Sanford Students interested in Policy Generalist
Morgan Alexander
morgan.alexander@duke.edu
Originally from Houston, Texas, Morgan Alexander was raised overseas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Ankara, Turkey. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2022 with a double major in Atmospheric Sciences and Geography. Through her participation in internships and research projects, she has solidified her passion for environmental advocacy and awareness. Whether it was seeking the best approach to communicate Georgia’s extreme weather and climate events to the public, discovering methods of water purification for rural towns in Haiti during a NSF REU, or creating and analyzing climate normals for islands in the Pacific Ocean while interning for NOAA in Honolulu, Hawaii, she has learned and seen how she can apply new insight to communicate and help people being influenced by increasingly significant issues concerning our environment and natural resources. Pursuing both a Master’s of Public Policy and a Master’s of Environmental Management, Morgan hopes to help in mitigating the climate crisis as well as aid in the transition to clean energy. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, discovering new restaurants, and going to concerts.
Quincy Foster
quincy.foster@duke.edu
Quincy Foster grew up in Los Angeles and attended the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2021. During her undergraduate career, Quincy became interested in policy work through an internship with the Oakland Mayor’s office, where she supported projects ranging from addressing housing issues to helping the city recover from COVID-19. After graduating, Quincy moved to Washington DC where she worked at a public affairs firm on advocacy and communications projects. In her free time, Quincy enjoys reading, traveling, playing and watching sports, and spending time with friends.
Rachel Lipofsky
rachel.lipofsky@duke.edu
Rachel received her B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University at Bloomington in 2021. Prior to joining Sanford, she worked as a Research Associate at NORC at the University of Chicago and volunteered for the Election Protection coalition at Common Cause. Rachel is originally from Southern California, but has also lived in Carmel, Indiana and Atlanta, Georgia.
Jonathan Pyka
jonathan.pyka@duke.edu
Jonathan is a proud first-generation college student who completed his BA in Community Governance and Advocacy at Michigan State University in 2022. He also holds an associate degree from Washtenaw Community College. He comes to Sanford after spending the last 10 years working in southeast Michigan as a paramedic and EMS instructor, along with experience in education policy. His policy interests are varied and cut across the areas of health, social, and environmental policy. In his free time he enjoys cooking & baking, gaming, and numerous outdoor activities.
Kevin Schmidt
kevin.schmidt@duke.edu
Kevin is a Virginia native who graduated from James Madison University in 2017 with a B.S. in Quantitative Finance, minors in Economics and Mathematics, and a concentration in Risk Management. He joins the MPP class after five years in the secondary mortgage market at Freddie Mac where he worked in multiple roles across Single Family, Multifamily, and Investments and Capital Markets divisions. His most recent role was as a deal manager on Freddie’s Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities issuance desk. His policy interests are centered around climate, housing, transportation, and their intersection. In his free time, Kevin loves anything outdoors including motorcycle touring, hiking, mountain biking, and camping.
Kalysta Strauss
kalysta.strauss@duke.edu
Kalysta is a JD/MPP dual degree student. She graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University in 2021 with a B.Sc in psychology, a minor in statistics, and a certificate in SAS Programming and Data Analysis.
Kalysta has professional experience as a projects and data analytics coordinator for a start-up hedge fund, the development coordinator for ReThink Energy Florida a 501(c)(4) organization, a recruiting manager intern at ISGF, a caregiver for a woman with special needs, and a legal assistant at a criminal defense firm. She has spent time volunteering as a Guardian Ad Litem, an adult literacy tutor, and a data analyst for the Florida Restorative Justice Association.
Kalysta hopes to pursue a career as a legislation consultant for nonprofits, political organizations, and advocacy groups.
Keanu Valibia
keanu.valibia@duke.edu
Keanu Valibia is an MPP/MEM dual Master’s student, pursuing an emphasis in Energy & Environment. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems from University of California, Riverside in 2017, Keanu worked across a span of roles in technology, media, and nonprofits. His most recent work was with the International Organization for Migration and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, where he provided program consulting services to create and implement an international disaster relief coordination program for the Philippines. Outside of work and school, Keanu is a huge film buff and is constantly looking for new hobbies and crafts to learn about (his current obsessions are writing, Formula One racing, and 3D modeling).