The Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University is home to some of Los Angeles's top thinkers in global policy. Their expertise cover a wide range of interdisciplinary scholarship on the critical issues shaping today's global agenda.
- GPI Fellows
- Current Student Fellows
- Past Student Fellows
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David Glazier, Global Policy Institute Senior Fellow
Dave Glazier is a professor at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles with an affiliated appointment in political science at LMU. He spent 21 years as a U.S. Navy surface warfare officer, culminating in command of a guided missile frigate, before retiring in order to attend law school at the University of Virginia. He researches and teaches international law with a particular focus on law governing the use of force and the law of the sea. He has published multiple law journal articles and book chapters on issues related to the so-called "War on Terror," including the Guantanamo military commissions and drone use.
Hon. Graham Allen, MP, Global Policy Institute Non-Resident Fellow & Member of British House of Commons
Graham Allen was a Member of Parliament for Notthingham North from 1987 to 2017. He graduated from City of London Polytechnic and earned a M.A. from the University of Leeds. He was elected as the Labour MP for the Nottingham North constituency at the 1987 general election. He sat on a number of parliamentary select committees and was the Chair of the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee in the House of Commons from 2010 to 2015. He was also a member of the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission. He is a proponent of democratic reform.
Jennifer M. Ramos, Global Policy Institute Senior Fellow
Jennifer M. Ramos, associate professor and associate chair of political science, focuses her research on understanding the causes and consequences of political change, with an emphasis on the role of ideas, norms, and identity. In addition, she specializes in US public opinion and foreign policy. Her current research interests include religion and foreign policy preferences, drone warfare, and the preventive use of force.
Kerstin Fisk, Global Policy Institute Fellow
Kerstin Fisk's research focuses on issues of security, peace, and conflict, with an emphasis on forced migration and political violence. She earned a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University in 2013. Her dissertation, entitled "Moving Targets: Refugee Geography and the Diffusion of Conflict and Violence in Africa," investigates how refugee settlement patterns affect patterns of violence by state and non-state armed actors in African conflicts. Her recent work also includes "Actions Speak Louder than Words: Preventive Self-Defense as a Cascading Norm" with Jennifer M. Ramos, published in International Studies Perspectives.
Jonathan Pollack, Distinguished Scholar of Strategic Studies| Global Policy Institute
Jonathan Pollack is Distinguished Scholar of Strategic Studies in the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University, where he teaches seminars on post World War II strategy and policy in East Asia and Chinese power and policymaking. He is also Non-Resident Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution. During his tenure at Brookings he served as Director of the John L. Thornton China Center and later as holder of the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies. Prior to joining Brookings, he was Director of the Strategic Research Department at the US Naval War College and was previously Head of the Political Science Department and Corporate Research Manager for International Policy at RAND. He has also taught at Brandeis University, the RAND School of Policy Studies, UCLA, and the Naval War College.
Dr. Pollack earned his M.A. and Ph. D. at the University of Michigan, and was subsequently a post-doctoral research fellow at Harvard University.
His primary research interests include East Asian security and development; the politics and foreign policies of China; political and strategic futures on the Korean Peninsula; and US policy in Asia and the Pacific. His publications include Strategic Surprise? US-China Relations in the Early 21st Century; Korea-The East Asian Pivot; Asia Eyes America: Regional Perspectives on US Asia-Pacific Strategy; and No Exit: North Korea, Nuclear Weapons and International Security. His current research focuses on the uncertainties and risks to regional order in East Asia.
Francesca Lovato, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Francesca Lovato is a senior Humanities major with a concentration in political science and minors in international relations and Asian-Pacific American studies. in her final year, Francesca is committed to researching with different teams she was introduced to in the political science department, such as StudyLA and GPI. This opportunity is her first time working professionally and collaboratively with other students and professors on research project in global affairs and local politics. Francesca hopes to gain a lot of experience through these projects and apply it to her future aspirations of studying law and becoming an attorney. She has developed a strong passion for the law and advocating for others who do not have a voice or a say in matters that impact them and their communities. Francesca is also interested in studying marginalized communities and how they become politicized, specifically the Latinx community. She hopes to learn more about how people utilize intersectionality within politics and where these groups make greater impacts in society.
