Northwestern undergraduates can apply for the Roberta Buffett Institute's Global Affairs Leadership Fellows program to design and lead a major interdisciplinary symposium. They will bring together policymakers, scholars, and industry leaders to address pressing global challenges. Learn more about the 2026–27 cohort.
Economics and International Studies, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, '27
Sama Abusweireh is a third-year undergraduate studying economics and international studies with a minor in business institutions. She has experience in humanitarian relief projects and educational initiatives, and is passionate about global peacebuilding, advocacy, and community development. She aims to work with international relief organizations to empower individuals and communities to prosper.
History and International Studies, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, '27
Eleanor Bergstein is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in History with interests in politics and policy, sustainability, and international relations. She reports and edits for the student-run magazine North by Northwestern, and conducts research in the History and Psychology departments on campus. As a Global Affairs Leadership Fellow, she's looking forward to exploring resource extraction and global climate systems.
Economics and Data Science, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, '29
Jose Lucie Delinois is a first-year undergraduate studying Economics and Data Science with a minor in International Studies. Originally from Haiti, she completed the International Baccalaureate program in Norway, where she engaged with diverse communities and developed a global perspective. She has contributed to humanitarian and educational initiatives focused on expanding opportunities for underserved populations and is interested in the intersection of data, policy, and international development. Through her academic and leadership experiences, she seeks to apply quantitative analysis to address social and economic challenges.
Journalism and Economics, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, '28
André Hiroki is a Journalism and Economics student from São Paulo, Brazil. He is interested in the intersection of the public and third sectors, with a particular focus on global affairs and development economics. His experience includes leading education initiatives in Brazil, reporting on business and economic policy from Capitol Hill, and conducting research on state-level media literacy policy. On campus, he is involved with the Brazilian Student Association, Model United Nations, and SCNO. A number one fan of walkable cities, his natural habitat is anywhere he can travel, discover new playlists, and photograph daily life.
Journalism, Political Science, and Mathematics, Medill School of Journalism, Media, & Integrated Marketing Communications, '28
Liana Liu Ioannides is a peacebuilder from Cyprus and an undergraduate student of journalism, political science, and mathematics. She is currently serving as a Youth Leader for a World Without Nuclear Weapons under the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. In 2024, she served a yearlong mandate as Youth Delegate of Cyprus to the Council of Europe, through which she represented Cypriot youth in European municipal decision-making spaces and developed grassroots projects to expand youth participation in municipal decision-making. She has represented the voices of Cypriot youth in international stages such as at the World Forum for Democracy, the Delphi Economic Forum, and the World Youth Development Forum, calling for effective inclusion and participation of youth in the Cyprus settlement and peace process.
Economics and Political Science, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, '28
Akshita Poddar is a second-year at Northwestern University majoring in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Business Institutions. She is a Farrel Research Fellow, where she works on environmental politics with a focus on right-wing environmental nationalism, and has also been a research assistant at the Kellogg Global Poverty Research Lab, synthesizing evidence on cash transfers and poverty outcomes. Alongside her research, Akshita is actively engaged in policy and social impact work, having consulted on sanitation infrastructure reform and led initiatives focused on menstrual health access and youth engagement. She is particularly interested in the intersection of economic policy, sustainability, and development, and is committed to applying research and community-driven solutions to real-world challenges.
Economics and Journalism, Medill School of Journalism, Media, & Integrated Marketing Communications, '28
Naya Yazigi is a second-year international student at Northwestern University studying Economics and Journalism. She has conducted research on post-liberation Syrian civic education, took part in organizing "The Peace We Make" symposium at Northwestern's Roberta Buffett Institute, and represented Syrian youth as an Ambassador at the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Youth Tourism Summit; all in an effort to ensure that the communities most affected by global economic systems have a voice in the conversations designed around them.