The Rose Institute stresses a high level of interaction between student Research Assistants, faculty, and staff. With an emphasis on student research in areas relating to state and local government, students and faculty work side by side. Students receive guidance and instruction from professors, fellows, and research associates experienced in the operations of both the public and private sectors. While every student has experience working with faculty members and senior staff on an individual basis, the Rose Institute student staff is overseen by senior student managers.
Note: When available, a student’s LinkedIn account can be accessed by clicking on the name.
Ryan A.T. Lenney ’25, Student Manager
Ryan is from Mission Viejo, California, and is majoring in Public Policy and International Relations. He developed an interest in state and local government through his work on housing and homelessness policy in Orange County. At the Rose, Ryan has written an article for the Inland Empire Outlook publication, a report on the city of Ontario’s permitting processes, and a statewide report on cities’ Housing Elements. He has also worked on the Kosmont project, the state identities project, and a study on the city of Vernon. In his free time, Ryan enjoys surfing, rock climbing, astrophotography, and a good road trip with friends. Ryan spent the fall semester of 2023 in Bilbao, Spain. Currently, he leads the Long Beach Housing project.
George B. Ashford ’25, Associate Student Manager
George is a dual PPE and Public Policy major and is proud to call Takoma Park, Maryland home. As a Rose research assistant, he has produced a comprehensive report of Inland Empire municipal American Rescue Plan Fiscal Recovery Fund spending, helped gather data for the Kosmont Cost of Doing Business Survey, created GIS maps of new legislative districts for presentation at a National League of Cities conference, and led a team examining points of friction between state and local government on housing policy. He also worked on the 2022 Video Voter Guide, and California Competitiveness projects. Before working at the Rose, George pursued his passion for local government as the Chair of the Takoma Park Youth City Council and as a Communications Assistant for Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart. He has worked on campaigns including that of Senator Gary Peters and President Joe Biden in Michigan, interned in the DC office of US Rep. Jamie Raskin and with the Bipartisan Policy Center. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at GENup, advocating for pro-student education reform at the state and national levels. In his spare time, George loves arguing about tax policy, backpacking, skiing, and otherwise enjoying the outdoors. George was in Tunisia, North Africa for the fall semester of 2023, but came back to lead the Ontario Missing Middle Housing project.
Audrey Donahue ’25
Audrey is from Seattle, Washington, and is majoring in Economics with a sequence in Data Science. Audrey joined the Rose Institute in the Fall of 2021. Throughout her time at CMC and the Rose, Audrey has worked on an array of projects across varying subject areas that include: with Professor Sinclair, as editor of the Rose Review, Kosmont, and CA Superior Court Elections. In the Fall of 2023, Audrey took a leave of absence from CMC to move to Washington DC. In DC, she worked at a bipartisan political consulting firm where she was able to gain first-hand experience with social and political issues on both sides of the aisle. Outside of Rose, Audrey plays for the CMS Lacrosse team, and loves to ski, hike, and cook. ”
Cary A. Dornier PZ ’25
Originally from Greenwich, Connecticut, and now based in Del Mar, California, Cary attends Pitzer College, where he majors in Political Studies with a focus in Security Policy. On campus, he has assisted Professor Busch with research for his newly released book “Ronald Reagan and the Firing of the Air Traffic Controllers” (University Press of Kansas, 2024) spotlighting the 1981 air traffic controllers’ strike and the subsequent Reagan administration response. Cary’s time as an RA has seen him contribute to the Kosmont and California City Management Foundation (CCMF) projects, and assist Professor Pears on research regarding the sociopolitical identity of the fifty states. During Spring 2024, Cary served on the Hill as a Legislative Intern for Congressman John Garamendi – Ranking Member on Readiness, House Armed Services Committee – as part of the CMC Washington Program. There, he regularly supported the staff’s defense policy efforts, such as Garamendi’s chairmanship of the Nuclear Weapons Arms Control Working Group. Cary is currently spending the Fall 2024 semester abroad at Lingnan University in Hong Kong where he is primarily taking coursework in security studies and East Asian geopolitics. He is also active in political organizing as the Foreign Policy Research Lead for Youth for Harris-Walz, where he is making the case for Democrats based on their vision for engaged global leadership. He is very excited to make a long-overdue return to the Rose and life back on campus in January.
