2024-2026 Dean's Scholars

Jeanelle Agyem is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a Concentration in Conflict Resolution, as well as a second major in Criminal Justice. She is also minoring in French and Public Policy. Her Dean’s Scholars research focuses on violent extremist groups in the Sahel and examining government and extremist group behavior to achieve peace. Outside of Dean’s Scholars, Jeanelle is a Co-President of GW’s African Development initiative and is a member of Sigma Iota Rho, Phi Alpha Delta, and Mock Trial. She has interned in the House of Representatives and the Democratic Attorneys General Association. Currently she is doing an internship with Bracewell LLP and hopes to pursue a future career in International Human Rights Law. 

Olivia Benedict is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in International Environmental Studies and minors in Music and Spanish & Latin American Languages, Literatures & Cultures. Her Dean’s Scholars project focuses on the adverse effects of state and international biodiversity conservation programs on local communities in the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America. Outside of the classroom, Olivia spends most of her time playing cello through the GW Music program, running and volunteering through Parkrun USA, and volunteering for the National Parks Service in parks around DC. In the Spring 2025 semester, she will be studying in Seville, Spain with the hopes of gaining fluency in the Spanish language.

Aidan's Dean's Scholars research is centered around exploring new avenues of Taiwanese deterrence strategy. Outside of the classroom, Aidan is an active member of Sigma Iota Rho and is the current Vice President of the GWU Men's Rugby Team. In the past, he has worked as an undergraduate research fellow for the Sigur Center's Taiwan Education and Research Program, compiling oral histories of the Taiwanese wai sheng ren (外省人) population and how their experiences under the Taiwanese Martial Law era impacted modern-day voting sentiment. Aidan speaks English and Mandarin and currently works as a Chinese language tutor. He plans to study international law in the future.

Michael Cinque is pursuing a double major in economics and international affairs. His Dean's Scholars research centers upon evaluating how recent reforms in electrical grid regulation interact with increasing investment in renewable power generation. Currently, Michael is the Director of Research at the China Affairs Forum. In the past, he has interned at a New York State Policy think tank, where he has conducted research on wind energy and the challenges it brings to the state’s existing grid infrastructure.

Alexia Creeden is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Affairs and History with a concentration in Europe and Eurasia. Her Dean’s Scholars project focuses on female asylum seekers in Western Europe. She became interested in the subject through her passion for gender studies, and her experience with learning Spanish and French throughout high school and college. Outside of the classroom, Alexia is a member of the GW Model UN Team, Kappa Alpha Theta, and serves as Philanthropy Chair for Sigma Iota Rho. Additionally, Alexia has interned at Hyder Immigration Law and has been teaching preschool for several years. She looks forward to studying abroad in Paris during her senior year of college, and further exploring her academic passions in graduate school.

Ava Dufault is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs with a concentration in Security Policy and minors in GIS and Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture. Her Dean's Scholars project focuses on the impact on Algerian-French security relations following the uptick in Algerian immigration into France in the last century. Outside of the classroom, Ava is interning with the Department of State and practices ballet at the Washington School of Ballet.

Renee's research interest probes the correlation between justice systems and success of peace processes. This interest was founded during her summer internship in Colombia with the NGO REDEPAZ. Her work as an intern focused on researching the assassinations of social leaders and defenders of human rights within Colombia. This issue is perpetuated by a weak justice system that has held very few of these perpetrators accountable. This topic also stood out as interesting during her semester abroad in Belfast, where her coursework focused on studying all aspects of peace processes. In addition to these abroad experiences she is involved in Camp Kesem and Alternative Breaks at GW. 

Devika Mukherjee is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in International Affairs & Economics, with a concentration in International Development. Her Dean’s Scholars research focuses on the current state of food insecurity in the world, hoping to discover more about what political, economic, and agricultural factors lead to the lack of access to basic needs. Outside of Dean’s, Devika is the Vice President of Alumni Relations for Sigma Iota Rho, the International Affairs Honors Society. She has also previously worked as a research assistant for a professor at the Elliott School and at the International Trade Administration, in the Global Markets Front Office. 

Sophia Pavlenko is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in Comparative Political, Economic, & Social Systems. Her Dean’s Scholars research centers around alliance building, the political dynamics of exiled opposition groups, and the state of the pro-democracy movement in the Russian Federation following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Previously, Sophia was the 2023-24 Editor-In-Chief of The Globe, GW’s only undergraduate journal for International Affairs research. Professionally, she has worked in a variety of sectors related to her interests, including geostrategic consulting, political advocacy, and public administration. Most recently, Sophia interned at the Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, assisting with the legal regulation and registration of business and commerce operating in the Southwestern US.

Charlie is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in Africa and International Development. He intends to research if there is a connection between the rough borders of former African states before colonization and how the continent’s borders were drawn after the Berlin Conference. Beyond the Dean’s Scholars Program, he is an avid biker and a sustainable infrastructure advocate, hoping to advocate and help develop sustainable infrastructure in his future career. He seeks to expand his historical knowledge to better understand not only environmental sustainability but the sustainment of smaller socio-cultural identities in urbanizing regions of Francophone Africa. 

Carenna is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in International Affairs and Geography with a concentration in Conflict Resolution and a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).  Her research examines the effects of immigration on peacebuilding efforts in Northern Ireland.  While studying at Queen’s University in Belfast, Carenna had the opportunity to build knowledge that will support her in her research. She is an alumna of the United World College (UWC) in Maastricht, The Netherlands and plans to continue learning through experiences abroad. Carenna is a member of The Eta Society for Global Affairs and Kesem at GW. 

Sofia Tjia is pursuing a BA in International Affairs with a double concentration in Environmental Studies and International Economics. Passionate about sustainability, she has conducted energy research at the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future, interned at an environmental non-profit, and worked in corporate sustainability in Singapore. Currently, she is a member of the Eta Society of Global Affairs and a textile reuse intern at The Loop, GW’s clothing exchange. Sofia's research focuses on mining critical earth minerals in the Arctic for renewable energy, balancing the necessity to transition from fossil fuels with the environmental impacts of such development. This project covers topics she is passionate about, such as sustainability, energy, and environmental policy. 

Ben Wieser is pursuing a Bachelor's of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in security policy and Political Science. He is also pursuing a minor in Geographic Information Systems. His Dean’s Scholars project compares security force responses to violent extremist activity with development and restorative justice approaches in the Lake Chad Basin region. Outside of the classroom, Ben serves as the Managing Editor of the Justice Journal, is an active member of Moot Court, and a staff member in the Student Government Association. He previously interned with the Office of Congresswoman Andrea Salinas.