Hanny is an MPP student from Jakarta, Indonesia. She completed her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Peace Studies with a specialization in Reconciliation from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan.
Before graduate school, Hanny worked at J-PAL Southeast Asia, a global research organization with a mission to reduce poverty through evidence-based policy. There, she helped establish the first social science Institutional Review Board (IRB) in Indonesia at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (FEB UI), and served as the IRB Administrator for three years. During this time, she developed the university’s research ethics policy framework to ensure the protection of human subjects. Hanny was also part of J-PAL SEA’s Environment, Energy, and Climate Change policy team.
She has additional work experience in the edtech private sector and a human rights organization (Amnesty International).
Her policy interests include the intersection of gender and environment, particularly female labor policies, gender-inclusive policymaking, and inclusive environmental policies.
In her free time, you can find Hanny burying her nose in a good book, (trying to) train for a half-marathon, going to a yoga class, journaling, or finding a cat to “pstpstpstpst” to.
Varun Sen Bahl is an MPP student at Duke University. His areas of expertise include privacy, platform regulation, and AI governance. Prior to starting at Duke, he worked in technology policy in India as a lawyer, researcher, and public policy consultant for over 8 years. Most recently, he was a public policy manager at Nasscom, India’s largest tech industry association with 3000+ members, managing the government affairs and policy portfolio across regulatory issues. Before that, he worked as a research fellow at an autonomous institute under India’s Ministry of Finance and as a legal consultant to leading non-profits in India. He started his career at a regulatory law firm in India, where he advised the government on telecom policy and digital regulation. He holds a double bachelor’s in arts and law from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore.
Proudly hailing from the Duke City (Albuquerque, New Mexico), I’m excited to begin a dual degree MPP at Sanford and Master of Environmental Management at the Nicholas School. After graduating from Claremont McKenna College in California, where I ran long distance on the cross country and track teams, I served my home state as a staffer and speechwriter in the United States Senate for a little over a decade. My wife, Sarah, a Tar Heel (gasp), and our orange cat, Rudy, are also looking forward to joining me in moving further south from Washington, DC to Durham. We’re always game for outdoor adventures, trying new running trails, and sampling local food and breweries. My goal is to take all I learn here at Duke back home to New Mexico to help the state navigate the many friction points within the clean energy transition and climate change.
As public policy student, Swastika is focused on integrating evidence based policy making, accurate regulatory guidelines and plausible community based knowledge system to build impact driven models to meet emerging energy poverty while highlighting the possible usage of nuclear energy infrastructure. With a background of Development Policy, have contributed to designing and implementing projects on financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs and workers from unorganized sector in India. Swastika has experience with client management, field based studies and meeting overall programmatic aspects of a project.
Originally from Southern California, Samantha is a graduate of Wheaton College, where she received a B.A. in biblical and theological studies with a minor in environmental science. Before Sanford, Samantha worked as a regional manager with One Cool Earth, a non-profit organization providing garden-based science education programming to public schools on California’s central coast. With a strong conviction for environmental equity, Samantha is pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy degree at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy and is eager to begin a career in environmental policy. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Samantha can be found exploring local coffee shops, going out for a morning swim, hitting the trails for a run or bike ride, digging her hands through the soil, or sitting by the ocean.
Christian Chung, originally from Waxhaw, North Carolina, is a current student at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy pursuing a Master of Public Policy. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2024 with a B.S. in Biology, a B.A. in Public Policy (Science, Environmental, and International Development concentration), and a minor in Environmental Science. Throughout his undergraduate career, Christian embraced various roles in environmental engineering, science policy, public health, and environmental advocacy. His recent experiences include exploring water chemistry and developing novel purification technologies at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, analyzing inter- and intrastate PFAS (“forever chemical”) policies with the North Carolina Collaboratory, and conducting research at the Data-Driven EnviroLab related to climate policy, technology policy, and international development. Inspired by the balancing act between scientific ambition and practical policy, Christian aspires to pilot pragmatic and equitable solutions for environmental governance and diplomacy in his future career. Academia and work aside, Christian enjoys weight training, yoga, live music, traveling, and exploring new hobbies.