Jack J. Gladson ’25, Student Development Manager
Jack is from Park City, Utah, and is majoring in Public Policy and Economics. His interest in state and local policy began when he got the opportunity to lobby for healthcare coverage expansions with state legislators. At the Rose, Jack leads the institute’s web development efforts, is co-authoring an academic article with Professor Michael Fortner, and is the Student Development Manager. He has also worked on Kosmont, CCMF, CA Competitiveness, and has served as editor of the Rose Review. On campus, Jack is a member of CMC Advocates. In his free time, Jack likes to ski and create digital art.
Katherine A. Jackson ’25, Media Strategies & Communications Coordinator (co-lead)
Katherine is from Oakland, California. She is majoring in Government at Claremont McKenna College. Katherine’s interest in government stems from several courses she took on government and politics and participation in political clubs in high school, including Junior State of America, IGNITE, and Bay Area Student Activists. Katherine also attended the Close Up program. Her passion for politics grew even more when she interned at Congressman Eric Swalwell’s District Office. At the Rose, Katherine worked on the 2022 Kosmont project, 2022 Video Voter Guide, did research for Professor Miller’s article for Limes Magazine, and is on the Media Strategy team. She enjoys long walks, photography, time with her family, and playing with her two dogs. She spent the fall semester of 2023 in Milan, Italy.
Katherine S. Lanzalotto ’25
Katherine is from Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and is studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. She became interested in politics when she ran voter registration initiatives in her high school and community. Katherine is passionate about varying government issues but finds interest in drug policy and voter initiatives. At the Rose, she researched and wrote an article on opioid harm reduction for the Spring 2023 edition of the Inland Empire Outlook. Outside of the Rose, Katherine is on the Model United Nations team, where she serves as the 2022 McKenna MUN secretary general. She also works as President of GenUp Claremont, a 5C club, and traveled as an Appel Fellow this summer. You will probably find Katherine studying around campus or solving the daily crossword puzzle in her free time. She was in Tuscany (Siena, Italy) for the fall 2023 semester.
Jemma S. Nazarali ’25
Jemma is from Summit, New Jersey, and is a PPE and Economics dual major. She first developed an interest in public policy in high school while working on Tom Malinowski’s congressional campaign, and cultivated this passion in the summer of 2022 through her work as a research assistant at the CMC Policy Lab. Her summer fellowship with the Keck Center for International Relations, during which she researched the effect of fast fashion on the labor forces of low-income countries, further developed her interest in political economy. Jemma has also pursued an interest in criminal and civil justice through work at Harvard Law School’s Access to Justice Lab. At the Rose, Jemma has written an article for the Spring 2023 edition of the Inland Empire Outlook and worked on the Housing Project, Kosmont, and minimum wage research. Outside of the Rose, Jemma works for the Policy Lab, the CWPD, and as an Advocate. She studied abroad (Milan, Italy) in the fall of 2023.
Andrea Y. Santillan-Galindo ’25
Andrea Santillan is from Lee Vining, California a small town in the Eastern Sierra. She plans on majoring in Government with a sequence in Chicano/Latinx studies. Andrea got interested in state and local government after lobbying at the Capital for the Citizens Climate Lobby and doing some field work in Claremont and Pomona for her Government class. At the Rose Institute, she was involved in the Kosmont and California City Managers projects; worked on Rose alumni engagement with the 50th anniversary project; part of the Media Strategy and Culture and Events team; and worked with Professors Andy Busch and Shanna Rose researching for their books. Andrea really enjoys solving puzzles with her brothers and walking around her hometown during sunset to get good pictures of the orange sky.
