer 5team. Upon returning to the United States, she began working for the State Department in the Passport division, which sparked her interest in public policy and national security. She is an avid Oregon Ducks fan who enjoys being outdoors, sewing, baking and playing numerous sports. Rachel will be interning at Deloitte this summer in Washington, D.C.
Bryan Orlowski was born in Buffalo, NY as the last of seven children. In 2006 he graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Cum Laude, with a B.S. in Marine Engineering Systems, a U.S.C.G. Third Engineers License, and an active commission in the U.S. Navy. After returning from operation INHERENT RESOLVE in June 2016, Bryan and his wife, Andrea, gave birth to their fourth child. Today, he attends Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy as a U.S. Navy Fleet Scholar. Bryan will be interning this summer with the city of Chesapeake's Emergency Management division.
Captain Promotable Amy Bowen, second-generation military dependent, joined the United States Army in 2005 as an Army Nurse Corps officer. During her deployment to Iraq in 2008, she found inspiration in the Provincial Reconstruction Teams who were rebuilding governance post-conflict and made a career switch to become a Civil Affairs Officer. On her next deployment, she managed development projects in Afghanistan to strengthen provincial programs in Baghlan and Kunduz Provinces. She left active duty to pursue her graduate studies at Duke but continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves at the United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) Headquarters. She is interested in civil-military cooperation, post-conflict governance, and counter-terrorism. Amy completed her 2016 Summer Internship at the United States Department of State, Office of the Director of the Foreign Policy Advisor Program.
Elma Hajric graduated from Colgate University in 2015 with a double degree in History and International Relations. During her undergraduate career, she researched migration and security issues at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Switzerland, worked with the political and economic units at the U.S. Consulate General in Vietnam and did further research in Uganda, Rwanda, and Bangladesh. At the Sanford School of Public Policy, she is concentrating in National Security and is involved with the National Security Student Group on campus. Her global and national security interests stem from her upbringing in Germany and war-torn Bosnia, and she is looking forward to pursuing new opportunities with Sanford and the Carlucci Fellowship. Elma completed her 2016 Summer Internship at Booz Allen Hamilton.
Nihan Rafique is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the Sanford School of Public Policy. She is pursuing a concentration in National Security specifically focusing on terrorism and counterterrorism. Nihan is from Azad Kashmir, Pakistan and is a Fulbright Candidate at Duke University this year. She did her undergraduate studies at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) where she majored in Politics and Economics and minored in Political Philosophy. Upon graduation, she worked at Gallup Pakistan as a Research Executive focusing on various socio-economic problems in the country. She is particularly focused on security and the legality of drone strikes in the country’s Northern Areas. She hopes to further develop these interests in a professional capacity during her summer internship. Nihan completed her 2016 Summer Internship at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations.
Major Mike Williams is a U.S. Army Infantry officer with over ten years of active duty service and multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a recipient of the U.S Army’s General Wayne A. Downing Scholarship and holds a Master of Arts in National Security & Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. His interests include national security policy, strategy, and counter-terrorism. He will return to the U.S. Army upon completion of the Master of Public Policy program at Duke University. Mike completed his 2016 Summer Internship at United States Department of State, Global Engagement Center (GEC).
Chris Burnett is a proud native of West Virginia and graduate with a Master's of Public Policy from Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. He began his career working for a small federal consulting firm where he supported the Department of Veterans Affairs in its mission to eliminate Veteran Homelessness and helped the Department of Education improve the financial aid delivery process. During this time, Chris gained expertise in acquisitions, strategic planning, and business development. He developed a nationwide community outreach program for his previous company where he worked to develop economically disadvantaged regions in Maryland. At Duke, he gained concentrations in National Security and Global Policy. He has also served as Treasurer for the National Security Student Group and co-president of the Duke Social Innovation and Policy Initiative. He is passionate about improving international security and better understanding the complex nexus of security and international development. Chris completed his 2015 Summer Internship with the India Program for International Development Leaders.
Tyler Duke, a native of Lancaster, PA, most recently spent a year as the research assistant and speechwriter for GEN (ret.) Stan McChrystal. Prior to this, Tyler served in a variety of roles in support of the campaign in Afghanistan, including 14 months as a Department of the Army civilian advisor in Kandahar, and two years in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Afghan Policy as a consultant with the Logistics Management Institute. Tyler earned his Master’s from Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy, during which he interned as the special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations. He earned his bachelor’s in Middle Eastern Studies and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, and is a graduate of Middlebury College’s Arabic Language School. Following graduation from Duke, Tyler joined Beacon Global Strategies which provides policy advisory and strategy services to a spectrum of private sector clients. Tyler completed his 2015 Summer Internship at the United States Department of Defense.
