Spring 2020 Fellows
Meet our Fellows for the Spring 2020 semester!
Olivia Balcer - Business Analytics and Neuroscience
Olivia is a sophomore from Carmel, Indiana studying Business Analytics and Neuroscience with a minor in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service. She is interested in the ethical responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies and how health policy initiatives can improve market access to medicine. On campus, she is a Sorin Scholar, a board member of Undergraduate Women in Business, a concert planner with Student Union Board, and a Pasquerilla East Hall Council commissioner. In past summers, she has worked as a research intern at Eli Lilly and the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Emma Barrett - Program of Liberal Studies
Emma is a freshman majoring in the Program of Liberal Studies (PLS), with a minor in Business Economics. She is from South Bend, Indiana. On campus, she is involved in events with her dorm, is a Sorin Fellow with the deNicola Center for Ethics, and Culture, and is also a student worker there.
Alix Basden - International Economics (French)
Alix Basden is a sophomore from Lafayette, LA studying International Economics with a concentration in French, along with a minor in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service. She is a member of the Glynn Family Honors Program and the Kellogg International Scholars Program. Alix is on the Executive Cabinet of ND Student Government, serving as a co-director of FUEL, and represents Howard Hall and Student Government on the NDVotes task force. She interned at the state office for Louisiana Medicaid and James Mueller for Mayor of South Bend. She is also a member of the large group of people defeated on Jeopardy! by James Holzhauer.
Jonathan Biagini - Political Science
Jonathan Biagini is a senior from Washington, D.C. studying political science and minoring in business-economics and constitutional studies. He is a Sorin Fellow at the Center for Ethics and Culture and member of the Notre Dame International Security Center (NDISC). His interests include law, politics, and boxing for the Notre Dame Men’s boxing club team.
Maura Bradley - Political Science
Maura Bradley is a senior from Philadelphia, PA majoring in political science and minoring in constitutional studies and theology. She is a Resident Assistant in Farley Hall and, beyond the Tocqueville Fellowship, she is involved in the ND Right to Life Club, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Appalachia Seminars. Two summers ago, she interned for Congressman Patrick Meehan in his district office located in Springfield, PA and last summer she interned for Congresswoman Jackie Walorski in her Washington D.C. office on Capitol Hill. Furthermore, Maura had the opportunity to intern in the UK Parliament in the office of Andrew Percy MP during her semester abroad and this past summer, she interned at the James Wilson Institute in DC. Her interests include law, political philosophy, service, and theology.
Joe Cook - Mechanical Engineering and Theology
Joe is a fifth-year senior pursuing dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Theology, who, though now off-campus, was a proud resident of Alumni Hall. He has moved frequently as a lifelong Navy brat, but currently calls San Diego home when not at Notre Dame. In addition to the Tocqueville Fellows and his classes, he takes part in aerodynamics research and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Notre Dame Men's Rugby club, for whom he plays lock.
Samuel Delmer - History and Economics
Samuel Delmer is a sophomore from San Antonio, Texas, majoring in History and Economics with a minor in Constitutional Studies. He is currently President of the Alexander Hamilton Society, Vice President of the Texas Club, Student Senator from Dillon Hall, Secretary of Students for Child-Oriented Policy, and Social Affairs Chair for College Republicans. He spent the past summer interning at the Office of Senator John Cornyn. He is excited to be a part of the Tocqueville Program.
Analie Fernandes - Political Science
Analie Fernandes is a sophomore pursing a degree in Political Science with a Pre-Health supplementary major and a minor in the Glynn Family Honors Program. She is also a Walter and Suzanne Scott Merit Scholar. Analie is believes in leaving the world better than she found it, and is eager to learn as much as she can in order to accomplish that goal. On campus, she is co-president of GlobeMed ND, a member of the Student Department of Health and Wellness, director of Aquatic Relief for Kids (ARK-ND), a collegiate debater, a student assistant to Prof. Ray Offenheiser, and a research assistant to Dr. Vania Smith-Oka.
Victoria-Katherina Flick - Political Science
Victoria is an international student from Austria. She is a Political Science major minoring in Business Economics and Constitutional Studies. Her passions include traveling, international relations and world politics.
Anna Gallagher - Political Science
Anna is from the Philadelphia area. She is a political science major with minors in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service and computing and digital technologies. In the past two summers, she has interned for a county judge and for a representative in Congress. This summer, she was also a teaching assistant at an adult literacy advocacy center in Washington DC. During the school year, she have taken on research apprentinceships in subjects of political philosophy and identity politics, while attempting to read as much Harry Potter as possible.
