Applications Now Open for the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Cohort!
The Benson-Bertsch Center for International Trade & Security’s (CITS) Richard B. Russell Security Leadership Program (SLP) is a selective, year-long learning community and pre-professional program for undergraduate students interested in careers in national and international security. For over 20 years the SLP has been training the next generation of national security leaders, particularly on issues related to diplomacy, intelligence, WMD nonproliferation, human security, and strategic trade management.
Apply HERE by March 15 for the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 SLP
About the Security Leadership Program
Two courses – INTL 4415 & INTL 4425R – form the foundation of the SLP. Students also participate in a professionalization series to prepare their application materials for internships, jobs, and post-graduation opportunities, attend events with BBCITS alumni and guests, and attend the BBCITS Spring Break in DC trip.
The SLP is NOT limited to students from any particular academic background, however INTL3200 or INTL3300 is a prerequisite. Students of all majors and years are encouraged to apply. You can learn more about the history of the SLP in this article from SPIA’s online magazine, We The People.
With questions, reach out to Dr. Maryann Gallagher ([email protected]), Director of the SLP.
Jack Abreu is a fourth-year student at the University of Georgia from Suwanee, Georgia, pursuing a degree in International Affairs with an emphasis in Security. Jack is currently a member of the Chi Psi Fraternity and a cadet in the Air Force ROTC program, where he now serves as the Cadet Deputy Training Group Commander. In Summer 2024, Jack graduated from Field Training, a rigorous three-week military encampment, with the Warrior Spirit Award, an honor given to one cadet per flight. Jack is also a recipient of the You Can Fly scholarship, which has supported his pursuit of aviation training. He has logged over 20 hours in the cockpit. In Summer 2025, he returned to Field Training leading efforts to deliver individualized feedback to over 1,300 trainees. Jack was recently selected for a pilot slot through the Air Force Rated Board and will commission as a second lieutenant into the United States Air Force following his graduation from UGA.
Josie Bond is a third-year student from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs and minoring in Criminal Justice. Josie is pursuing a career in international criminal investigative work. In order to support this goal, beyond her coursework, she has completed an internship with the US military’s African Command (AFRICOM). She worked with the Office of Public Affairs for AFRICOM, studying DOD policy on the continent and writing reports analyzing emerging security issues for supervisors. Additionally, she has participated in two study abroad programs to further her studies and broaden her worldview. Josie was part of the UGA Paris program in 2024, where she took a course on Global Terrorism and completed research on Western media coverage of terrorism and how it frames public perception of terrorism and spreads islamophobia. This past summer, Josie participated in the GLOBIS Stellenbosch study abroad program. In this program, Josie travelled around South Africa and completed courses on Repression and Dissent (focusing on Apartheid) and Women in Politics. Josie hopes her experience in the SLP will provide her with the practical skills necessary to succeed in her future career.
Garvey Cornick is a third-year student from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs and Political Science with a minor in Swahili. Garvey has spent time interning for USAID in the Office of Acquisitions and Assistance in Kenya and Somalia, gaining hands-on experience in development and regional security. Furthermore, Garvey also interned at the United States Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, working in the non-immigrant visa section in Nairobi, where he gained experience with the bureaucratic and systematic processes involved in immigration security. At UGA, Garvey serves as the External Affairs Officer for the UGA Model African Union and as the Vice President of External Affairs for the UGA Polaris Society. Garvey was also a presenter at the SPIA Undergraduate Research Colloquium, where he presented research on propaganda in apartheid South Africa. Additionally, Garvey participated in the UGA GLOBIS Stellenbosch study abroad program, where he studied repression and dissent as well as women in politics. Garvey hopes the SLP will help him continue pursuing his interest in African affairs and a career focused on navigating the future of a complex and nuanced continent.
Liam Evans is a third-year student from Cumming, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs and History with minors in Spanish and Law, Jurisprudence, and the State. This past summer, Liam had the opportunity to research pending federal legislation and FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) litigation as a public policy intern at Dentons through UGA’s Honors in Washington program. On campus, Liam is an assistant editor for the Georgia Political Review, the current Secretary of the Demosthenian Literary Society, and a research assistant for Dr. Gbemende Johnson, where he codes FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) litigation and investigates the role of judge demographics within the federal judiciary. In Spring 2025, Liam also participated in UGA’s GLOBIS Human Rights Lab, where he supported research related to global death penalty practices and conducted independent research related to digital repression. After graduation, Liam plans to attend law school and pursue a career in domestic human rights law.