Maureen Hartney graduated with a Master of Public Policy from Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University where she focused on national security, defense and acquisition, economics, and effective public management. After earning dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Florida in political science and history, she was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps into the Air Force as an Intelligence Officer. She served on active duty for six years and was stationed in Germany as well as northern Virginia. While in Germany, Hartney deployed to Afghanistan within A-10C squadron and also supported NATO forces during the 2011 Libya conflict. Hartney was most recently a Rosenthal and Carlucci Congressional Fellow serving in the office of Rep. John Conyers, Jr. She holds a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and International Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and a graduate certificate in China: Intelligence Concerns from the National Intelligence University. Maureen completed her 2015 Summer Internship working with Congressman John Conyers, Jr. from Detroit, Michigan.
Karina G. Ibrahim graduated with a Master of Public Policy from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. At Duke, Karina concentrated in national security. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in political science and the Arabic language. Prior to attending Duke University, Ms. Ibrahim worked for the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the National Defense University where she conducted research and analysis on U.S. defense and foreign policies in relation to Russia and Eurasia. She also served with the American Councils for International Education in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. Karina completed her 2015 Summer Internship in Udaipur, India as part of the Duke India program and worked on integrating development of rural communities in the Rajasthan region.
Patrick Nevins is a native of Chapel Hill. He attended Duke University and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and History. Upon graduation in 2007, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. During his seven years of service as an infantry officer, he spent time in Quantico, VA, Camp Lejeune, NC, and Camp Pendleton, CA. He also deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2009, he deployed as a platoon commander to Mian Poshtay as part of Operation Khanjar and the Afghanistan surge strategy. In 2011, he deployed to Sangin as the company executive officer. Patrick graduated with Master of Public Policy from Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. At Duke, Partick concentrated in national security policy and conducted research on climate change, drought, and conflict in the Middle East. Partick completed his 2015 Summer Internship with Deloitte Consulting working on various projects with the Department of Defense.
James Horne is a Major in the US Army and a second year dual-degree student with the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Fuqua School of Business. He graduated from The Citadel where he double majored in History and Political Science. Upon graduation he commissioned in the US Army as an Infantry officer in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He later attended the US Special Forces Qualification Course and upon completion, joined 1st Special Forces Group at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. While serving in both regular and special operations units, James deployed numerous times in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and deployed in support of oversea contingency operations in the Republic of South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
As a dual degree student, James has an interest in international developmental and how the private sector can be leveraged to support sustainable economic solutions. In his free time James enjoys skiing, Olympic weightlifting, and mentoring Duke undergraduate ROTC cadets.
Madelyne Huibregtse is originally from Wisconsin, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies. While in college, she designed and completed a research project studying the prevalence of online sex trafficking on Backpage.com. Her research brought together local community experts, including law enforcement, and the University as a collaborative force dedicated to developing a better understanding of the prevalence of online sex trafficking the Madison area. After college, Madelyne moved to Greenville, North Carolina, where she worked as a third-grade teacher at a Title I elementary school. This experience ultimately led to her decision to obtain her Master of Public Policy degree at Duke University, with hopes of using the degree to create more equity in schools across the country. Madelyne spent the summer interning at the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission and working as a project manager for both Bass Connections and the local consulting firm Fountainworks.
Chas Kissick is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke, and a Master of Business Administration candidate at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, he spent the last six years doing economic research in the Middle East, Africa and Asia for Oxford Business Group. At Sanford, Chas is focusing on technology policy, studying how regulators and tech companies can best deal with how technological developments are affecting society in the US and internationally. In his free time, Chas studies Arabic and tries his hand at programming.
Natasha Luther graduated from the University of California San Diego with a degree in Political Science. After college, Natasha joined Peace Corps-Ecuador as a TEFL volunteer; her primary project was training high school English teachers on student centered teaching methods. Her secondary project as a Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) coordinator motivated her to study Public Policy with a focus on gender equality and migration. She is a second year Master’s student at Sanford. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, painting, watching movies, and baking.
James Settles graduated from the University of North Florida in 2010 with a degree in History and a minor in Criminal Justice. He commissioned through Army ROTC as an Intelligence officer and has spent the last nine years serving in that capacity. His career includes travel to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Korea supporting military operations. These experiences sparked his interest in both global and national security policy. James loves to BBQ with his family, and his hobbies include basketball, running and golf.