The Rose Institute welcomes the following students to the Rose Institute Alumni Society upon their graduation on May 13, 2023. We hope their time with us has enriched their lives and we send them off with the confidence that they, in turn, will enrich the lives of others.
Here are excerpts from their farewell messages (from Rose Review Spring 2023), what they have accomplished during their tenure at the Institute, and some of their plans.
Marshall A. Bessey (Government/History)
“It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the Rose Institute to my Claremont McKenna experience. Claremont McKenna has not always been the best experience for me, but I always felt at home at the Rose Institute. The Rose has changed the way I view politics and government, and it has changed the way I think generally.”
Marshall wrote a white paper on Proposition 13, based on his new hire project. Marshall also did research work on the following projects: the Inland Empire at a Glance, City incorporation (Vernon); Kosmont Cost of Doing Business, housing, and the 50th Anniversary database. He led the Miller-Rose Initiative Database project, the Ontario City Services project, and the Video Voter Guide projects in 2020 and 2022. Additionally, he was also part of the Communications and Media Strategy team and was a research assistant to faculty advisor Emily Pears in the research on state identification. Marshall plans to work on Capitol Hill for two years before applying to law school. He will start off as a staff assistant with Congressman Ken Calvert in June.
Daniela Corona (Government)
“I can draw a direct line from the moment I was hired at the Rose to the moment I solidified my post-graduate plans. I was hired in the midst of the pandemic and formed a close bond with my new hire cohort that got me through a rough year. I never thought I would fall in love with research.”
Danny led a group of student researchers on a survey project for Professor Sinclair. She led the tech team with her skill in creating maps — instrumental for visualizations in projects such as the Inland Empire Outlook, Inland Empire at a Glance, and the California Competitive project. Danny also contributed to the new hire training program by providing workshops on quantitative analysis. She will attend American University Law School next fall.
Desmond Mantle (cum laude, PPE honors + Government with a sequence in Computer Science) Phi Beta Kappa
“I am particularly grateful for the way in which the Rose has managed to be a microcosm of CMC’s broader commitment to free speech and open dialogue across political differences. I always learn a great deal from those with whom I disagree, and my peers at the Rose were no exception. Thank you for an experience that gave me the opportunity to conduct interesting research, learn best practices for data collection and analysis, and work alongside some of the most impressive people I have ever met.”
For his new hire project, Desmond tackled the research on Concealed Carry which turned into an article in the Inland Empire Outlook (Fall 2023). He contributed to the Sinclair survey, Tongva project, and CA Competitiveness. Desmond led the Institute training team and the 2022 Kosmont Cost of Doing Survey. He served as the 2022-2023 Associate Student Manager. In the immediate short term, Desmond will be working on an archaeological dig in Sicily for the summer. After that, he will be attending Stanford Law School with an intended focus on digital privacy law.
Tara N. Mehra (magna cum laude, PPE honors/Government, Phi Beta Kappa) Government Department Award for the Outstanding Major
“Joining the Rose Institute was unequivocally the best decision I made at CMC. Since joining as a first-year, I have had the chance to develop a toolkit of data-driven research and writing skills that make me well-equipped to tackle meaningful policy questions. Perhaps more important, the Rose has been my home base at CMC.”
Tara served as Associate Student Manager for AY2022-2023. Before she stepped into that role, she has researched and written several articles on Federalism: Immigration Policy, Marijuana Legalization, Affordable Care Act, Environment, Covid-19 and the CARES Act, and Immigration in the 2020 Presidential Election. Tara also did the research and presented two propositions for the Video Voter Guide of 2020. She was part of the team that worked on the Inland Empire at a Glance, the redistricting Conference and the California Competitiveness projects. In the summer of 2021, Tara assisted Professor Shanna Rose do research for her book on the political history of minimum wage. Tara was the principal researcher on the City Incorporation/Vernon project. She will be working with Deloitte in LA.
Sarah Simionas (cum laude PPE honors in Legal Studies)
“Working at the Rose has brought me a brilliant community, invaluable experience, and a rich understanding of state and local government. Our projects taught me how to find the answers to hard questions and in turn, taught me how to ask better questions myself.”
While at the Rose, Sarah primarily worked with Professor Fortner on several of his research for which she has been cited as co-author. She was also a member of the team that did research on Redistricting. Sarah wrote an article on Covid 19 and Higher Education for the Inland Empire Outlook in Spring 2021; Sinclair survey; Sarah headed the Communications team promoting two big projects: the Video Voter Guide of 2022 and Election Polls by Professor Sinclair. Sarah will be working in Los Angeles.
Cameron Stevens (cum laude, Economics honors + PPE honors; George Blair Award for state and local government)
“The Rose Institute exposed and nurtured my interest in public policy and directed it towards issues that truly mattered to the nearby SoCal community, and I look forward to continuing my civic involvement as a new LA resident after graduation.”
A sophomore hire, Cameron did a superb job working with Professor Fortner: NY Mayoral; Fortner: “Divided We Fall”; was a member of the team that worked on the Ontario services project. Cameron also led the Kosmont project and CA Competitiveness and led the whole student team as the student manager for AY2022-2023. He will be working with Keyser Marston in Los Angeles where he interned last summer.
Nathan Tran
“Through it all, I’ve learned countless lessons, found irreplaceable friends, and made unforgettable memories. I’ll miss the Rose workroom more than any other spot at the 5Cs, and I’ll cherish my time here more than any other experience in my undergraduate career.”
Nathan who is from Pomona College, worked on the Miller-Rose Initiative Database, Inland Empire at a Glance, did research for a white paper on Covid -19 mask and vaccine mandates, and helped write a white paper on Federalism with Professor Busch. He served as editor of the Rose Review in the Spring of 2022, while he was the Communication manager. Nathan assisted Professor Shanna Rose do research on the political history of minimum wage: Federalism; He also researched and presented on the Video Voter Guide 2020; His most challenging role was that of New Hire Manager for the biggest new hire class in 2022. He then moved on as a member of the training team, worked on the Rose alumni database, and as a member of the housing projects team.
Nathan intends to spend a few years working as a labor organizer – most likely for a healthcare union on the East Coast – before going on to pursue either a Master of Public Policy or a Juris Doctor.
We also want to recognize and thank former Rose Institute students who also graduated this year:
Miriam Farah (cum laude, Public Policy/History honors with a sequence in Gender and Sexuality Studies; Phi Alpha Theta (History); Recipient: Elbaz Family Post-Graduate Fellowship (National Award); History Department Award for the Outstanding Senior Thesis; Best Thesis in Gender Studies.
Camille Hermosillo (Media Studies/Government)
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