Britton Hare is a third-year student from Memphis, TN majoring in linguistics and international affairs with minors in international human rights and security and teaching English to speakers of other languages and a certificate in global studies. During his time at UGA, Britton has studied human rights at the University of Oxford and repression and dissent at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. His research interests extend across disciplines, as he plans to investigate the language of nuclear discourse and genocide. With strong interests in discourse analysis, human rights, and nuclear security, Britton plans to apply underutilized linguistic frameworks to national security analyses. He has worked on numerous projects within the Department of Linguistics through the Second Language Acquisition and Cognition and SeMantis Labs, and he is currently working on a project centered around authoritarian persistence in Cameroon. On campus, Britton is involved in several student organizations, including UGA MathCounts Outreach, where he serves as a tutor, and he also serves as a Morehead Honors College Teaching Assistant instructing incoming students in a seminar course in addition to being a Franklin College Ambassador. Through the Security Leadership Program, Britton is honing his research skills while investigating crosslinguistic patterns in metaphors used in nuclear discourse and furthering his understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of national security issues. After graduating, Britton plans to attend graduate school and pursue a PhD in linguistics.
Emily Hwang is a third-year student from Suwanee, GA pursuing degrees in International Affairs and Political Science with a Korean Language minor. In her first year at UGA, Emily was the recipient of the 2023 Global Perspectives Scholarship, which is awarded to six university students around the world. During the summer of 2024, she had the opportunity to study at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, where she took classes examining the history of colonialism in Korea and the politics of national division. Emily currently codes demographic data for a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded research project under the guidance of Dr. Gbemende Johnson. She is also a part of the GLOBIS Human Rights Research Lab, where she conducts independent research under the guidance of Dr. Chad Clay. At UGA, she is serving her second term as the Public Relations Director for Model United Nations while also traveling as a Competition Delegate. Her other campus involvements include the University Judiciary, where she serves as a Justice on formal hearing panels, and the Georgia Political Review, where she recently earned a position as the Communications Manager. Previously, Emily served as a Legislative Fellow for the Representative Spencer Frye Fellowship program, contributing to school safety research within the Education Policy Group. Through the Security Leadership Program, Emily hopes to explore research at the intersection of sports, public policy, and broader security considerations, while examining their implications for human rights.
David Kleinrock is a third-year honors student from Decatur, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs and Finance. This past summer, David interned at the U.S. Treasury Department in the Office of Trade and Investment Policy, supporting work on tariff investigations, bilateral trade negotiations, and multilateral development projects. Over the past year, David has interned with TradeSecure, an international trade advisory firm, maintaining a database covering the customs laws, export controls, and compliance guidelines of more than 80 countries. He is passionate about artificial intelligence policy, international trade policy, and national security, and is particularly interested in fields where these issues intersect.
Aaron Knapp is a third-year student from Athens, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs and minoring in International Human Rights and Security. This past summer, Aaron volunteered as a counselor for Camp Kesem, a summer camp for kids of parents with cancer. He gained many valuable experiences and memories from camp and cannot wait to return next summer. Aaron also works as a Peer Learning Assistant for UGA and enjoys helping new students find their interests in international affairs. For the upcoming year, Aaron hopes to continue his independent research into cults in Japan and participate in the SPIA Undergraduate Research Colloquium. He is passionate about international relations and hopes to gain valuable skills from the SLP.
Bridget Peach is a fourth-year honors student from Wilmington, Delaware. She is majoring in International Affairs and Russian with a minor in Spanish. At UGA, Bridget is involved with the Georgia Political Review, Loch Johnson Society, SPIA Ambassador Program, UGA Miracle, and the Honors College. She is a Critical Language Scholarship Alumni Ambassador for Russian, having completed the virtual program in the summer of 2023. Bridget is also a student in the Russian Flagship Program, through which she has taken intensive language courses and studied abroad in Riga, Latvia, in the summer of 2024. Most recently, Bridget participated in both the Washington Semester Program and Honors in Washington, interning at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress and the American Chemistry Council, respectively. This fall, she is interning with BSI Group Consulting on the Europe Team. Upon her graduation, Bridget plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in the intelligence community using her language skills.