Jack is returning to Durham as an MPP ’25 Candidate after having graduated from Duke in 2019 with a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Environmental Sciences & Policy. Prior to his return to Duke, he worked as an commodities analyst at a Virginia-based energy firm and, later, as a policy analyst focused on power markets, clean energy, and electric vehicles at a DC-based firm. Continuing his interest in clean energy, Jack hopes to pursue a career in the industry after Sanford, particularly in the Southeast. In his free time, Jack enjoys cooking, swimming, and going to the gym, and is excited to return to Cameron Indoor in the fall.
Jacob is a Master of Public Policy Student, originally from Virginia Beach, VA. Jacob recently graduated from the University of Richmond with a double major in Leadership Studies and PPEL (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law). While at UR, Jacob completed several research projects, including an in-depth look at state legislator effectiveness in relation to their professional background, and an honors thesis examining the history, effects of, and potential solutions to racial residential zoning in Richmond. In addition to his academic pursuits, Jacob was a four year member of Richmond’s Cross Country and Track team. While at Duke, Jacob plans to study creative policy solutions to transportation, environmental, and economic development issues. Afterwards, he plans to return to Virginia and work in state politics. Outside of the classroom, Jacob enjoys running, boating, traveling, reading and listening to music.
Eric was born and raised in Tangerang, Indonesia. He is an alumnus of KL-YES student exchange program, hosted in Poulsbo, WA. He flew back to Indonesia continuing his undergraduate degree and earned his degree in 3.5 years majoring in Metallurgical Engineering from Bandung Institute of Technology. He has worked as foreign exchange specialist in one of the biggest international banks for 3 years and currently is working as a customs analyst in the Ministry of Investment/Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board. His expertises are around the areas of mineral processing, foreign exchange trading, business development, business licensing, government regulations and tax incentives. At the Sanford School of Public Policy, Eric aims to further develop his interest in the intersection of mineral downstream, economic and political policy analysis; being the bridge that connects between the high-level policymakers and the facts on the ground. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, painting, playing badminton, swimming and traveling.
Robert Ganzert is a former Producer for nonprofit advocacy, committed to international development and environmental policy. With MRB Productions, he produced nonprofit PSAs, brand anthems, and documentaries on nonprofit response during natural disasters.
His commitment to public policy began three years ago, as an Associate Producer for the award-winning wildlife documentary, Escape From Extinction Rewilding. His contributions to the film examined nature-based solutions, community-development, and the economic impact of biodiversity for countries including Rwanda, Brazil, Bolivia, India, Australia, the U.S., and others. His research assistance covered topics like biodiversity analysis, species statistical trends, conservation program(s) success rates, ecosystem services, and the economic benefits of conservation.
He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Minor in Spanish from North Carolina State University. At the Sanford School of Public Policy and beyond, he hopes to carve out microeconomic solutions for communities in the developing world. Aside from his studies, Robert enjoys learning new languages, nature walks, and a cup of coffee at Cocoa Cinnamon.
Hi! I’m a first-year MPP student and a local Durham resident. I’m interested in international environmental policy and the role it plays in natural resource management and global conflict. This interest was sparked by research I did at UNC-Chapel Hill on the link between water scarcity and farmer-herder conflicts in Burkina Faso. Before coming to Sanford, I worked as a management consultant for both private and government-sector clients with NTT DATA.
Will is a dual-degree MPP/JD (UNC) student from Richmond, Virginia (the only American city with Class IV rapids running through it!) and is thrilled to focus on climate change policy at Duke, with an emphasis on policy that helps marginalized communities suffering disproportionately from our quickly warming world. He majored in journalism and minored in Spanish at Northwestern University and is moving to Durham from San Francisco, where he spent the last few years working on the PG&E wildfire bankruptcy, helping to facilitate monetary awards to individuals affected by 2017 and 2018 California wildfires. He is an avid runner, traveler, college basketball watcher, and Spindrift drinker.
