Leadership
Executive Board
President, PSSA
Skylar Young
Skylar Young is a senior at Columbia University, double-majoring in Political Science and Sociology on a pre-law track. As a first-generation student from rural Indiana, she is dedicated to fostering engagement and inclusion within the political science community through organizing events with the department and other on-campus organizations. In addition to her role as President of the Political Science Students Association, Skylar serves on the Undergraduate Recruitment Committee leadership team and is a tour guide, a Free the Facts ambassador and two-time fellow, and member of the Columbia Lions cheer team. She has worked in all three branches of government, including interning for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of NY, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Spencer County Circuit Court. Skylar is excited to lead PSSA through another impactful year and continue developing campus-wide collaborations and professional opportunities.
Vice President, PSSA
Ishita Mishra
Ishita Mishra is a third-year at Barnard College from Menlo Park, CA. She is double-majoring in Political Science and Economics and is particularly interested in the intersection of health economics, healthcare policy, and patient advocacy through marketing and organizational strategy. She has explored these interests through internships in biotech and nonprofit advocacy, including work with Soleno Therapeutics and The Borgen Project. On campus, she is involved in the Columbia University Impact Investing Network (CUIIN) and the Columbia Economic Review (CER). In her free time, Ishita enjoys thrifting, pickleball, baking, and exploring new restaurants in New York City.
Treasurer, PSSA
Chinh Le
Chinh is a third-year student in Columbia College majoring in Economics-Political Science with a minor in East Asian Languages and Culture. As an immigrant from Vietnam, he is interested in socio-economic policies in the post-colonial era among Asian countries. On campus, Chinh is a member of Pi Lambda Sigma and the Vietnamese Student Association. He has interned with Harris County, MiFamiliaVota, and is currently volunteering as a First-Year College Success Coordinator with EMERGE Scholars.
Secretary, PSSA
Leann Qadan
Leann Qadan is a third-year student 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.
Events Coordinator, PSSA
Samantha Tarlowe
Samantha is a Junior from Sammamish, WA. She attends GS/JTS studying Political Science, Psychology, and Jewish Studies. She is interested in law, government, and politics. She is on the Columbia Cheerleading team, the Director of Sisterhood of SDT, the Vice President of Order of Omega, and is involved in various other clubs on campus. She has interned for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in both Seattle and New York City. She has a desire to attend law school and is particularly interested in American Politics. She hopes to work in DC at some point and is excited to meet other political science students!
Public Relations Director, PSSA
Liam Dreyer
Liam Dreyer is a sophomore 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.
Professional Affairs Director, PSSA
Saiyedul Hamid
Saiyedul Hamid is a senior at Columbia College studying political science. Specializing in American Politics and International Relations, Saiyedul enjoys exploring the domestic and international intricacies of law, policy, and enterprise. On campus, he is involved in several initiatives and organizations such as the Pre-Law Society and Alexander Hamilton Society. Off campus, Saiyedul has interned with several government agencies and law firms ranging from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP to the New York State Attorney General’s Office. In his free time, Saiyedul enjoys playing basketball, visiting parks, and watching documentaries.
General Board Members
General Board Member, PSSA
Viviana Flores
Viviana Flores is a senior in Columbia College studying Economics and Political Science. After graduation, she hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in Corporate Litigation. Last summer, she interned in the Finance Bureau and Economic Crimes Division at the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office. More recently, she was a Finance Intern for Laure Gillen’s congressional campaign (NY-04) and a Legal Recruiting Intern at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. On campus, she has served on the e-board for several organizations, including IGNITE, Mentoring Youth NYC, and Columbia Women’s Club Basketball. Viviana is originally from Danbury, CT and loves spending time with her family at their restaurant back home, being active, reading, and binge watching Friends and Grey’s Anatomy.
General Board Member, PSSA
Daniela Marekova
Daniela Marekova is a junior 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.
General Board Member, PSSA
Amelia Aleman
Amelia Aleman a senior in CC studying Economics and Political Science with a minor in Psychology. She was born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua, and moved to New York City for school. She is on the prelaw track and has completed multiple internships as a paralegal, primarily in immigration.
General Board Member, PSSA
Connor Mattox
Conner Mattox is a first-year 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.
General Board Member, PSSA
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.
General Board Member, PSSA
Hugo Sharkey
Hugo Sharkey is a first-year 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 Member, PSSA
Elaine Wen
Elaine is a second year 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.
General Board Member, PSSA
Patricia Bessie
Patricia Bessies is a senior at Columbia University majoring in Political Science with a special concentration in Public Health. As a FGLI student on the pre-law track, she is particularly interested in the intersection of education policy and health outcomes. She has explored these interests through internships in law and nonprofit advocacy, including work with The Portela Law Firm P.C. and the NYCLU. On campus, she is involved in the Columbia Pre-Law Society and the FLI Network. In her free time, she enjoys café hopping around New York City, playing water polo, and thrift shopping for home decor.
General Board Member, PSSA
Chloe Rotonda
Chloe Rotonda is a freshman at Columbia College from New York City, planning on majoring in Political Science and Philosophy on the pre-law track. She is interested in American politics and international relations because she is drawn to issues of justice, governance, and the ways law shapes both domestic policy and global affairs. She explores these interests academically as well as through campus involvement with ColumbiaVotes and the New York Small Claims Advisory Service at Columbia. She looks forward to pursuing opportunities that connect her studies to real-world advocacy and to preparing for a future career in law and public service.
General Board Member, PSSA
Sawyer Blass
Sawyer Blass is a first-year 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.
General Board Member, PSSA
Christian Perez
Christian Perez is an undergraduate student at Columbia College, Columbia University, pursuing a dual major in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Mathematics. Originally from Maywood, New Jersey, he is passionate about driving meaningful change within his community and beyond. Christian is dedicated to fostering inclusive, engaging, and impactful environments for his peers, aiming to make a lasting difference both on campus and in society at large.
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.
General Board Member, PSSA
Emersen Panigrahi
Emersen is a junior 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!
General Board Member, PSSA
Saud Shawwaf
Saud is a Junior 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.
General Board Member, PSSA
Christian Rebolledo
Christian is a Mexican-American first-year student 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.
General Board Member, PSSA
Amanda Hui
Amanda Hui is a first-year student at Columbia College, planning on studying Political Science and Economics, with a minor in Visual Arts. She was born and raised in Queens, NYC, and hopes to pursue a career in government. She has interned at her local representative's office (NY-06) where she gained firsthand experience connecting constituents with federal services and observing the impact of public service at a community level. At Columbia, she is involved in organizations such as Columbia Political Review, Pre-Law Society, and Model Congress. Outside of academics, Amanda is on the Ultimate Frisbee team and is passionate about creating art in unique forms including photography, linoleum printing, and sculpting.
General Board Member, PSSA
Mutashma Shaaf
Mutashma Shaaf is a freshman 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.
General Board Member, PSSA
Asma Aouissi
Asma is a freshman 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.