Hometown: New Delhi, India
Why did you choose McCourt? I attended Georgetown as an undergraduate student (graduating in May 2025), and am grateful to have been exposed to McCourt faculty and classes from my junior year. During this time, my interests were shifting away from international relations towards policymaking and international development. I wanted to take steps to launch a career in policy making and development project interventions in multilateral development banks and IGOs. So I began looking for more such classes and opportunities. I took “How Public Policy Works,” taught by McCourt faculty, researched with Professor Thessalia Merivaki at the Massive Data Institute, and took “Social Media and Political Behavior,” with Professor Nejla Asimovic as a senior at Georgetown. These experiences fueled my desire to apply to McCourt. I was also looking to build on my solid theoretical foundation in policy by strengthening my quantitative skills. The warmth and openness of the faculty also encouraged me to apply. And of course, I wanted to be in D.C. because of the work opportunities around me and the diverse international community.
What professional/ work experience did you have prior to coming to McCourt? I am coming straight from completing my B.A. so I have prior internship experience in non profits and media organizations. I previously interned at the S M Sehgal Foundation in India, the BBC News Washington D.C. bureau, and the U.S. Asia Institute in D.C. I am looking to pivot into more public policy/development roles and organizations where I can apply the policy/data analysis skills I am learning at McCourt.
What has been the best part of your experience so far? Other than the vibrant sense of community, I have really loved my professors / the faculty so far. From the admissions team to the deans, everyone is so open, compassionate, knowledgeable and 100% here to support the graduate students. Shoutout especially to my Quant 1 professor Paul Treacy, and my Micro 1 professor Jacobus Cilliers, for helping me overcome my fear of quantitative subjects and gain an appreciation for evidence-based policymaking. The faculty also all have offices within the McCourt building itself. Their work experience is very impressive and helps add a practical lens to our McCourt classes.
What internships have you had so far during your time at McCourt? In fall 2025, I was a communications intern at the Observer Research Foundation America, and will be continuing with them in the spring. I help run their daily social media strategies, strategize long-term strategies and collaborations with the ORF India and Middle East offices, assist with efforts to increase engagement, help capture and document events and briefings, write short form policy analysis pieces, help elevate researcher’s commentary and update the website, film and edit their weekly podcast and more.
Student organization involvement while at McCourt: I am the Editor-in-Chief of GradGov, which is an umbrella organization uniting all the Georgetown graduate schools. Along with my team, we report on and write stories about the graduate community, create and disseminate a bi-weekly newsletter, and plan other initiatives to make Georgetown feel more like home.
Undergraduate University, degree, and major: Georgetown University, Government major, Journalism and International Development minor
Hobbies/ Interests: I am very interested in the intersection between strategic communications and public policy/international development. In my free time, I love podcasting, writing, exploring new boba/coffee shops, and travelling between my home countries of India and the Philippines.
Reach out to me about: Starting masters right after undergrad, international student life, homesickness, coming from a non-quantitative background, interning while in McCourt.