Noah B. Swanson ’25
Noah is from Los Angeles, California, and is majoring in Economics and Government. His interest in local and state government arose through discussions with peers and teachers and is centered around citizen-driven public policy. Previously, Noah worked at Westhook Capital, an L.A based private equity firm, and during the summer of ’22 interned for the Milken Institute, an economic think tank in D.C. At CMC, Noah is currently a first-year guide (FYG) and is working as a research assistant for Professor Fortner. At the Rose, he has worked on the Kosmont , CA City Managers, CA Competitiveness projects, and has written an article in the Spring 2023 issue of the Inland Empire Outlook. In his free time, you can find Noah going to CMS Trivia every Thursday, skiing, cooking, or watching the Dodgers.
Nolan Windham ’25, Data Director
Nolan Windham is from Los Angeles, California, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a Sequence in Data Science. Nolan’s interest in state and local government is rooted in his passion for effective public policy. He has interdisciplinary experience in technology, politics, and economics. At the Rose, Nolan leads the Data Team conducting research using advanced data extraction, analysis, and visualization techniques for projects like the Cost of Doing Business Survey, polling, and California Competitiveness. On campus, Nolan was a member of P-ai and the Debate Union but currently works as a Makerspace Steward. In his free time, Nolan enjoys working on a variety of creative projects.
Joseph Zhong ’25, New Hire Manager
Joseph is from Elkhorn, Nebraska, and is pursuing a dual major in Public Policy and Economics. He got his start in the policy realm through nonprofits and advocacy in sustainability. From the nonprofit sector, Joseph quickly moved into the public financing of sustainable infrastructure at the Nebraska State Treasury, California State Treasurer’s Office, and the North American Development Bank. His water policy interest drew him to the Rose Institute, where he currently heads the Kosmont project and contributed to the San Francisco study. Outside the Rose Institute, Joseph is an Economic Journalist for the Lowe Institute, looking at manufacturing reshoring trends, and a Research Assistant at the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies, analyzing the effect of foreign aid and democratization. Sometimes, Joseph is spotted giving tours to prospective CMC students. In his free time, Joseph loves to read books that challenge his beliefs, hike with friends, and watch the sunsets. In Spring 2023, Joseph participated in CMC’s Washington Program as an intern for Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Alexander Bishop ’26
Alex is from Alexandria, Virginia. He is a junior majoring in mathematics at Claremont McKenna College. His internship with the Center for Death Penalty Litigation inspired him to study how public policy decisions can break the cycle of crime and poverty in American society. At the Rose, he has worked on projects studying California’s housing crisis and primary election reform. On campus, he is a writer for the philosophy journal Tabula Rasa and a member of the 5C climbing team. He enjoys skiing, reading, bouldering, and talking politics.
Quinten Carney ’26
Quinn is from Boise, Idaho, and is majoring in Public Policy at Claremont McKenna College. In high school, his interest in government and public policy led him to work as a page for the Idaho State Legislature and participate in the US Senate Youth Program. He wants to study electoral data and political competitiveness, as well as learn about California’s top-two primary system, which has led him to join the Rose Institute. He competes on the CMS Cross Country and Track teams and occasionally does landscape doodling in his free time.
Jada I. Cook ’26
Jada is from Porter Ranch, California. She intends to major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Claremont McKenna College. Her interest in state and local government developed through efforts she led in her high school, her community, and across the U.S. to increase voter registration and voter education, as part of the national, nonpartisan initiative When We All Vote. Jada spent summer 2023 as a research assistant to Professor Michael Fortner where she wrote a report on how race, region, and party shaped the framing of crack cocaine in the 99th Congress. She is looking forward to taking on a greater role in the Rose’s housing policy project and diving into the nuanced solutions to the California housing crisis. For the fall semester 2024, Jada is working as an intern for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget in Washington, DC.