Claire Scafidi is a third-year student from Kennesaw, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Spanish with a minor in Studio Art. During her time at UGA, Claire has studied Human Rights and War and Human Security at the University of Oxford and Cultural Psychology in Havana, Cuba. Last semester, she was fortunate to be part of the Carl Vinson Research Fellowship, where she examined how Latinx cultures are reflected in the architectural landscape of the Atlanta Highway Corridor. Claire is also excited to join the Women, Peace, and Security Localization Lab as a data collector, where she is studying local WPS action plans and diplomacy efforts. On campus, she serves as an Editor and General Writer for the Loch Johnson Society, SPIA Ambassador, and a Morehead Honors Teaching Assistant. Claire plans to pursue a master’s degree, combining her interests in authoritarianism, immigration, and security studies.
Mia Shaw is a fourth-year student from Roswell, GA, studying International Affairs and Spanish with minors in German and TESOL. In Spring 2025, she participated in the UGA in Washington program, serving as a Research Intern with the American Foreign Policy Council. Most recently, she interned for the International Rescue Committee, working closely with refugee students in Atlanta looking to further their education and/or careers. On campus, Mia represents UGA as a Tour Leader, sharing her passion for the university with prospective students and families. Following graduation, she aspires to continue working with organizations dedicated to advancing international human rights, with a particular focus on education and refugee advocacy. Her academic and professional experiences demonstrate her interest in advancing international human rights, particularly education and refugee advocacy. After graduation, she hopes to continue working with organizations dedicated to promoting these topics on a global scale.
Bridget Sheridan is a fourth year student from Fairfax, Virginia studying International Affairs and German with minors in History and Music and a Certificate in Global Studies. Bridget spent the summer of 2025 in Washington, D.C. interning in the office of Congresswoman Ann Wagner, where she interacted with constituents, attended briefings and hearings, and learned about the federal policymaking process. She is a recipient of the UGA Presidential Leadership Scholarship and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in Spring 2025. She previously served as a SPIA Ambassador and studied abroad in Freiburg, Germany learning about sustainable development and improving her German language skills. Bridget is heavily involved in instrumental music at UGA, serving as a section and rank leader in the Redcoat Marching Band and playing in the UGA Wind Ensemble as well as chamber ensembles. She is a founding member of the UGA chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, a service-oriented music organization that works to develop leaders and empower women in the music field. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in international trade.
Lily Thomas is a senior from Eatonton, Georgia majoring in International Affairs with a Certificate in Sustainability, while taking graduate coursework in Journalism through Double Dawgs. While at UGA, she has studied abroad at Oxford University researching Shakespeare and in New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji completing graduate field studies in Forestry and Natural Resources. She participated in the Washington Semester Program in fall 2024 as the US Policy and Advocacy Intern for CARE International and a Chambliss Scholar. In the summer of 2024, she served as a Governor’s Correspondence Intern at the Georgia State Capitol. She has served as Editor in Chief of the Georgia Political Review, Eco Chair for the acapella group Eco Tones, and is the current President of Rural Students Igniting Success in Education at UGA. She served as a student worker in the Georgia 4-H State Office in the Press & Public Relations Department and as an Environmental Education counselor at Wahsega 4-H Center, teaching forest and stream ecology classes. She completed CURO research on adopting electric mobility technology in rural areas through Georgia Power and presented projects on the environmental impact of the music industry and the role of gender in waste management policy at the SPIA Research Colloquium. She currently serves as the Program Intern for the Washington Semester Program in Athens. Through the Security Leadership Program, Lily hopes to explore her interests in international development, bipartisan communications, environmental sustainability, and gender and peace studies.
