Atharv Kripak is an honors undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is majoring in History and pursuing a minor in Business Administration. As the President of CFED, Atharv collaborates with the CFED officer team to spearhead new initiatives in social media engagement, blog posts, event planning, and nonprofit development. His exceptional collaborative skills, problem-solving abilities, and sound decision-making make him an invaluable asset to the organization. In addition to his role in CFED, Atharv has an extensive track record of campus involvement, having previously served in the UNC Undergraduate Senate, he is on the executive board of Heels for Israel and is a member of UNC’s Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity. In his free time, Atharv loves reading biographies, trying new food, and traveling to new countries.

Class of 2025

B.A | History

Astrid Vallat, a senior undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is pursuing a dual major in Biology and German and Slavic Languages and Literature, complemented by a minor in Chemistry. Her career aspirations lie in dentistry, fueled by her determination to comprehend and alleviate healthcare challenges at both a local and global scale. As the Vice President of CFED, Astrid plays a pivotal role in driving the development of new projects and ensuring active engagement among the organization's members. Outside of CFED, she also works for the nonprofit Med Aditus, dedicated to providing better access to medicine for underserved patients. Furthermore, Astrid conducts research on palatogenesis in Scott Williams' Lab, aiming to gain insights into the causes of cleft palate, a widespread congenital abnormality. Although her studies primarily revolve around biology, Astrid's passion for CFED stems from her conviction that addressing healthcare issues necessitates a global perspective, calling for professionals who actively contribute to the global community.

Class of 2024

B.S. | Biology

B.A. | German and Slavic Languages and Literatures

Juliana Boerema is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is extensively involved on campus, serving as the associate vice president for CFED as well as multiple roles in other organizations across the community. Having previously served as the Information Management Officer and a Candidate Training Officer, she is currently the Joint Relations Officer for the Arnold Air Society, an honors society for future Air Force leaders. Juliana is also an active member in the Russian Flagship Program and Reformed University Fellowship. She has experience working in global security and published her research on Russian space culture and disinformation during her time at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2022. As a result of her leadership within Air Force ROTC, where she is responsible for planning objectives for the cadet wing, she will be one of the first students from UNC to commission as a lieutenant in the United States Space Force upon her graduation in 2025. In her free time, Juliana loves going on road trips with her four younger sisters and reading military history books.

Class of 2025

B.A | Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures

B. A. | Peace War and Defense (National Security and Intelligence)

Emma Sampson is a Junior at UNC Chapel Hill majoring in Global Studies and Public Policy. Dedicated to serving her community and world, Emma is deeply involved on campus. As Secretary of CFED, Emma connects UNC students, organizations, and other partners to the work of CFED. She is currently serving as Student Ambassador of the Diplomacy Initiative, working closely with both UNC Global Affairs and CFED to deliver engaging events to UNC students that build on her passion for Diplomacy. Emma is also a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Service organization and Women in National Security. She spent the summer interning in DC. In her free time, Emma loves hiking, learning new languages, and reading.

Class of 2025

B.A. | Global Studies

B.A.| Public Policy

Olivia Wang is a junior undergraduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill pursuing a bachelor’s in English and Comparative Literature with a minor in Business Administration. As Treasurer of CFED, Olivia is responsible for fundraising for all speaker events and collaborating with the Student Government to receive financial help. Olivia is also involved in 180 Degrees Consulting and the Undergraduate Consulting Club. She is also a member of Chi Omega and Delta Sigma Pi, and participates in the Philosophy Reading Group each week. She spent the summer of 2023 working in Singapore at BDO International as an ESG and Risk Advisory intern.

Class of 2025

B.A. | English and Comparative Literature (Comparative and World Literatures)

Priyanka is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Economics and minoring in Mathematics. An associate treasurer of CFED, Priyanka hopes to gain a deep understanding of and learn more about diplomacy and policy, specifically its connections to the broader international economy and public affairs. In the future, Priyanka plans on pursuing her J.D. and entering the realm of economic policy and management. She is extensively involved in the community at UNC-Chapel Hill, being a member of the executive board of UNC Ek Taal, an Undergraduate Learning Assistant with the economics department, and a peer tutor at the University. In her free time, Priyanka enjoys baking and exploring new and unique places.

Class of 2025

B.S. | Economics

Naomi Garcia is a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During her time at UNC, Naomi pursued a double major in English & Comparative Literature and Anthropology, with a minor in Medieval & Early Modern Studies (MEMS). Naomi holds several honors, including: Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Tau Delta, and Renwick Scholar. In addition to this, Naomi is completing a research project in Anthropology, focusing predominantly on the appearance of apotropaic devices in Spanish colonial compounds across the southeastern region of the United States. Apart from her academic career at UNC, Naomi is currently undergoing an internship with the Transatlantic Forum for Education and Diplomacy (TFED) and is a member of the TFED Aelfric Scriptorum Project (TASP). In her free time, Naomi was formerly a World Class Roller Figure Skater and National Champion under the USARS organization, culminating twelve national titles during her time in the sport.