Joan A. Hanson SC’26
Joan is pursuing an off-campus major in public policy at Claremont McKenna College and a minor in Spanish, Latin American, and Caribbean literatures and cultures at Scripps College. She is originally from Seattle, Washington, and now splits her time between Seattle and Charlotte, North Carolina. Since living there, Joan has become passionate about many North Carolinian state and local issues, including gerrymandering, agribusiness policy, and more. At the Rose, Joan wrote an article for the Spring 2024 issue of the Inland Empire Outlook on commercial warehousing in the Inland Empire region. She is currently contributing to Professor J. Andrew Sinclair’s ongoing research on statewide executive offices in the U.S. for his upcoming political reform book. In addition, Joan will be managing the Rose Institute’s biennial polling project during the Fall 2024 semester, led by Professor Sinclair. In her free time, Joan enjoys cooking and (re)watching her favorite television shows, which include Silicon Valley, The Wire, and Gilmore Girls, as well as spending time with her friends and family.
Sanskriti S. Kumar ’26
Sanskriti is from Stamford, Connecticut, and is dual majoring in Government and Economics. In high school, Sanskriti developed an interest in local government by working with local legislators to draft an allergy bill and working on local campaigns, where she learned directly about housing and education policy, two areas of interest at the Rose. In her first year at the Institute, Sanskriti worked on the Kosmont and the California City Management Foundation projects. Outside of the Rose, Sanskriti is a tour guide on campus and is a trip leader with Outdoor Initiative. In her free time, Sanskriti loves to watch soccer, hike, or go on a long drive. For the fall 2024 semester, Sanskriti is studying abroad (Rome, Italy).
Maya Maranto HM’26
Maya is a Harvey Mudd junior majoring in international relations and physics while concentrating in Japanese. Raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Maya became interested in political ideology in elementary school while listening to her family’s frequent debates about politics, later exploring these areas further in her high school history and philosophy clubs. At the Rose, Maya has worked on the 2024 Video Voter Guide and on compiling a dataset of congressional elections for Professor Andy Sinclair. In her free time, Maya helps lead the East Asian Political Society, practices Japanese, reads (all genres), and watches anime with friends and family. She also studied abroad in Japan during summer 2024.
Anne C. McDonald ’26
Anne is pursuing a dual major in government and data science. Her interest in politics began when she volunteered for the re-election campaign of a local congresswoman in high school. At the Rose, she is interested in researching the California court system and drug policy. Outside of the Rose, she works as a writing consultant at the CWPD and is co-president of Product Space. She hails from the rainy city of Seattle, WA and enjoys reading Kafka’s short stories, golfing, throwing pottery, jewelry making, and crocheting in her free time. Anne is in Prague for the fall 2024 semester.
Chad B. McElroy ’26
Chad is studying Government at CMC. Hailing from Concord, California, Chad pursued his passion for public service as an election poll worker in his home county of Contra Costa, worked with the staff of his local House Representative Mark DeSaulnier, and attended CA Boys State 2021. Last fall, Chad focused his new hire project on un-serialized firearms, or “ghost guns,” and their proliferation throughout California. In the spring, Chad worked on the California City Management Foundation project, the Kosmont Cost of Doing Business Survey, and worked with Professor Shanna Rose on her upcoming book. In his free time, Chad enjoys riding his bike, going to baseball games, (re)watching Star Wars, and keeping up with everything related to aerospace and space policymaking. He is in Washington, DC for the fall semester interning with the Office of Space Commerce.
Ryan S. Shakiba ’26
Ryan is planning on majoring in both Data Science and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). He has been interested in politics and government since he was young, being fascinated with the history of the executive branch of the national government, and as time went on, he also found the structure of federalism in the United States to be intriguing, which led him to take in interest in the features of local government as well, which is what led him to want to join the Rose Institute. At the Rose, Ryan has been assigned to the Kosmont, CCMF, CA Competitive projects; engaged Rose alumni as part of the 50th Anniversary team, and worked as research assistant to Professor Andy Sinclair. Being from San Diego, California, he loves the ocean and hiking, as well as tennis and running, but his favorite thing to do is to learn.
