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.
Hi, I’m Tergel Batnyam from Mongolia. I have four years of experience in civil society in Mongolia, focusing on human rights advocacy. I worked at Amnesty International Mongolia, where I contributed to policy work and public campaigns. I’m particularly interested in technology policy and its impact on human rights and society.
Born and raised in North Carolina, Fleming has been passionate about politics and policy since his second grade class election, in which (tragically) Al Gore did not win the popular vote. After graduating from Sewanee with a BA in Political Science, he spent the next five years working on Democratic campaigns across six states, managing organizing teams, mobilizing voters, and twice attempting to elect the first woman president of the United States. He then worked at a political tech startup and for a progressive advocacy organization. During those two years, he worked to integrate the use of technology and data science into the work of movement building at the local and national level. He is excited to return to the classroom and explore how better technology policy can strengthen our democracy. In his spare time, he enjoys board games, cooking, trying new restaurants, and greeting dogs on the street while ignoring the humans attached to them.
Jesse is a Virginia native and graduated from Berea College, where he studied political science. Before coming to Sanford, Jesse worked as an AmeriCorps member and Civic Engagement Project Leader for City Year, an American education nonprofit organization. At City Year, Jesse was regularly in elementary schools, aiding classroom instruction and developing students’ math and literacy skills through learning activities. At Sanford, Jesse aims to pursue policy research and opportunities related to technological innovation and technology’s growing presence in other industries nationwide. In addition to his studies and career aspirations, Jesse’s hobbies include biking, jogging, cooking, collecting comic books, and playing video games.
Aliya is originally from New Jersey and graduated with her B.A. in Criminology along with minor studies in Psychology and Law & Society at the University of Pennsylvania in 2024. Her research interests are in social policy focusing on criminal justice and social justice. She also is interested in exploring opportunities in data science and technology policy. Aside from academics, Aliya is a track and field athlete who specializes in sprints and hurdles.
Akil grew up in Columbus, Ohio and received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University in 2018. Over the past seven years of U.S. government service, Akil has worked in various roles writing analytic assessments, briefing senior policy customers, and forging relationships with the U.S. government community on emerging technology issues, including biotechnology and AI. In his free time, Akil enjoys playing tennis/soccer, hiking, dancing, and watching Bollywood movies!
Shezaz is originally from Calgary, Canada, and grew up in Houston, TX. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2019 with a degree in chemical engineering, minors in government and French, and a certificate in global business. Shezaz spent 4 years working as a management consultant with Accenture in both Houston and Washington, DC, focusing primarily on state and local government clients. Prior to his career in consulting, Shezaz interned with the Brookings Institution in their Center for Technology Innovation; at Sanford, he hopes to continue to learn about tech policy issues, particularly around emerging technologies.
Ryan is a North Carolina local. After receiving his Bachelors in Public Health at East Carolina University, he went into the non-profit sector where he has spent the last seven years working with children and teens with special needs. Ryan has always been interested in politics. However, his interest in transitioning to a career in policy developed out of a desire to enact big picture change while working within North Carolina’s mental health system. Ryan is deeply passionate about democracy and using policy to safeguard democratic values, particularly in regard to technology and the spread of disinformation. In his free time, Ryan enjoys exploring new restaurants, reading, hiking, and playing video games.
Mariam Jugeli – Originally from Georgia, a small country in the Caucasus region, with a double master’s degree in Strategic Communications and Governance and European Studies from Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences and Tbilisi State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Free University of Tbilisi. With over seven years of experience working on youth empowerment, civic and community engagement, non-formal education, and development programs across local and international organizations. At Sanford, I aim to strengthen my knowledge in technology policy, a critical and rapidly evolving field with significant room for growth in developing countries. Beyond my academic interests, I enjoy expressing myself through creative writing, playing the piano, and participating in structured debates.
Before joining the Duke MPP program, Muniba Khan worked as a senior analyst in custom software engineering, supporting a state government client’s e-procurement system to improve the allocation of public resources. She earned her B.A. in Computer Science in 2020 and has conducted research using computational and statistical methods to explore policy questions related to equitable voting access and community mapping. Her interests include the ethical governance of emerging technologies, strengthening democratic systems, and advancing social welfare policy.
Sue is an MPP/MBA dual degree student at Duke Sanford School and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. She was born in Korea and received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Korea University. With over 8 years of work experience in eocnomic journalism, she specializes in tech, ESG, and the global economy. Finding solutions to the problem of fake news is her recent interest.
Teresa Nicole Meloni, a spirited advocate for change and a dedicated dog mom, hails from the expansive landscapes of Utah, where she cultivated a deep appreciation for community, nature, and the interconnectedness of global issues. Guided by an unyielding passion for effecting meaningful societal change, Teresa embarks on a bold new journey into the realm of public policy at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy. Driven by an innate desire to challenge the status quo, Teresa’s journey into policy is propelled by her unwavering belief in the power of empathy and grassroots activism. With a background steeped in the art of listening and motivating others, she envisions herself as a catalyst for positive transformation, harnessing her outspoken nature to champion the voices of the marginalized and underserved. Teresa’s boundless curiosity and adventurous spirit find expression in her multifaceted interests, ranging from international policies to the intricacies of food systems within the United States. Inspired by visionaries such as Michael Pollan, Joel Salatin, Terence McKenna, and Alan Watts, she seeks to unravel the complexities of global governance and sustainability, viewing the United Nations as a beacon of hope for fostering collaboration and dialogue on pressing global issues. Beyond her academic pursuits, Teresa is a firm believer in the power of human connection and collaboration. She thrives in environments where ideas are shared, friendships are forged, and collective action is ignited. Whether engaging in spirited debates over a cup of coffee, collaborating on side projects, or honing her skills on the pool table, Teresa approaches each endeavor with boundless enthusiasm and a commitment to making a difference. As she embarks on this transformative journey at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy, Teresa remains steadfast in her resolve to harness the tools of policy to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world for generations to come. With her compassionate heart, unwavering determination, and irrepressible spirit, she is poised to leave an indelible mark on the field of public policy and beyond.