Born in Houston, Olivia Grobmyer spent most of her childhood in Texas, before going to college at the University of Chicago. She graduated from Chicago in 2024, majoring in Environmental Science with honors and Art History. Her passion for the environment was fostered with her extensive work at the Marine Biological Laboratory in wetland biogeochemical interactions as well as her analysis of tropical fish biomechanics. In these endeavors, Olivia has developed an understanding of the key role that humans play in the continuing vitality of the environment. Through her Master’s in Public Policy and Master’s of Environmental Management, she hopes to use science to make practical policy decisions that benefit our most vital ecosystems. In her free time, Olivia likes to cook, play golf, read, and hike.
Leo was born and raised in Beijing, China. He recently graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a double major in Political Science and Global & Regional Studies. Throughout his academic journey, he consistently made the Dean’s List. Leo’s public service experiences span multiple sectors, including non-profit activism, technology, sports, and hospitality. As a Youth Activism Intern at TurnUp Activism, he organized and hosted social justice events, conducted policy research, and created engaging social media content. He has a strong research background, which is highlighted by his project on the impact of China’s reform and the opening up of its economic development and global influence. Beyond academics and work, Leo is passionate about music and sports. He has performed piano with renowned pianist Richard Clayderman and won a silver prize in the National Youth Percussion Competition. In sports, he enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and chess.
I am pursuing a dual degree in a Master of Environmental Management and a Master of Public Policy at Duke University. I am passionate about sustainable food systems, conservation, and policy solutions to pressing environmental issues. When I am not working on an environmental issue, you can find me on the tennis court, traversing the outdoors either on foot or skis, or in the kitchen attempting recipes above my skill level.
Born in Detroit and raised in the surrounding area, I received my BA in Behavioral from the University of Michigan in December of 2023. Growing up with a single mom in a family dealing with the affliction of gun violence, empathy, peace, and justice have been at the forefront of my academic and occupational pursuits. My unique family structure laid the groundwork for my understanding of social inequality and community resulting in my lifelong commitment to public service. My first internship in Detroit’s City Council demonstrated the power, advocacy, and accountability that emerges from effective policy creation. I spent the next three years working in various nonprofits developing my understanding of the relationship between nonprofit and government organizations. I am coming to the Sanford School of Public Policy to exercise my passion to advocate for social and environmental policy. In my free time, I enjoy juggling, reading, and playing with my dog. I love the outdoors and like to hike and camp when I have the time.
Shanna Kim is a Greensboro, NC native and a 2024 graduate of Washington and Lee University where she double-majored in Anthropology and Politics and minored in Poverty and Human Capabilities Studies. Her interest in public policy was always present, but blossomed in her internship with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) in Washington, D.C. While transportation policy and concepts of mobility are still of interest to her, she is most interested in improving social safety nets specifically for individuals affected by a shift toward renewable energy. In her free time, Shanna enjoys leaving brutally honest reviews on Goodreads and playing her French horn.
Originally from the metro-Detroit area, Katie received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in 2015 with a double major in Political Science and French. Upon graduating, Katie worked for a public affairs firm on multiple local, state and national political campaigns, with a focus on increasing women’s representation in elected office. Katie truly began to deepen her interest in health policy as an AmeriCorps member with the Community Opioid Response program where she was a part of a statewide initiative to help local communities implement strategies to reduce opioid misuse. For the past five years, Katie has worked at a local public health department in Colorado as a tobacco prevention policy specialist, and as a part of the COVID-19 emergency response team.
In her free time, you can usually find Katie outside: running, camping, hiking, skiing and, recently, growing an overwhelming number of tomatoes in her garden.