David E. Taylor ’26
David is from La Habra, California, and is pursuing a dual major in Public Policy and Government. His passion for politics arose from the 2016 presidential election and was further inspired by the political, economic, and social climate during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has always found matters of state and local government to be intrinsic to understanding sociological and political climates as a whole. He is excited to learn about how state and local policies have tangible effects on the welfare of the average citizen. In his free time, David can be found watching sports (baseball, basketball, professional and college football), reading, or keeping up with American politics. He is studying abroad in Cordoba, Spain for the fall 2024 semester.
Rutvij Thakkar ’26
Rutvij was a transfer from UT-Austin’s McCombs School of Business. With his fresh start at Claremont McKenna, he looks forward to advancing a more nuanced perspective of state and local government from the lens of commercial operators and businesses. This past summer, he interned at the Texas Permanent School Fund as an investment analyst for the $50B AUM K-12 endowment. He is currently an enlisted Air Force Reservist at NAS JRB Ft Worth working as an Air Transportation Apprentice (Forklift Certified!) and he plans to commission into Army Reserve Civil Affairs. Rutvij is currently planning to major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.
Elisa N. Booth ’27
Elisa is an Environment, Economics, and Politics major from Venice, Italy and Pasadena, California. Her interest in state and local government stems from her study of climate change, a problem both global and local in nature. At the Rose, she contributed to the Ontario Missing Middle Housing and Trump Era Elections Dataset projects. Her new hire project analyzed the efficacy of local environmental policies, which she advocated for in high school. Elisa spent her summer in Venice, aiding lagoon conservation efforts while researching its governance through the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies. She loves mountain biking, backpacking, and cooking up a meal or a playlist for friends. Back in LA, she is an organizer for Climate Action California PAC, as well as the first Los Angeles Climate Week.
Aria M. Fafat ’27
Aria is studying Biochemistry and Public Policy. Her interest in public policy and government stemmed from her involvement in her high school’s law society. She is interested in public healthcare and education policy and is excited to hone her quantitative research skills further at the Rose. Outside of academic interests, she enjoys painting, watching sitcoms, playing badminton, and listening to music.
Dhriti Jagadish ’27
Dhriti is from Rocklin, California, and is planning to dual major in History and Public Policy. She began considering a career in law and politics early in high school by participating in Mock Trial and working on a NorCal State Senate campaign. She was first introduced to formal policy research at the NYU Division of Medical Ethics, where she helps study FDA guidelines. At the Rose, she hopes to further explore issues of criminal justice, homelessness, and healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys playing NYT crosswords, learning geography, and sneaking into CMC’s Cube.
Kahani Malhotra ’27
Kahani is studying Public Policy with a prospective dual major in PPE. She hails from New Delhi, India, but is a globetrotter, having lived in five different countries—India, Sudan, Russia, Malaysia, and the US—while being a Texan at heart. Her research into marijuana legislation under a Californian cannabis-infusion company and work in a congressional campaign in Saratoga drew her to conduct research for the Rose Institute. She is most excited about researching drug policy, investigating red vs. blue state politics, and uplifting South Asian voices and experiences through her work.
Samuel L. Yao ’27
Sam is from San Mateo, California who plans on majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). His passion for politics, business, and political economy first developed from listening to NPR’s Morning Edition with his mom on the way to elementary school every morning and inheriting his dad’s entrepreneurial spirit. Sam has a passion for all things sports, including water polo, swimming, and football. He also loves camping and being in the outdoors due to his experiences as an Eagle Scout. R&B and Jazz are Sam’s two favorite genres of music, and he loves to sing terribly and play the piano.