Class of 2023

B.A. | English & Comparative Literature (British & American Literature)

B.A. | Anthropology

Bella Basile is a rising junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is working towards bachelor's degrees in both Global Studies, with a concentration in International Relations and Politics, and English Literature complemented by a minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. She intends to pursue a career in international relations/ politics with a focus in political economics, negotiation, and human rights law. Her passion for literature and ethnography in the context of international relations has been nurtured through her involvement with CFED, where she explores the ways in which storytelling and narratives contribute to cross-cultural understanding and diplomacy. As a CFED officer, she aims to create connections between various communities through diplomacy, fostering a broader global perspective within scholarship and international relations. Outside of her academic studies and CFED, she is also a part of SolarEquity, Alpha Chi Omega, and serves as the Fundraising Coordinator and Entertainment Chair for Carolina For The Kids. She spent the summer of 2023 serving as a TFED Intern in London, England where she served as a liaison for transatlantic connections and helped coordinate the non-profit’s events abroad, including a high tea at the House of Lords with Baroness Catherine Meyer.

Class of 2025

B.A. | Global Studies (International Relations and Politics)

B.A.| English and Comparative Literature

Maya Bouton is an undergraduate from Sciences Po, Grenoble, on an exchange year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Middle-Eastern politics, as well as a minor in English literature. She is fluent in English, French, and proficient in German.

Her enthusiasm for diplomacy, literature, and narrative has nurtured her involvement with CFED. In addition to her academic pursuits, Maya is currently interning with the Transatlantic Forum for Education and Diplomacy, in which she leverages her unique background to cultivate understanding between cultural stakeholders.

Back home in France, she organized conferences through her school to promote European diplomacy and shared values. Following her exchange year, Maya hopes to pursue a Master’s degree in Middle-Eastern diplomacy. In her free time, Maya likes to attend concerts, play bass, and travel.

Exchange Student from France

B.A. | Political Sciences

Campbell Patteson is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Political Science. She takes her love for all things current events and brings that to everything she does at UNC and beyond. She has interned for Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper in Washington, DC, and for EducationUSA in Barcelona, Spain (an organization that helps Catalonian students who want to study abroad in the United States). Campbell discovered CFED through her class with Dr. Ted Leinbaugh, PWAD/CMPL 489. Not only did this fantastic class that combined English literature and current events pique her interest, CFED did as well; hearing smart people speak is a great passion of Campbells. As associate vice president, she works with the team to ensure great speakers come to campus and assists in efforts to get as many listening ears as possible. She greatly enjoyed the Fall break DC trip and urges anyone with an interest in global affairs to join CFED and apply for that wonderful trip. In her free time, Campbell likes to ski, go to concerts, and eat good food.

Class of 2024

B.A. | Political Science

Philosophy Politics & Economics (PPE) and English Minor

Bård Kleven is a senior undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is pursuing a double major in Political Science - Honors, and in Peace, War, and Defense, complemented with a minor in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He is active on campus, as a member of both CFED and TEDxUNC. Bård is an international student from Norway, and is studying at UNC Chapel Hill as the first step towards an international career in foreign service and humantiarian work. His passion for International Relations started during his Rotary Youth Exchange in 2018, and has grown ever since through a range of experiences such as studying internationally and working for both Vikings in America, and the Norwegian Consulate in Arizona.

Bård spent the summer working on his Honors Thesis in Political Science, combined with working full-time on the family farm in his hometown of Ringebu, Norway. Returning to Chapel Hill, he is eager to serve as Associate Vice President of CFED

Class of 2024

B.A. | Honors Political Science

B.A. | Peace, War, and Defense

Annika Deshpande is a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in Global Studies with a concentration in the Asia region and Economics. She is passionate about global affairs and the role that different cultures play in international relations. She hopes to pursue a career in diplomacy in the future and is particularly interested in improving and promoting educational standards worldwide. Through working with CFED, she hopes to give more students at UNC the chance to be exposed to various international topics and professionals and promote a more global perspective. In addition to CFED, she is a Carolina International Relations Associate member and their Senior Staff member in The University of North Carolina's Intercollegiate Model United Nations Conference. She is also a member of the Alpha Phi Omega service organization. This summer, she spent six weeks studying conflict resolution in the Balkans and Vienna with the Honors Carolina Burch Seminar. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking various international cuisines, and going on runs with her dog, Patches.

Class of 2026

B.A. | Global Studies

B.A.| Economics

Luke Morton is a junior in the honors college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is dual majoring in Peace, War, and Defense and Classics with a minor in English. His career interests lie in the intersection of law, international relations, and social justice. As a member of CFED’s officer team he aids in the organization’s mission of connecting Carolina students to the worlds of literature and international affairs, while also furthering his own passion for the subjects. Alongside his work with CFED, Luke has a considerable history of campus involvement and service. He works on the Tutee Outreach Committee and executive board of the nonprofit LearnToBe, has been published in JOURney (Journal of Undergraduate Research), and is a member of the Carolina International Relations Association. In his free time, Luke enjoys training jiu-jitsu, walking with his chocolate lab Max, and traveling with his family.

