Leadership

Executive Board

President, PSSA

Leann Qadan

Leann Qadan is a senior at SEAS, majoring in Industrial Engineering on the pre-law track. Born in Maryland and raised in Dubai, she is passionate about bridging the worlds of technology, policy, and global affairs. She has pursued this passion through advanced work in AI governance and tech policy research for the European Union Delegation to the United States. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic, and currently studying Hebrew, Leann values cross-cultural dialogue and international collaboration. She hopes to combine her engineering training with her interest in law and global affairs to pursue a career in foreign policy. In her free time, Leann enjoys exploring New York City’s food scene, reading, and biking around the city.

Vice-President, PSSA

Liam Dreyer

Liam Dreyer is a junior at Columbia College studying Political Science with aspirations of pursuing a career in law. He focuses on municipal politics and serves on nonprofit and local government boards to promote student engagement. Over the summer, he worked as a Legal Intern at a Michigan District Attorney’s Office, gaining firsthand experience in public service and the legal system. Liam is also the Officer At-Large for the Top of Michigan Trails Council, Operations Coordinator at Government for Tomorrow, and an Online Writer for the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review.

Christian Rebolledo

Christian is a Mexican-American sophomore from Las Vegas, Nevada studying Political Science and Medical Humanities at Columbia College. He is passionate about student government, leadership, community development, and policy as it pertains to the healthcare sphere. More specifically, Christian is passionate about the inequities of biotechnological accessibility and the crisis of medical mistrust. On campus, Christian is on the Columbia Democrats Advisory Board as the Social Chair, the CU Journal for Global Health, BOLD, and the Columbia Policy Institute.

Treasurer, PSSA

Elaine Wen

Elaine is a junior in Columbia College studying Economics-Political Science, with a minor in Philosophy. Being from Waterloo, Canada, the birthplace of Blackberry, Elaine is fascinated in exploring the intersection between technology, policy, and society. Her experience spans the political science sector, having worked with the New York Times' White House Correspondent on AI, been a youth delegate to the UN, interned at a law firm, coordinated a successful city council campaign and co-chairing a youth council. After graduation, Elaine hopes to attend law school and pursue diplomacy centering foreign policy, innovation advancement and elevating international cooperation.

Rita Bennani

Rita Bennani is a sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University majoring in Political Science and Economics, with a strong interest in the intersection of finance, law, and economics. She is particularly interested in how legal and regulatory frameworks shape markets, guide corporate decision-making, and promote equity in global contexts. On campus, she serves on the Speaker Series team at the Columbia Political Union (CPU), where she helps bring policymakers and practitioners into dialogue with students on pressing legal and political issues. As the MENA Representative for Columbia Academics in Foreign Affairs, she also serves as a Columbia Campus Ambassador for The Women’s Network and is a member of the CU Pre-Law Society and UNICEF. Rita also coaches Debate for Youth, where she mentors students in structured argumentation and public speaking. Through these experiences, she seeks to better understand how law operates as both a regulatory tool and a mechanism for shaping economic and political systems. Rita hope to pursue a career at the intersection of finance and law.

Mutashma Shaaf

Mutashma Shaaf is a sophomore at Barnard College from Long Island, NY. She is prospectively double-majoring in Comparative Literature and Political Science and is particularly interested in history and human rights. In her spare time, Mutashma enjoys watching movies, hanging out with friends, and trying matcha spots around the city.

Events Director, PSSA

Hugo Sharkey

Hugo Sharkey is a sophomore student at Columbia College majoring in Political Science on a pre-law track. Born in Sydney, Australia, Hugo is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and climate action. His experience of the climate-induced "black summer" bushfires inspired him to help found and lead one of Sydney's largest high-school environmental advocacy groups, INSECT, uniting more than 17 high-schools to promote, volunteer, and fundraise for environmental conservation. In 2024, he founded his school's Environment Club, driving long-term investment in sustainability consulting, the creation of a sustainability committee and the installation of solar panels. In 2025, Hugo joined the Australian Labor Party, campaigning for the Hon Kristy McBain MP in the Australian federal election. Beyond PSSA, Hugo is the President of Carman Hall, a Staff Writer for the Columbia Political Review, a member of the Columbia Policy Institute, an avid debater and public speaker, and a singer in the Columbia-Barnard Chorus. Hugo's experience pushing for real-world impact has rewarded him with a strong set of values, an appetite for hard work and an open-mind- assets which he brings to his work with Professional Affairs at PSSA.

