Government Majors Committee

Government Majors Committee, 2024-2025

The Government Majors Committee collaborates with department faculty to plan, promote, and host events. Events include Pizza with a Professor, faculty panels on current events, political theory roundtables, and Q&A sessions with alumni and guest speakers. Committee members also play a key role in the department’s Open House, meeting with prospective majors to share advice and answer questions. Committee members, along with the department, host a Declaration Celebration for new majors.

Co-chairs:

 

Committee Members:

Leonidas Boutris (2027)

I am a rising junior at Wesleyan University majoring in Government with an interdisciplinary focus in comparative politics. My academic interests center on the intersection of international relations, political theory, and economic development, with particular attention to how institutional structures and government regulations impact the economy, public and private markets. I have interned in financial services for two summers at Morgan Stanley and will be interning at K&L Gates for summer 2026.

Peyton Brill (2026) pbrill

I am a senior majoring in Government (American Politics focus) and Theater. Outside of the classroom, I am a Marketing Manager as well as an actor in the student-run theater group, Spike Tape, and a part of both The Argus and Arcadia Political Review. Furthermore, I am a Tour Guide at the Office of Admissions and a Barista at Pi Café.

Milo Chamberlin (2026) mchamberlin

I am Milo Chamberlin, a rising junior, double-majoring in Environmental Studies and Government with a concentration in Political Theory. As a COE fellow this summer, I studied how the Los Angeles City Council's political patronage devalues community efforts to conserve the Mountain Lion. In the upcoming fall, I will study abroad in Tanzania and investigate the effect of democratic backsliding on the land rights of the Massai tribe. I am particularly interested in Foucalt’s theory of biopolitics which explores how political institutions, by manipulating people's bodies and behavior, also manipulate their minds. Through the framework of biopolitics, I hope to better understand how the global bourgeoisie constructs national identities and consumer cultures by erasing traditional indigenous knowledge. 

Cecilia Briana Foldessy-Stiegemeier (2026) cfoldessystiegemeier

I am a junior majoring in Government (Comparative Politics). I am an international student from Hungary and plan to study abroad in Paris in the spring.

Isabella Hosey (2026)

Hi, my name is Isabella Hosey, and I am a senior double-majoring in Comparative Government and Anthropology. Outside of class, I am a part of Wesleyan's Chapter of the ACLU and the Wesleyan Democrats. I am also a teacher in a dance club on campus. This past summer, I had two internships. For the first half of the summer, I worked as a legal intern for a securities litigation firm before I became a student intern at the New York City Family Court through the New York Unified Court System's student aide program. After graduating, I plan to work as a paralegal before attending law school to become a public interest lawyer, in hopes of becoming an immigration lawyer or a capital defense attorney. 

Jake Karmin (2027)

My name is Jake Karmin, and I’m a rising junior majoring in Government (American Politics) with a minor in History. This past summer, I interned at a personal injury law firm (Steinger, Greene & Feiner), which solidified my interest in the field of jurisprudence. On campus, I serve as one of thirteen voting members on Wesleyan’s Community Standards Board; in addition, I am a member of our Varsity Football team. For this upcoming Winter and Spring Semesters, I have been selected to study Political Science at Dartmouth College through the Twelve College Exchange Program. After graduation, I plan to pursue a J.D. and a career in corporate law.

Danni Lewis (2026) dmlewis

My name is Danni Lewis, and I am a senior concentrating in American Politics. This summer, I worked with the SKDK firm, partnering with clients within the education and political sectors to manage branding and strategy. I applied my previous experience at Fenton Communications, where I was involved in pitching and media outreach for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. As part of that role, I facilitated interviews with news outlets and researchers. In 2023, I worked as a Development intern at the Harlem Children’s Zone, focusing on nonprofit outreach and funding. Last fall, I studied abroad at University College London in the Political Science department.

Katherine LoCasacio (2026) klocascio

My name is Katherine LoCascio and I am a rising junior (Class of 2026). I am pursuing majors in History, Psychology, and Government with an American Politics concentration. In the spring, I will be going abroad to Greece with the College Year Athens program. I work with the Wesleyan Media Project and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. This past summer, I was a legislative intern in Congressman Eric Swalwell's D.C. office, where I found a passion for researching legislation and writing policy recommendations. I am a co-president of Wesleyan's Outing Club and am involved in WesACLU. After graduation, I plan to return to Capitol Hill and eventually pursue a law degree. 

Oona Meier (2026) omeier

I am Oona Meier from Brooklyn, New York. I am a junior and majoing in Philosophy and Government with a concentration is in Comparative Politics. In exploring the Government major, by taking classes in each concentration, I have found some of the most inspiring professors and peers. I am excited to develop my Comparative Politics studies at Wesleyan this year, and as I study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the spring.

Montana Gura (2027)

My name is Montana Gura (she/her), and I am a rising Junior majoring in Government and minoring in Human Rights Advocacy (with a potential additional minor in environmental studies or planetary science). Presently, I work as a Legislative Intern for Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro in her Washington, D.C. office. I am deeply passionate about community organising, political engagement, social justice and environmental advocacy, and all things music. At Wesleyan, I serve as a WSA Senator on the Equity and Inclusion Committee, an Editor for the Wesleyan Human Rights Policy Review, the Financial Manager and an Event Coordinator for The Shed, and I lead Uproar Collective. Additionally, I work for the Office of Residential Life as a Residential Advisor and for the Office of Student Involvement as a member of the Concert Committee. Further, I work as a Live Sound Engineer for Sound Co-Op, a driver for the WesGo community rideshare service, and as a childcare provider. Concurrently, I volunteer for political campaigns, write/play/perform/record/mix/release music with my band montana&thescarf (among other bands, and individually), and host a radio show as a DJ on WESU 88.1 FM Middletown. In all of my work, I dedicate myself to upholding the values of universal design, equity, empathy, creativity, and curiosity.

Riya Patel (2026) rpatel

My name is Riya Patel and I am a rising junior at Wesleyan University. I am double majoring in Government (with a concentration in American Politics) and Psychology. This past summer, I interned with Sewa International's South Jersey Chapter, focusing on community outreach, event planning, and fundraising initiatives. At Wesleyan, I’m an active member of Shakti, the South Asian student association, as well as Cardinal Kids, Traverse Square, and Food Rescue. This fall, I’m excited to further my studies in both Government and Psychology by studying abroad in Copenhagen through the DIS Program. I am particularly looking forward to discovering how the intersection of these two disciplines fuels my passions for mental health advocacy, political psychology, criminal justice, and policy analysis.

Sofie Reitema (2026) sreitema

My name is Sofie Reitema, and I am a junior majoring in Government (International Relations). I am also majoring in Economics and minoring in Data Analysis. This past summer, I interned at a local bank, Northern Credit Union, supporting their Owner Solutions team and learning about the world of banking. I’ve previously interned with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, where I was able to learn about inter-governmental operations and helped support the completion of various reports. This spring, I plan to study abroad in London, England where I am excited to further my studies in international relations. At Wesleyan, I work with the University Network for Human Rights as a GIS assistant. I have a passion for international law and politics, which makes me excited about the opportunity to take more international relations classes at Wesleyan and abroad in the Spring.