Jacob Weiszer is a fourth-year honors student from Athens, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs and Management Information Systems. This past summer, Jacob interned with the Clarke County Probate Court, helping implement a new online search tool for public record searches. Additionally, Jacob has studied abroad twice to gain new global perspectives and experiences. In the United Kingdom, Jacob learned about ecotourism and sustainable business practices while studying at Cambridge University and exploring the Scottish Highlands. Last spring, Jacob was a part of the Verona, Italy study abroad program where he engaged in simulations to devise innovative solutions to the biggest threats the European Union is currently facing. On campus, Jacob serves as a Peer Learning Assistant, a Student SPIA Ambassador, and is a crisis delegate for UGA’s Model United Nations Team where he has competed across the country. In the SLP, Jacob hopes to learn more about the use of Artificial Intelligence as a weapon to spread disinformation. After graduation, Jacob hopes to further his academic pursuits by attending law school.
Abigail (Abby) Wright is a third-year student from Fayetteville, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs with a minor in Public Policy and Administration at the University of Georgia. She brings professional and leadership experience from her work as a Legal Administrative Assistant at a local business law firm and her service as President of the Creswell Community Council in University Housing, where she oversaw community programming and resident engagement initiatives. Currently, Abby serves as the Fundraising Executive for the Politalk Society, coordinating events that promote nonpartisan dialogue on campus, and as a Peer Learning Assistant in the Department of International Affairs. In summer 2025, she participated in a study abroad program in South Korea and Japan, examining the relationship between nutrition, culture and their respective impacts on societal development. This experience deepened her understanding of East Asian political and cultural dynamics, the region where her foreign policy interests primarily lie. In her studies, Abby seeks to answer two core questions: how culture informs diplomacy and how to balance ethics with security. She hopes to leave the SLP with new perspectives and experiences that will shape the way she approaches these questions throughout her career.
Cameron Ardoin is a second-year student from Bogart, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs with a minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State. He is interested in arms control, the political economy of development, civil rights law, and contract law. Outside of the classroom, Cameron is a member of the UGA Mock Trial team, which competes against other collegiate teams across the country; last fall, Cameron’s team placed 1st at Vanderbilt’s invitational tournament. Additionally, Cameron provides GED tutoring at the Potter’s House, an addiction recovery center, as part of the Athens Prison Tutorial club. He is also a member of the Demosthenian Literary Society, UGA’s oldest student organization, where he participates in weekly extemporaneous debates on political and philosophical topics. In his free time, Cameron enjoys building instruments and is close to completing his first acoustic guitar, made from locally sourced wood. After graduating, Cameron hopes to attend either graduate school or law school.
Jackson Bost is a second-year Honors student from Hull, Georgia, majoring in Political Science and International Affairs with minors in French and Disaster Management. This past semester, Jackson presented at the UNSCR 1325 25th Anniversary Symposium as part of Dr. Gallagher’s Women and World Politics class, where he compared the regional action plans of NATO and ECOWAS. Jackson loves to travel and studied abroad in Morocco as a freshman, where he explored the country’s history and Vision 2030 agenda during Ramadan with the Connect Abroad program. This summer, he will travel to France with the UGA en France program to build his French language skills and explore the creation of UNESCO sites as an Honors International Scholar. On campus, Jackson works in the Student Support Services wing of the Office of the Registrar, writes for the Georgia Political Review, and competes as a General Assembly delegate for UGA’s Model United Nations Team. Jackson is drawn to foreign aid, disaster management, and education, and through the SLP, he is interested in researching how each impacts individuals in areas emerging from conflict.
Natalia Daniel is a second-year honors student from Tucker, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs and History with a minor in African Studies. During her time at UGA, she has participated as a delegate with the Model African Union, where she won the Outstanding Delegate award with the Environment and Climate Change Committee at the 2025 Southeastern Model African Union Conference. She also researches local policy challenges and solutions in education with the Arch Policy Institute’s education policy team. Additionally, she works as outreach chair with the Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Association here at UGA. This upcoming semester she hopes to work on developing her research on authoritarian regimes in Africa and diasporic interactions with these regimes, along with the link between state capacity and rebellions. Through the Security Leadership Program, Natalia hopes to explore her interests in intelligence analysis and conflict prevention, with a focus on security challenges in the Horn of Africa and the intersection of human security and regional stability.
Sadie Eubanks is a second-year honors student from Athens, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs, Political Science, and Economics with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Sustainability. On campus Sadie serves as an ambassador for the School of Public and International Affairs and in the department of housing as an EcoRep, promoting sustainable initiatives on campus. She is also a research assistant in the Economics department under Professor David B. Mustard investigating religious freedom violations and the multitude of factors that affect these violations. Sadie will use the skills she gains through the Security Leadership Program to explore research possibilities in trade security. This year she will spend the summer in Morocco studying Middle Eastern politics followed immediately by a program in The Hague and Brussels studying international law and security. With these experiences she aims to create a foundation for a later career in international trade relations.