Ben Johnson, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Benjamin Johnson is a fourth-year political science and urban studies student. His passions include criminal justice reform and combating housing injustice. Benjamin has previously worked on two Congressional campaigns in the Bay Area, as well as for the Labour Party in London. He first got involved in politics at age 12, thanks to his dad canvassing for city council candidates. At LMU, he is the Vice President of Ultimate Frisbee and a member of the Ignatians Service Organization. In his free time, he enjoys reading, riding his skateboard, and spending time at the beach.
Taylor Baul, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Taylor Baul is an International Relations major with a triple minor in Bioethics, Asian Pacific Studies, and Dance. She has recently worked with the Japan America Society of Georgia, collaborating with Japanese and American businesses to promote ties in social networking and international affairs. In the future, Taylor hopes to work in international security and peace-building.
Genelle Marshall-Singleton, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Genelle Marshall-Singleton studied Political Science. She is interested in addressing global challenges related to racial healthcare disparities through inclusive and equitable policy, which is why she balanced her studies with a minor in Biology. As a GPI fellow, Genelle is passionate about policy reform to improve healthcare outcomes and policies that enhance the quality of life for all. She aspires to be a prominent figure in the field of Public Health in her beloved home of Los Angeles, protecting its environment and the health of Angelenos. Genelle was an active member of the LMU community, serving as a reliable aid to the Political Science & International Department and as a Resident Advisor at the University.
Annika Lai, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Annika Lai studied International Relations. Driven by her interests in international politics and economics, Annika was passionate about exploring policy avenues to resolve global challenges. As a GPI fellow, Annika had a specific interest in global security and the forced migration of refugees. She upheld transparency, effective communication, and female empowerment as a GPI fellow and an aspiring lawyer. At LMU, Annika participated in service as a member of the service organization Gryphon Circle.
Samuel G. Baron, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Samuel G. Baron studied political science with a specialized focus on U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region. He previously served as an intern at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor where he worked to implement governmental human rights priorities for the Northeast Asian region. He was also a visiting researcher at Columbia University, where he took a graduate level course on Korean Politics and Foreign Policy at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). He currently interns at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bangkok, Thailand where he focuses on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and ASEAN cooperation in the region.
Virginia Laskodi, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Virginia Laskodi studied political science with a minor in business administration. She joined GPI in June 2017. In Fall 2018, she was the Global Policy Institute's Hansard Fellow, where she studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science and interned for a Member of Parliament for the United Kingdom. She also has interned for Senator Robert Hertzberg and was the Bill Fitzgerald Fellow for the Center for the Study of Los Angeles, where she researched ways to mitigate urban blight in Los Angeles. She is also passionate about advocating for better mental health resources.
Carlos A. Mesa Baron, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Carlos A. Mesa Baron is a Colombian-American who studied international relations and economics. His interests include international development and the collective advancement of the Western-Hemisphere. He previously studied at the London School of Economics where he specialized in economic policy and development. He also researched at the Center for the Study of Los Angeles and a UK-based think tank called Social Vision. He is an avid volunteer, having served migrant communities in London through the NGO Podium, mentoring and tutoring inner-city youth of Los Angeles at the Mar Vista Community Center, and with the Maria Luisa de Moreno International Foundation. His interests are promoting the unity and development of the American region through policy to promote stability and economic growth.
Tia Carr, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Tia Carr studied international relations and French while at LMU. Her two main passions are mitigating climate change and Middle Eastern politics. She spends time each week at Safe Place for Youth, a resource center for at-risk and homeless teens and young adults. Last summer, Tia contributed research on peacebuilding in Northern Ireland for GPI Senior Fellow Jennifer Ramos. Tia hopes to serve as an ambassador for the State Department or work with an NGO.
Ann Huff, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Ann studied political science major with minors in peace and justice studies and Chicanx/Latinx studies. With a commanding grasp of organizational leadership and a diverse background in the political atmosphere, Ann is passionate in empowering the next generation of female leaders. As a member of the United Nation's Girl Up Campaign, Ann has established herself as a prominent activist in national politics with lobbying experience on Capitol Hill. Following this experience, Ann was enlisted as a Congressional Intern for Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO, 5th District). At LMU, Ann committed herself to service by facilitating small group discussions and service trips through Campus Ministry and coordinating various philanthropic efforts through LMU Sorority and Fraternity Life.
Claudia Evans, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Claudia Evans was a political science student, with minors in international relations and Spanish. She is passionate about social justice and hopes to teach abroad.
