Staff Biographies

Linden Abston is currently a senior at South Lakes High School, and is interning at the World Affairs Council as part of the school’s political science program. She is waiting to hear back from a few colleges before she makes her decision of what school to attend in the fall. She is very interested in international affairs, and hopes to have many opportunities to learn as much as possible about the field as a college student

Laura Albert is a senior at South Lakes High School where she is a diploma candidate in the International Baccalaureate program. She has resided in the D.C. Metropolitan area her entire life, which has presented her with numerous opportunities to learn about international relations and politics. This upcoming fall she plans on attending George Mason University’s Honor College as an incoming freshman. Her plans for after college include traveling as much as possible, in order to experience as many new and exciting places around the world.

Jacob Bundy is originally from Bay City, Michigan but has spent most of his life in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. He will be entering his senior year at Alma College where he is studying Political Science with an emphasis on international relations with a minor in Exercise Health Science. Jacob aspires for a career in the intelligence community focused on analytics or a career in US foreign and strategic policy formation. Jacob is proficient in Spanish, mainly stemming from multiple stays throughout his academic career in South and Latin America. Jacob hopes to obtain a M.A. in international security with an emphasis on the Middle East and South Pacific.

Larry Corkey is originally from Greenisland in Northern Ireland and moved to the Washington DC area in 2011 to pursue his interest in international affairs and the environment. He recently graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a Master’s in Environmental Management, having previously completed a Bachelor’s degree in Modern History. He plans to use his time in the US to improve his understanding of international relations and their influence on environmental policy.

Emily Heron is a Global Education intern at the World Affairs Council-DC and a graduate student at The George Washington University.  She has lived and worked in France and China and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in International Education.  She is interested in a variety of issues, including intercultural communication, international development, and the use of creative media in global education.

Saori Ishihara was born in Japan and moved to Florida at age 11. She is fluent in English and Japanese, and semi-fluent in Italian. Saori is currently afreshman majoring in International Affairs at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs and involved with GWU's Japanese organization and Residential Advisory Council. She is also a part of the Japanese-American Student Union of D.C., which is an intercollegiate Japanese organization that promotes awareness of U.S.-Japan relations in the D.C. area. Saori plans to pursue a career in U.S.-Japan relations and economic development of East Asia.

Grace Jeong is originally from Seoul, South Korea, but she spent much of her childhood in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan. She moved to the United States in 2003, and is now a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Political Science with a focus on the Middle East. Grace aspires for a career in the national security policy-making arena of the United States or other areas pertaining to U.S. foreign policy. Fluent in Korean and English, she plans to professionalize her Arabic after graduation while pursuing a graduate program in international affairs.

Eric Jones is originally from Port Charlotte, Florida and is entering his junior year at the University of South Florida. He is double majoring in International Studies and History with a specialization in Ancient History. For the fall semester, Eric is a participant in the international affairs section of The Washington Center Internship Program. He plans on pursuing a career in national security.

Hammad Khan is a Political Science major at Furman University in South Carolina. He is originally from Pakistan and moved to United States in 2009 to pursue his passion for foreign policy, international relations, and national security. He is fluent in English and Urdu and is familiar with Punjabi. He is spending the spring semester of his sophomore year in Washington DC as a participant of The Washington Center Internship Program, where he is focusing in International Affairs. Hammad plans on pursuing a career in foreign policy.

Kari Lavoie is originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She is currently a rising senior at Mount Royal University in the Bachelor of Arts – Policy Studies program. Kari has previously completed an internship with the United States Foreign Commercial Service office at the US Consulate in Calgary as part of her program, and is furthering her International Affairs experience here in DC. Her interests include Alberta's rising economical influence in the energy industry and Canada's presence in world politics. In the future, Kari would like to join Canada's Foreign Service and serve in a diplomatic office overseas.

Hyun Lee graduated from Sogang University in Seoul, Korea. As an undergraduate, she double majored in English and French. After graduation in 2010, she went to Yonsei Graduate School of International Studies in Seoul. She finished her first year, and then took a semester off in order to participate in WAC-DC internship program this semester. Her academic interest lies in International Relations, especially US foreign policy and the relationship among North Korea, South Korea and the United States. She has interned in Associated Press Television News and Korea National Ballet. Her aspiration is to pursue her graduate studies in International Cooperation and to work for an international organization.

Laila Mahan is originally from Iran, but was raised in Washington, DC. A recent graduate of Georgetown Day School, Laila will be entering Colorado College as a freshman in fall 2011. Fluent in English and Farsi, and proficient in French and Turkish, Laila is planning on studying International Affairs and Environmental Sciences. She hopes to pursue a career in foreign policy.

Isabelle Malouf is originally from Dallas, Texas. She is currently a junior at Santa Clara University in California majoring in Political Science with emphases in international relations and pre-law as well as minors in French, Economics, and International Studies. This spring semester Isabelle is participating in the International Law & Organizations program at AU’s Washington Semester. She has just come back from a semester in London, where she interned for the Co-operative party, a branch of the Labour party. While in high school, she helped found her school’s chapter of the World Affairs Council. Isabelle hopes to pursue a career in international law, specifically human rights law.

Jillian McAndrews was born and raised in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to work towards her Bachelors degree in Political Science at Suffolk University. She is currently spending the spring semester of her junior year in Washington, D.C. as part of The Washington Center’s Spring Semester Internship program, focusing in International Affairs. Jillian’s most recent internship was spent at her United States Senator Jack Reed’s (D-RI) Providence, Rhode Island office. After completing her degree, Jillian plans on gaining a few years of work experience, and returning to school in order to further her education, focusing mainly on International Relations and humanitarian law. 

Thuli Montana is a second year Environmental and Water science student at the University of the Western Cape. She is from Pretoria, South Africa. During her schooling years she was part of the Representative Council of Learners from 2005-2009 and was elected as head prefect in 2009 of Willworidge High School. She is currently part of the I-Care Society at UWC in the position of Knowledge Advancement Officer. The I-Care Organization focuses on youth development and HIV/AIDs awareness in area of school tutoring programs for underprivileged learners, women's conferences, cultural exhibitions, and public speakers. Thuli is determined to eliminate the oblivion towards caring for the environment at large as she sees in people from her university and country. Thuli delights in serving and being part of active leadership organizations.

Mallory Smith, originally from the Pittsburgh area, discovered her love of international affairs in high school when she attended programs sponsored by her local World Affairs Council. She is a recent graduate of Wofford College with a BA in Government and a concentration in World Politics and is currently pursuing her MA in the Comparative & Regional Studies program at American University’s School of International Service. Her academic focus is democracy and governance issues in Southern Africa, specifically Lusophone countries. Following her graduate program, Mallory plans on pursuing a career in civil service or the NGO community.

Christopher Smyser recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina where he majored in Psychology and minored in Political Science. His interest in International Relations was born out of his upbringing as an Air Force dependent, where he had the opportunity to live and travel across the U.S. and Europe. In the fall, he will begin his Master’s degree in International Relations. After graduate school, Christopher plans to pursue a career in foreign affairs.

Alyssa Weiner is a native from Southern Florida, and moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue her passion for International Relations and Conflict and Security. She is currently an undergraduate in the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University, where she is majoring in International Affairs and Conflict Resolution.

Ella Williams is currently a senior at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. She will be graduating next year with Bachelors of Art in Germanics and International Studies: European Studies with a focus on the European Union and Western Europe. With a passion for languages and cultures, she hopes to pursue a career in continuing and fostering cross-culture communication and understanding. Her internship at the World Affairs Council, D.C. is part of The Washington Center program.

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