Emily Hinckley is a third year UGA student from Alpharetta, Georgia pursuing majors in International Relations and Portuguese and a minor in Latin American studies. Her principal interests lie at the nexus of national security, defense, and intelligence, with an emphasis on inter-American security and policy. In her first year at UGA, she was a recipient of the Boren Award, a scholarship that provides funding for students to study critical languages in regions deemed critical to U.S. national security. This award allowed her to study Portuguese in Brazil as a student of the Portuguese Flagship Program at UGA. She brings further professional experience through her work as a Global Trade Intern at Andersen Consulting in São Paulo, Brazil, where she participated in a policy monitoring initiative related to Latin American regional security as well as researched trade relations between key Brazilian and Latin American trade partners, including China and the United States. She has additionally carried out research during her time in Brazil through the Portuguese Flagship Program regarding trade as a tool of diplomacy, with a specific focus on Mercosul’s effects on diplomatic and economic relations within Latin America as well as how economic integration serves to facilitate both diplomacy and regional integration.
Katie Hunt is a second-year student from Kennesaw, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs & Portuguese with a focus in Brazilian studies and a minor in Political Science. During her time in college, she has worked as a regional organizer for Rhizome, a non-profit centered on youth civic service. Through this position, she has worked with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Kaiser Permanente, HopeAtlanta, and VoxAtlanta, managing community development schedules along with civic education and voter registration across Georgia high schools. Additionally, Katie serves as an elections precinct assistant manager, ensuring election safety and the upholding of federal and state laws and processes. She serves on the executive board of Women in SPIA and serves on the outreach committee in Relay for Life. Further, Katie is a student in the Portuguese Flagship Program, taking advanced Portuguese courses. She will be going abroad to Salvador, Brazil, this upcoming Summer, along with completing her capstone year abroad in Brazil the following year. Through the Security Leadership Program, Katie hopes to delve deeper into international trade and diplomatic peace through the lens of security to further her into a post-graduate career in the federal government.
Colin Lemaistre is a third-year student from Cumming, Georgia studying International Affairs and French, with minors in Political Science and International Human Rights and Security and a Global Studies certificate. Colin has had the opportunity to study abroad in Benin, and is participating in the SPIA – GLOBIS: Morocco study abroad in the summer of 2026. Colin is a dedicated member of UGA Model United Nations’ travel team, and serves as their DEI Chair and leader of the DEI committee;. He is a member of Georgia Political Review, where his article on forced evictions in Benin was published in the GPR magazine. Colin is also a service ambassador for ServeUGA, a SPIA Ambassador, and is a member of Pi Delta Phi French Honor society. He is currently doing research in partnership with Villa Albertine on the development of slang in West Africa and its perception between different people in the region. After graduation, Colin hopes to serve in the Peace Corps, and then do diplomatic work with the goal of becoming a foreign service officer.
Emma Mineva is a third-year Honors student from Tyrone, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs, Linguistics, and Russian. Through her research, Emma aims to explore how ethnic conflict, language policies, and linguistic choices impact international security and diplomacy. As a Vinson Fellow at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Emma explored her interest in the language of government documentation by analyzing how changes to questions in the US Census impacted the MENA population group. Furthermore, as a member of the Russian Flagship Program, Emma’s intensive study of Russian has led her to study abroad in Armenia, Georgia, the Baltic states, and Croatia. Most recently, her study abroad experience culminated into a research project evaluating the success of Latvian legislation catered towards Ukrainian refugees. On campus, Emma has worked as a Peer-Learning Assistant for the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies, and she is currently a magazine and newsletter writer for the Georgia Political Review and a Student Guide at the Georgia Museum of Art. Beyond organizing and hosting student-centered events at the Museum, Emma is also designing her own tour that she will present to the general public this Spring. The tour will focus on how artwork depicts the aftermath of war, whether through destruction, diplomacy, grief, or other deeply human emotions. This Summer, Emma will bridge her interests in international security and background in Eastern Europe through the GLOBIS International Law & Security Study Away Program in Belgium and the Netherlands, where she will study US-EU transatlantic relations. Upon graduating, Emma hopes to continue researching how language impacts international security and diplomacy while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Translation and Interpreting Studies.