Class of 2025

B.A. | Peace, War, and Defense (International Security and Intelligence)

B.A. | Classical Civilization

Zoë Brockenbrough is a senior undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is double majoring in Global Studies and PWAD (Peace, War, and Defense) alongside a minor in PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics). As a dual citizen in the U.S. and France, she is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish, and plans to study Swahili. She intends to pursue a career in international affairs/NGO work, and is interested in learning about human rights issues and international security. In addition to being a member of CFED’s officer team, she is a Staff Writer for the Carolina Political Review and a member of Carolina International Relations Association and Heel-Gram. She also currently works as a volunteer within the Raleigh office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and watching true crime documentaries.

Class of 2024

B.A. | Global Studies (International Politics, Nation-States, Social Movements)

B.A. | Peace War and Defense (International Security and Intelligence)

Hania Kantzer is a passionate member of Honors Carolina and grateful to be a part of the UNC Scholars program (as a recipient of the Chancellor’s Carolina Scholarship). While pursuing a degree in biochemistry on the pre-dental track, she seeks to gain a culturally informed perspective on healthcare through Asian studies as well as her role in CFED. At CFED, she looks forward to fostering increased engagement with diplomacy among students from underrepresented backgrounds, cultures, and identities, ensuring a diverse representation that reflects the richness of our global society.

Through her job last year as the Lori and Eric Sklut Intern at the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies, she communicated with donors and community members and promoted the Center’s lectures and events through social media engagement, class visits, and video production. Working with Jewish Studies led her to join UNC’s Professor Jodi Magness on the Huqoq Excavation Project, an archaeological excavation of a monumental Late Roman synagogue in the Galilee area.

Hania is a baroque violinist in the UNC Baroque Ensemble and the Organ Scholar at the University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill. In her free time, she enjoys going to the many classical music concerts in the Durham-Chapel Hill area and is currently working on constructing a replica of a 1765 spinet harpsichord.

Class of 2026

B.S. | Chemistry

B.A. | Asian Studies

Bennett Hubbard is a senior undergraduate student at UNC, studying Peace, War, and Defense and English and Comparative Literature, along with a minor in History. His research interests include the Vietnam War and the chronicling of veterans’ experiences. This past summer, Bennett worked for IDmission, a biometric security company, and he focused on identity security via machine learning. As a member of the CFED officer team, he hopes to help the organization further strengthen its involvement with the broader UNC community. Outside of his role in CFED, he is involved with Wesley Campus Ministry and the PWAD Alumni Association. In his free time, Bennett enjoys hiking, reading a good book, and collecting vintage vinyl records.

Class of 2024

BA | Peace, War, and Defense (International Security and Intelligence)

BA | English and Comparative Literature

Niharika Ghoshal is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As an international student from India, residing in Qatar, she is very passionate about international affairs and the social sciences. She appreciates that TFED encompasses these areas of interest. She is involved in on-campus magazines and publications like the Daily Tar Heel and Coulture, and she hopes to leverage these media platforms to promote TFED and its good work. In the future, she wants to take advantage of the multi-dimensional nature of the humanities and be involved in a broad scope of academia.

Class of 2025

B.A. | Sociology

B.A. | Global Studies (transnational cultures, identities, and arts in Asia)

Maisie Ruddy is a senior at UNC, studying Peace, War, and Defense (International Security and Intelligence) and English. She is thrilled to work with CFED’s executive team in her final year at UNC. As a member of CFED, Maisie has gained a deep understanding of varied perspectives in the international relations world and an appreciation for interpersonal skills. This summer, Maisie was able to complete an internship in Poland with the Warsaw Terrorism Research Center. Her work focused on the relationship between hate crimes and far-right terrorism in the western world. Working in a country bordering a live, conventional conflict deeply informed her work and provided a perspective she hopes to bring to her classes and CFED. She looks forward to employing the research, writing, and analysis skills earned at UNC in her professional endeavors. Outside of academia and international security, Maisie loves reading, cooking, and Game of Thrones.

Class of 2024

B.A. | Peace, War, and Defense

B.A. | English

Guy is a Junior Honours Carolina Student majoring in History and Global Studies with a minor in Medieval and Early Modern Studies. As a British student at Carolina he is passionate about international relations and cooperation particularly focused on human rights issues. TFED and CFED transatlantic and international connections align with his interest and as a part of CFED he uses his knowledge of both American and British culture to further connections between the US and UK governments. Outside of CFED Guy is particularly involved in UNC Field and Club Hockey. He helps coach the UNC Field Hockey team and plays for the club team. In the future, he wants to use his international education for foreign service and humanitarian work.

Class of 2025

B.A. | Global Studies

B.A. | History