Caitlyn grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, and attended the University of South Carolina, where she graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications and a Graphic Design minor. Caitlyn worked in several marketing roles in sports and entertainment, financial services, and telecommunications before shifting her focus to public policy. Caitlyn is a dual-degree student at the Sanford School and Duke Law School and is interested in environmental and social issues. Caitlyn is passionate about animals and regularly volunteers to foster senior dogs from her local animal shelter. In her free time, Caitlyn enjoys exploring the outdoors, doing yoga, sewing, reading, and relaxing with her husband and their dog, Toby.
Kali is from Liberty Lake, Washington and received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics-Environmental Studies from Whitman College in 2023. She also completed a minor in Anthropology. During her college career, Kali worked with a local environmental non-profit on stream and riparian restoration in the Walla Walla area in Washington state. Prior to joining Sanford, Kali was an AmeriCorps member at an environmental organization focused on increasing climate literacy in the Spokane area. During her time with AmeriCorps, Kali worked with teachers and developed a deep interest in integrating climate-focused curriculum into K-12 classrooms. In her free time, Kali enjoys reading, waterskiing, and hiking with her dogs, Remi and Otis.
Jessica Ostfeld is a dual Master of Public Policy and Master of Environmental Management student at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and Nicholas School of the Environment. She is committed to developing herself as a leader and advancing fair, evidence-based policies that protect natural resources and public health.
Prior to Duke, Jessica cultivated expertise in government communications and outreach with a focus on environmental issues. At the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), she served as Statewide Outreach Coordinator, leading dozens of agency outreach events and developing department-wide outreach resources and guidance. She previously supported invasive species management as WDFW’s European Green Crab Outreach Specialist. Jessica also completed two AmeriCorps terms with the National Park Service and Puget Soundkeeper and is an Albright Fellow.
Originally from Washington state, Jessica holds a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Wellesley College and a GIS certificate from the University of Washington.
Juan Pablo García is an MBA-MPP dual degree student at Duke University, specializing in budget, finance, and taxation, with a keen interest in environmental and climate policy, and technology for development. Originally from Colombia, Juan Pablo earned his undergraduate degree in Business Management, achieving a top 99.9% percentile score on Colombia’s national undergraduate assessment, akin to the SAT. Before joining Duke, he leveraged his expertise in the office furniture sector, focusing on entrepreneurship and business management. Committed to meaningful public policy reform in Colombia, Juan Pablo aims to tackle crucial issues such as economic sustainability and technological integration in development. His leadership extends to various community and professional groups, where he advocates for inclusive and effective solutions.
Maddie is a first Masters of Public Policy student at the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy. She is particularly interested in post-conflict reconstruction and state-building, exploring how peace, security, and energy intersect in shaping resilient states. Originally from the beautiful Truckee, California, she earned her bachelors degree in General Biology with a minor in Statistics from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and then joined the United States Peace Corps as a Secondary Education Science Teacher in the Adamawa region of Cameroon. Most recently, she has been in Boston, Massachusetts working in clinical trial management and regulatory affairs within the Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology and Information Center. In addition to being a superfan of David Fincher, in her free time she loves to climb mountains and visit historic US landmarks.
Nora Salitan is dual degree candidate at the Sanford School of Public Policy and Duke Law School. She is a native New Yorker. After graduating from Columbia University in 2021 with a degree in Comparative Literature, Nora worked at a refugee resettlement agency for three years. Nora is passionate about immigrant justice, and understanding how migration and displacement are impacted by forces such as climate change, international policy and international law.
Shen Shen is a dual-Master’s candidate in Public Policy and Environmental Management. Originally from Chengdu, China, She graduated from Duke Kunshan University with a B.A. in Political Economy. Shen currently serves as the Vice President for GPSG. Last year as the GPSG Director of Events, she has prioritized cross-school engagement and creative event design—most notably through leading the 2024 GPSG Winter Formal, which welcomed nearly 500 attendees across all 10 graduate and professional schools.
