Elizabeth Hagan, from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, is a junior studying political science and earning a minor in public policy. Liz has worked with the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, as an advocacy and press intern, where she wrote press releases for the organization and attended hearings on relevant legislation. She has worked on several campaigns, including the re-election of Ohio State Representative Ted Celeste in 2008, Sherrod Brown for the U.S. Senate in 2006, Ted Strickland for Governor in 2006, and John Edwards for President in 2004. Liz has also worked with the Youth Service Committee, at Case Western Reserve University, facilitating and helping to implement service-learning events. In Washington, Liz will be focusing on health care reform while interning in the health policy division at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.
Joshua Kramer is a senior studying political science, from Shaker Heights, Ohio. Josh spent last fall semester at the Rothberg International School, at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he participated in an American Israel Public Affairs Committee advocacy mission. He has studied in Senegal and Bulgaria and is a member of the International Affairs Scholars Program at OSU. He has interned in the Office of Ohio State Representative Armond Budish. Josh was awarded the Cleveland Hillel Academic Internship at the Community Relations Council, where he arranged events to advocate for Israel and raise awareness for the crisis in Darfur. He has participated in the Spitzer Youth Forum and The Climate Project. In Washington, Josh is interning with the OSU federal relations office.
Jessica Meeker is a senior, from Lyndhurst, Ohio, studying history and interested in international development. Jessica has volunteered with Human Trafficking Victims Support Corporation and at the Hillcrest Hospital. She has been a member of Standpoint, a religious organization that engages students in activities such as volunteer ministries and outreach to homeless individuals. She has dedicated much of her coursework to the history of France, comparative government and French language immersion. She is currently a member of Real Life and the history club at OSU. In 2008, she was the recipient of an award for academic excellence given by Ohio State Representative Josh Mandel. In Washington, she is interning with the non-profit organization, Human Rights First.
Amy Ovecka, from Canton, Ohio, is a senior studying political science and earning minors in French and Spanish. Amy has worked in the Ohio House of Representatives as a Majority Page. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Politics and International Affairs in the Undergraduate Political Science Organization. She has served as Judicial Panel Clerk of Courts and currently serves as Judicial Panel Justice in the OSU Undergraduate Student Government. She has served as a mock trial tournament facilitator for high school teams, through the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. She has volunteered with the International Conversation Partners Program, meeting with international students at OSU to help with their transition to the U.S. In Washington, she is interning at the Department of Justice in the International Affairs Department, Criminal Division.
Chelsea Rider, originally from Marysville, Ohio, is a junior studying communications and earning a minor in international studies. Chelsea currently works at Human Trafficking Victim Support Association, as a fundraising coordinator, and as a grant research and development intern at See Kids Dream, an organization that empowers children to engage with their communities. She has worked in the communications department at Olivet Nazarene University, in Illinois, where she assisted students and conducted research for professors in the journalism department. She volunteers with English Conversation Partner, an organization that helps international students engage in student life at OSU, and Real Life. In Washington, Chelsea is interning with the non-profit, Free the Slaves.
Samuel Rose is a senior majoring in English, from Columbus, Ohio. He has interned with the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus, in the volunteer resources and emergency service departments. He wrote investigative articles contributing to the organization’s newsletter and interviewed residents of Columbus about relevant concerns. He is the recipient of an Associate of Arts degree from Columbus State Community College, where he participated in the Sailing with Theseus program. He has worked in the development department at Columbus State and has volunteered with Deaf Innovations, an organization that promotes awareness of the deaf community in and around Columbus. In Washington, Sam is interning with the U.S. Business and Industry Council.
Terrence Traster, from Amherst, Ohio, is a senior studying political science. He currently serves as Deputy Treasurer for the Ohio Young Democrats. He has interned in the office of Ohio State Senator Tom Sawyer and in the office of U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur. He has worked for Citizens for Amherst Schools, as an outreach coordinator, and on the Traster for State Representative campaign. He has volunteered with Leadership Lorain County, an organization that promotes development of youth leadership skills through mentoring by community professionals in politics, business and education. In Washington, Terry is interning in the Office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown.
David Young is a senior double majoring in international relations and diplomacy, and Chinese. David, who is from Columbus, Ohio, spent the past year in an intensive Chinese language program at National Taiwan University, where he acquired proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. He was named a youth ambassador of peace by the Universal Peace Foundation and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. David was also named a Boren Scholar by the National Security Education Program. He is the founder of Choice Performing Arts, an organization that promotes awareness about HIV/AIDS and volunteers with Service for Peace, where he coordinates service projects for the community surrounding the university. In Washington, David is interning in the Taiwan Resource Center at Gelman Library (George Washington University).