General Board

Daniela Marekova

Daniela Marekova is a senior at Columbia College double majoring in Political Science and Cognitive Science. She is passionate about foreign affairs and global politics, which she explores academically as well as outside of the classroom through internships and extracurricular activities. Whether it is through the Model UN team at Columbia, the secretariat of CMUNNY, or classes focused on international relations, she enjoys being an active and involved member or Columbia's Political Science community.

Connor Mattox

Conner Mattox is a sophomore student at Columbia University planning to major in Political Science-Economics and Philosophy. He has served on the Governor’s Advisory Board to Virginia, the YMCA USA Advisory Board, and as a Civic Innovators Fellow, gaining experience in policy development and community engagement. Conner has also contributed to youth-led legislation in Virginia, advocating for stronger mental health resources in schools and more inclusive approaches to education policy. At Columbia, he is excited to build on this background through research, collaboration, and student leadership. His passion lies in advancing human rights and expanding democratic access, with a particular focus on how young people can help shape political systems. Conner is eager to bring that passion to the Political Science Students Association and to support meaningful dialogue within the Columbia community.

Murphy Wilkinson

Murphy Wilkinson is majoring in Political Science and pursuing the Special Concentration in Business Management. He has a passion for politics and history, which he hopes will play some role in his future career. After graduating, Murphy plans to either work in finance or a political consulting firm in New York with the ultimate goal of attending law school. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, hanging out with friends, and exploring the city.

Sawyer Blass

Sawyer Blass is a sophomore at Columbia College, planning to major in Economics–Political Science. Born and raised in Singapore, Sawyer is deeply passionate about international relations and their global impact. In Singapore, he worked with the Democrats Abroad Singapore Caucus to help American expats register for absentee ballots ahead of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. On campus, he hopes to join the Undergraduate Recruitment Committee as a campus tour guide and become involved with political organizations such as CU Dems, Polis, and ColumbiaVotes. In his free time, Sawyer enjoys reading, thrifting, and exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants around the city.

Asma Aouissi

Asma is a sophomore at Columbia College, double-majoring in Political Science and Human Rights. Born and raised in New York and of Algerian heritage, she is passionate about international affairs, advocacy, and creating spaces where diverse communities can connect and thrive. She founded MyKitab Publishers, a dual-language publishing company that bridges Arab and American communities through literature, and previously co-founded her high school's first alumni network, reconnecting 800+ graduates across 20+ years. On campus, she is actively involved in Turath and the Muslim Student Association. As a board member of the PSSA, Asma is excited to help foster accessible and engaging opportunities for students to explore their interests in political science.

General Board Member, PSSA

Genevieve Saylor

Genevieve Saylor is a first-year at Columbia College studying Philosophy and Political Science. She is a proud first-generation student from Mesa, Arizona. She is interested in pursuing a career in law and is especially passionate about the intersection of legal studies, politics, and the ethical foundations of ancient Greek philosophy as they relate to law. Moreover, she is excited to contribute to the political science community, and looks forward to contributing her insights to the PSSA. Beyond academics and work, she enjoys exploring New York City and discovering new hobbies.

Emersen Panigrahi

Emersen is a senior at Columbia College majoring in Political Science. She is particularly interested in the intersections of women’s rights, health advocacy, and the law. She is excited to be a part of PSSA and explore her interests in Political Science!

Saud Shawwaf

Saud is a senior in CC, majoring in political science and middle east studies. He has grown up between Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Connecticut, and is passionate about US foreign policy. He speaks Arabic, French, and English, and is director of communications and recruitment at CU Turath.

Nathan Kalhan

Nathan is a sophomore Columbia College student majoring in political science and philosophy from Cleveland, Ohio (though he lived in China for six years). He has a background in boots-on-the-ground political campaigning, voter registration, research, and civil-rights law. In his free time, he loves lifting, going out and trying new foods, traveling, or chilling at home.