Marcella Mercer is originally from Nebraska, but has most recently called Denver her home. Before coming to Duke, she served as project manager for the Colorado Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery, where she supported the state’s work in managing billions of dollars of federal stimulus funds. Prior to this role, she taught 6th and 7th Grade Reading and Social Studies in Denver Public Schools. Her investment in her students led her classes to achieve up to two times the national average growth in reading skills. She was also awarded a Fulbright fellowship to teach students and develop educational programming in Malaysia in 2019. Marcella graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a journalist, she wrote for state and national newspapers. Her work was featured in The Atlantic’s “More than 100 Exceptional Works of Journalism” and has earned several national honors, including “Story of the Year” at the Hearst Journalism Awards. In addition, she was a team member on a project that won the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Journalism Grand Prize.
Rushabh (Rush) Patel was born and raised in Macon, Georgia. Rush’s passion for public policy and law drew him to Washington D.C. where he attended The George Washington University, graduating summa cum laude with a double major in International Relations (Security Policy Concentration) and Political Science. Having started in high school, Rush has been involved in public policy for almost nine years, and has had the opportunity to work with public and private stakeholders at the local, state, national, and international levels. Over the years, he has researched and worked on a variety of domestic and international issues such as youth civic engagement, infrastructure and workforce development, the COVID-19 pandemic response, finance and banking, judicial analysis, tech innovation and artificial intelligence, human and civil rights, conflict resolution and diplomacy, international terrorism, military strategy, and transatlantic and transpacific partnerships. At the Sanford School of Public Policy, Rush plans on focusing on the intersection of law, national security and foreign affairs, technology policy, and ethics. Outside of his professional life, Rush loves to work with and mentor youth, play and watch sports, read philosophy and nonfiction, watch and make films, travel, and cook.
Emmanuel “Manny” is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, pursuing an MPP at the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2023) with a B.A. in Political Science, a minor in Professional Writing (Business Communication concentration), and a professional certificate in Technology Management. While at UC, Santa Barbara, Manny was a delegate for the University’s Lobby Corp — clinching financial aid reform through new eligibility standards, making 71,000 new students eligible for state financial aid, while also securing $20 million in state funding for UC Student Academic Preparation & Educational Partnerships Programs. His honors thesis implemented an experimental design to examine the administrative burdens that stymie enrollment in Medicaid while testing the effect of digital nudges to improve enrollment intention and perceived application ease.
Experienced in program management and strategic government advisory services — whether it is cloud-based customer re-uptake solutions or empowering firms to achieve their operational and business-development needs through regulatory and legislative strategies — Manny applies a people-first approach to cross-sector innovation.
He currently serves in the Office of Performance & Innovation for the City of Durham’s Department of Budget & Management Services, where he is responsible for data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and innovative policy research for citywide performance measurement and management efforts. This includes innovation strategies, continuous improvement measures, and civic engagement practices that draw on insights from public-private partnerships to power local solutions and drive better results for residents.
As a former first-chair violinist, Manny is passionate about orchestral performance and music production. His time as a D1 soccer player with UC, Santa Barbara Men’s Soccer team has sustained his love for sports performance, psychology, and nutrition. In his free time, Manny enjoys spending quality time with family, viewing and discussing thought-provoking cinema, serving as a social media brand ambassador, and biking along the Triangle’s many greenways and trails.
Trevor Phelps is an incoming Master of Public Policy (MPP) student in the Class of 2026. He brings professional experience in trade secret and intellectual property protection, specializing in preventing economic espionage. His policy interests include foreign affairs, national security, and emerging technology.
Grant was born and raised in Bryan, Texas. Less than a mile away from home, Grant attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 2024. During his time at the Sanford School of Public Policy, he hopes to implement the quantitative skills he learned while earning his Bachelor of Science and simultaneously further his analytical training taught through a variety of coursework. While earning his bachelor’s degree, Grant served on several local and statewide campaigns in his home state of Texas. Additionally, he was accepted into a six-month internship in Austin during his state’s 88th legislative session. It was there that Grant commuted daily between the offices of various elected officials and his own at the Texas A&M University System Office of State Relations. The time that he spent in that role gave him an invaluable perspective regarding government policy and the passing of legislation. Whether it’s in the public or private sector, Grant wants to employ the analytical and critical-thinking skills taught at the Sanford School to help solve problems entrenched in the world of public policy.
Kyana is from Orange County, California. She graduated with her BA in Political Science from UCLA in 2021, where she was a Model UN nerd and a writer at the Journal of World Affairs. She is currently a research analyst at a government affairs and policy intelligence company. She also has teaching and tutoring experience through charter schools and nonprofits. She hopes to continue to navigate the intersection of policy, technology, education at Sanford.
Gabriel relies on a multidisciplinary background to bridge the gaps between abstract, ethical principles and concrete technical standards. He holds a B.S., in Philosophy, a B.A. in Religion and Spanish, and a B.A.S. in Software Development. At Sanford, he is learning how to support public interest technologies across government, industry, and society. In graduate school and beyond, he’s working with technology that is scientifically promising and ethically fraught. Gabriel is an avid musician, enjoys cooking for friends, and takes any opportunity to share his love for biking and public transit with anyone who’ll listen.
Lucas graduated from Cornell University in 2022 with a major in Industrial and Labor Relations and Minor(s) in business—and separately—in healthcare policy analysis & management. Thereafter, Lucas enrolled in the dual degree program held co-jointly by UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law and Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.