Matthew Hardiman - Economics and Political Science
Matt Hardiman is a senior from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania double-majoring in Economics & Political Science and minoring in Italian. On campus, he is a resident assistant in Morrissey Manor, co-leader of the Italian Club, and member of the club lacrosse and boxing programs. This summer, he helped develop two idea-stage non-profit startups in the Washington D.C. area.
John Edward Mariano - Program of Liberal Studies and Political Science
Jed Mariano is a sophomore from Ruston, Louisiana, living in St. Edward's Hall. He is majoring in the Program of Liberal Studies and Political Science. He has interned for James Mueller for Mayor of South Bend, and he is currently a public policy fellow at Ellen Marks for Congress. His interests include political philosophy, theology, and law.
Nicholas Marr - Political Science
Nicholas (Nick) Marr is a senior from San Diego, CA. He is studying political science with minors in history and theology. On campus, he works for Professor Muñoz and the Constitutional Studies program, serves as the executive editor of the Irish Rover, and chairs American Enterprise Institute's Executive Council.
Veronica Maska - Business Analytics
Veronica Maska is a sophomore from Austin, Texas majoring in Business Analytics and minoring in Philosophy and Constitutional Studies. She is the co-President of Students for Child-Oriented Policy, a Sorin Fellow at the Center for Ethics and Culture, the ND Votes commissioner for Lewis Hall, and hopes to get involved with the consulting side of SIBC this year. This summer she interned at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in DC. She is passionate about understanding the human person from both a statistical and humanistic perspective.
Christian McKernan - Finance and Economics
Christian is a freshman from Yardley, PA living in Stanford Hall. He intends to major in Finance and Economics with a minor in Constitutional Studies. On campus, Christian is involved in a variety of financial organizations, including Investment Club and NDIGI, as well as Matriculate and the Notre Dame Men's Boxing Club. He is interested in the impact of current events, politics, and law on financial markets.
Jake Rinear - Political Science
Jake Rinear is a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio studying Political Science with a minor in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service. Though he no longer lives on campus, Jake will always consider Keough Hall his home under the dome. He has competed as an attorney for Notre Dame’s Mock Trial program since freshman year and proudly serves as its President for the 2019-2020 season. He lived in Washington, DC each of the past three summers, interning both on Capitol Hill and with the James Wilson Institute on Natural Rights and the American Founding.
Francine Shaft - Theology and Japanese
Francine Shaft is a sophomore from Grand Forks, ND studying Theology and Japanese. She is a Suzanne and Walter Scott Scholar and a member of the Glynn Family Honors Program. On campus, Francine is an Apologetics Commissioner for ND Right to Life, Public Relations Committee Chair for Students for Child-Oriented Policy, a Sorin Fellow with the deNicola Center for Ethics and Culture, and a research assistant to Professor John McGreevy. Last summer she lived in Hakodate, Japan, where she studied the Japanese language. She enjoys baking and learning about global Catholicism.
Sean Tehan - Political Science
Sean Tehan is a Sophomore from Dallas, Texas studying political science with a minor in constitutional studies. He is a proud resident of Alumni Hall (Go Dawgs!). In the fall of 2020, he will be studying in Washington, D.C.
Zach Thapar - Political Science and Global Affairs
Zach Thapar is a sophomore resident of Sorin College. He is studying political science and global affairs with a concentration in international development studies. Zach’s career interests include law, politics, and foreign affairs.
Christian Torsell - Philosophy
Christian is a junior from Leadville, Colorado, pursuing a degree in philosophy with a minor in PPE. He transferred to Notre Dame in Spring 2019 from Loyola University New Orleans, where he had been studying economics. Christian is an avid skier and a saxophonist in Notre Dame's marching band and jazz ensembles.
Cam White - Political Science and Theology
Cam is a Freshman at Holy Cross College and is third of seven in his South Bend based family. He hopes to study Political Science and Theology and is heavily involved in ND Right to Life.
Charles Yockey - Program of Liberal Studies and Economics
Charles is a freshman hailing from bucolic Springfield, Illinois and double majoring in the Program of Liberal Studies and Economics with a minor in Constitutional Studies. While on campus, he inhabits St. Edward's Hall and is active in the Federalist Society, Mock Trial, Holy Cross House, and various financial markets organizations. In summers past, he has traveled internationally and worked as a speechwriting intern in the Washington, D.C. office of a United States Senator. This summer, he will be interning in the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois. Outside of the classroom, his interests include ancient history, political philosophy, alpine backpacking, and rhetoric.
Blake Ziegler - Political Science and Philosophy
Blake is a freshman majoring in Political Science and Philosophy with a minor in Constitutional Studies. He is from New Orleans, Louisiana, and is a huge fan of the New Orleans Saints. On campus, Blake is a trumpet player in the Band of the Fighting Irish, columnist at The Observer, and Dialogue Fellow for the God and the Good Life course. He also coaches high school debate.