Hannah Moffatt is a third-year student from Augusta, Georgia studying Political Science and Ecology with minors in International Affairs and Law, Jurisprudence, and the State. While at the University of Georgia, Hannah has participated in the Domestic Field Program in Ecological Problem Solving with the Odum School of Ecology studying natural resource policy, analyzing the interdependence of social, economic, and ecological systems, and engaging with stakeholders in the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint River Basins. This experience furthered her understanding of complex-adaptive issues and allowed her to explore her interest in polycentric water governance. In summer 2025, she volunteered at Phinizy Center for Water Sciences leading and conducting environmentally educational activities with younger students. This past semester, Hannah expanded upon her organizational and leadership skills whilst using her background knowledge and experiences to serve as a Peer Learning Assistant in ecological studies with the UGA Office for Student Success and Achievement and a small group leader at Athens Church. Through the Security Leadership Program, Hannah hopes to further explore her interest in environmental law and research the ways in which adaptive capacity, global warming, and information sharing intersect and shape possible solutions to natural resource conflicts.
Ellie Oulsnam is a third-year student from Gray, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs and Russian. Her academic interests center on language, cross-cultural engagement, and global security issues. Ellie’s passion for international study has taken her from Kyrgyzstan to Latvia, most recently spending the summer in Riga, Latvia, where she studied abroad, lived with a host mother, and completed advanced Russian language coursework.
Cristian Paez is a second-year student from Athens, Georgia, majoring in international affairs, political science, and Russian, with a minor in public policy and management. On campus, he is a travel competition delegate for UGA’s nationally ranked Model United Nations team and a magazine and staff writer for the Georgia Political Review and the Loch Johnson Society, respectively. Additionally, Cristian is a part of the Russian Flagship Program, where he has previously studied abroad in Armenia and Georgia, and is planning to travel to Latvia this upcoming summer to further develop his Russian language proficiency and examine Baltic-Nordic security dynamics. As such, through the Security Leadership Program, Cristian seeks to integrate security analysis with his interests in post-conflict reconstruction, economic development, and state-building in Latin America, the Middle East, and the post-Soviet sphere, with the goal of preventing conflict recurrence and strengthening political legitimacy in fragile regions. Upon graduating, he plans to pursue a master’s in conflict resolution and work in the aforementioned areas and policy-making in the federal government.
Kathryn Rozboril is a third-year honors student from Marietta, Georgia, pursuing dual degrees in Political Science and Economics. Additionally, she is completing a minor in Law, Jurisprudence, and the State and a Certificate in Data Analytics. For the last two summers, Kathryn has worked as a teacher at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, teaching reading, writing, and expression to students of all ages. At UGA, Kathryn is the Conference Logistics Director for the Model United Nations team, organizing two weekend-long international policy-based simulations a year. Additionally, she is a writer for the Georgia Political Review and an Advisor/Advocate for the University Judiciary, serving on student conduct hearings as a representative of the University. Kathryn also works with the Office of Student Success and Achievement as a Lead Tutor, offering tutoring help in political science and economics classes. This summer, Kathryn will intern in Washington, D.C. as part of the Honors in Washington program. She is passionate about international law and education security, and she hopes that SLP will help her gain valuable skills related to these interests. After graduation, Kathryn plans to attend law school, specializing in juvenile justice.
Emily Sawires is a third-year student from Marietta, Georgia, majoring in International Affairs, Chinese and Literature, and Comparative Literature. She currently interns for The Georgia Review, UGA’s literary journal, where she supports the editorial process and assesses written submissions. In the summer of 2025, she studied abroad in Taipei, Taiwan, where she took Chinese classes at National Taiwan University and interned for Fulbright Taiwan. She had the opportunity to present about the U.S. college application process to students across Taiwan, create social media posts, and meet Fulbright recipients. On campus, Emily is a staff writer for the Loch Johnson Society and an Event Coordinator for the Arab Cultural Association. She is also involved with the Wesley Foundation and Sideways Sunlight Ministries, where she serves as a student leader at a youth group for elementary school students. Through the SLP, Emily hopes to explore her interest in the importance of language in aiding diplomacy. After graduation, Emily plans to attend graduate school.