Shen aims to address the world’s most pressing challenges, particularly by promoting environmental consciousness through cross-cultural dialogue. Her roles as Co-President of the Duke-China-U.S. Summit 2023 and Vice President of the Scholars of Finance (Duke Chapter) have solidified her belief in the transformative power of cross-national communication for fostering mutual understanding and productive cooperation. Following her work as a 2022 UN Millennium Fellow, where she focused on energy transition and environmental protection, Shen continued her leadership journey in 2023 as the sole Team Lead from China on the Global Admission Committee, optimizing the 2023 Millennium Fellowship review process. In 2024, Shen’s story was featured in Duke Kunshan University’s ‘Dialogue of Civilizations Around Us’ publication, recognizing her as a vital voice in shaping the university’s interconnected global community. Shen’s commitment to community development extends to gender equality, next-generation education, and wellness promotion. She co-founded the inaugural Duke Kunshan ‘Women in Leadership Summit’ to empower future female leaders on campus. Additionally, her dedication to dancing has served as a means for expressing emotions and alleviating stress.
Alex grew up in Elm Grove, Wisconsin and graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT where she studied Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Science. Before coming to Duke, she worked as a Product Manager at a software startup in Boston. She is interested in building a career in policy, environmental justice, sustainability, and urban planning, and excited to be doing a dual MPP and MEM at the Nicholas School. In her free time, Alex enjoys running, hiking, kayaking, cooking, and trying new hobbies.
Olivia is a current Duke senior from Los Angeles, CA, who is starting her MPP as a part of Sanford’s 4+1 Accelerated Masters Program. On campus, Olivia works at the Goodson Law Library, volunteers at the Durham Animal Protection Society, and is a part of Muse Magazine. Olivia’s interests include environmental health, reproductive justice, sex work decriminalization, and animal welfare, and she hope to do advocacy work after Duke. In her free time, Olivia enjoys reading, crocheting, going on walks, and hanging out with dogs and cats.
Anna is originally from Sacramento, CA and obtained her B.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, she worked extensively with women and people with disabilities on public health and economic development projects. Prior to becoming a Sanford student, she managed nonprofit operations and advised philanthropists in issue areas ranging from early childhood health to rainforest conservation. Anna is passionate about equitable economic development and affordable housing in particular. In her free time, Anna enjoys taking jazz dance classes, hiking to waterfalls and peaks, and reading historical fiction.
Stephanie was most recently the Chief of Staff at Public Rights Project (PRP), a national non-profit that helps local governments fight for civil rights through legal advocacy, capacity building, and litigation. At PRP, Stephanie worked closely with the leadership team to deliver on its theory of change, led multiple multi-year strategic planning processes, and helped manage the organization as it tripled in size during her tenure. Previously, Stephanie was a management consultant where her projects focused on large-scale transformations, change management and communications, and process improvement. She earned her bachelor’s degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business (Class of 2019).
Stephanie grew up in New Jersey but spent the last decade living in New York, where she has volunteered with various grassroots organizations to advocate for environmental and climate justice at the city and state level. She is excited to join Sanford to build on these experiences and help stop the climate crisis through policy change.
In her free time, Stephanie loves working on her Cantonese, film photography, drawing/painting, exploring third spaces, and being in nature.
Janice Ye is originally from Beijing, China but grew up in New York. She graduated from University of Washington in 2022 with a degree in political science, focusing on political economy. She is passionate about helping the communities in need and climate change. She has participated in numerous internships and research projects that extend to various fields, such as social justice, international development, and global finance governance. From helping children from immigrant families to gain education resources to analyzing the impact of international development policy on Subaltern Amazonian communities, Janice is aspired to promote ethical and sustainable development. Pursuing an MPP degree at Duke University, Janice strives to advocate for community-based policies and to find a healthy balance between economic development and the welfare of local community. In her free time, Janice enjoys swimming, dancing, and stand-up paddling.