Quinn McGannon, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Quinn McGannon graduated with a degree in international relations with a minor in German. Quinn’s main interests are human rights advocacy and development in Southeast Asia. Her mother’s experience as an immigrant from Southeast Asia has fed her desire to see and be part of the region's development. Quinn plans to pursue a master’s degree in global policy.
Veronica Backer-Peral, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Veronica Backer-Peral is a fourth-year film production, history, and computer science triple major. Veronica was on LMU's Election 2020 team and is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative University, where she is working to merge computer science with her passion for global policy in order to conduct an analytical comparative study of different healthcare policies. She is passionate about the complex relationship between the U.S. and the Middle East, the global rise of populism and extremism, and anything that merges various disciplines.
Sam Goodyear, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Sam studied sociology and international relations at LMU. In the fall of 2019, she studied and interned in London, working with a fundraising team to fund health research for unknown site-related conditions. She hopes to work in public policy, with a non-profit organization, or with an international organization.
Paul Fitchen, Former Undergraduate Research Fellow
Paul Fitchen is a second-year international relations student. His fascination with the major began at age four when he moved overseas to Oman. The 11 years he spent abroad in Oman, Libya, and Italy sparked his interest in addressing climate change and alleviating global poverty. His dream job is to one day become a foreign service officer in the State Department.
Declan Tomlinson, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Declan Tomlinson is a fourth-year international relations and economics student. Declan currently works with the USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security. Prior to this, Declan worked on multiple award-winning documentary productions. With his experience in media, Declan believes blending political research in a visual medium is vital to sharing politics to the general public. Declan is passionate about the climate crisis and degrowth economics. He enjoys long runs, surfing and backpacking.
Matt Lamantia, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Matt Lamantia is a fourth-year international relations student. Matt has a passion for documentary filmmaking and has worked with musicians, artists, businesses and brands to create short form video content over the last four years. He transitioned to focus on political science and aims to find the nexus between his documentary interests and GPI research. Matt focuses on East Asian affairs and has a special interest in global security. In his spare time, Matt is the president of his fraternity, a tennis player and a musician.
Kevin Errasquin, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Kevin Errasquin is a third-year international relations student with minors in history and french. Kevin is from Mexico City, Mexico, and he has a passion to learn about other cultures and research in the field of comparative politics. GPI Fellowship is Kevin’s first internship, and he hopes to attain professional experience from being able to work with researchers and policy-makers from all around the world. Kevin hopes to pursue a career in either international business, international security, or international law after graduating from LMU. Kevin is also a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity where he combines his passion for business and international relations.
Angelina Lin, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Angelina Lin is a third-year political science major and public relations minor. Angelina has previously interned at the largest circulated financial and economic newspaper in Taiwan and written for a student-run publication. Having spent half her life abroad, her interests include issues surrounding state sovereignty and diplomacy between non-state actors. On campus, she is involved in Asian Pacific Islander clubs, the Service Organization Community, and the Center for Service and Action.
Jose Miguel Lopez Arroyo, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Jose Miguel is a senior majoring in Psychology with minors in Spanish and Political Science from Porterville, CA. His long-term career goal is to study forensic psychology to work with the court system providing adequate psychological services to those in need. He has interned with the Sociology Institute of Research and Tenant's Law Firm providing him experience with research skills and data management. On-campus he is affiliated with Latinx clubs and is the current president of Sigma Lambda Beta Inc. Fraternity. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, playing spike ball, and soccer.
Christopher Yalda, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Christopher is a third-year philosophy and political science student. Christopher is interested in looking at the ways differing cultures interact with each other in both the political and ideological arena, and emerging digital privacy rights issues. Before the Global Policy Institute, Christopher worked internships in the legal field, and furthered his interests in environmental conversation by working for a land-conservation non-profit and leading a burned hillside restoration project following a devastating wildfire season.
Anushka Brito, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Anushka is a third-year political science student with a minor in Physics. Having previously worked on a congressional candidate's campaign, and with her current research on the fluids of astrophysical bodies, she would like to combine physics and political science to work on corporate law at a technology company or a patent law firm. On-campus, she is also a part of the Belles Service Organization and the Vice President of LMU's mock trial team. In her spare time, she enjoys figure skating, playing the piano, and learning new dishes to cook.