Haven Somerson is a third-year Honors student from Cumming, Georgia studying International Affairs with a minor in the French language. Her coursework and experiential learning have centered on understanding global power dynamics and international security. This past summer, Haven studied abroad in Paris through the program, UGA à Paris, where she studied the culture, history, and politics of France and western Europe. More recently, she participated in an intensive field study program, traveling to Israel and the Palestinian territories to research the complex political dynamics of the Middle East. This summer, she will study sustainable development and international business in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji with the University of Georgia. On campus, Haven is part of the Honors International Scholarship Program and an active member in the Panhellenic community, serving as a Recruitment Counselor and holding various leadership positions in her chapter. She also volunteers with the UGA Wesley Foundation to mentor freshmen students navigating the transition to college life. In the Security Leadership Program, she is most excited to work alongside remarkable colleagues, explore the depth of the international security community, and complete her first original research project.
Elijah Watson is a third-year student studying Economics and International Affairs from Marietta, GA pursuing two certificates in Legal Studies and Music Business. On campus, Elijah serves as the Keeper of Finance for the Beta Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Additionally, he is a member of UGA’s Model United Nations Team, an ambassador for the School of Public & International Affairs, a mentor for the Keystone Fellowship, and an Outreach Co-Chair for the Black Pre-Law Student Association. In Summer 2025, Elijah interned at the Atlanta hub office for State Farm. Through his experience with the SLP, Elijah hopes to strengthen his skills relating to policy, which will prepare him for his aspirations in international law.
Summer Willard is a junior pursuing dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Affairs and Political Science. In Summer 2025, she further expanded her global perspective while studying international political economy at the London School of Economics. In addition to her interest in economic security issues, Summer researched and presented on the effectiveness of National Action Plans in the MENA region at the Women, Peace and Security Symposium at UGA. On campus, Summer serves as the Vice President of Recruitment for Alpha Delta Pi, where she oversees recruitment operations for a chapter of over 375 members. She is also the Founder and President of the UGA Women Pre-Law Students Association, which she created to support women of all majors looking to pursue legal careers. Encompassing all her attributes, Summer hopes to find herself in a career intersecting law, economics, and national security. Through the Security Leadership Program, Summer aims to research how domestic and international policies intersect with investment decisions and broader economic security outcomes.
Richard B. Russell Security Leadership Program (SLP) spent two weeks in a simulation of the US National Security Council (NSC). This capstone of the first-semester practicum course of the SLP had each student assigned to play a member of the NSC, including the President of the United States, the National Security Advisor, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and regional advisors. The members of the NSC, were required to make decisions on several “ripped-from-the-headlines” foreign policy issues including a crisis stemming from Chinese aggression towards US Navy surveillance ships in the South China Sea, to a crisis in the Mediterranean potentially undermining NATO, to democratic protests in the Gulf region. In addition to 
these known situations, the members of the NSC had to respond to several unexpected crises, including a looming environmental disaster off the coast of Yemen. The crises were selected to challenge the members to consider the tensions between US strategic interests and values, to weigh long-term and short-term goals, and to experience the pressure of “drinking from the fire hose” as policy makers are expected to juggle numerous ongoing crises at once.
NSC became adept at writing policy briefs and memos with short turnaround time and briefing colleagues on developing issues. Simi Kolodka, who served as President, said, “everyone was challenged to push themselves to not only understand and have the capacity to explain to others complex and nuanced topics, but to be confident enough to come up with solutions and defend [them] whilst cooperating with others to make said solutions better.” The individual research, rigorous debate, and teamwork led by President Kolodka and National Security Advisor Sophie Macartney, culminated in 4 presidential memoranda responding to the crises. Finally, the NSC also wrote a National Security Strategy for the Kolodka administration. This ensured the members would be conscious of long-term goals for the administration while responding to acute crises. When asked about the skills she developed, Ashni Patel, Advisor on Asia, said, “The NSC simulation taught me problem-solving, briefing, and communication skills. With numerous problems being thrown at us day-to-day, I, along with my peers, had to think creatively and quickly about solving issues.”
