Congratulations to our Spring 2025 Writing Fellows!
Our Writing Fellowship is one of our longest-running programs, dedicated to training and developing young writers, helping them hone their voice and learn the ins and outs of effective writing, pitching, and communicating. Interested in joining our next Writing Fellows cohort? Sign up here to be notified when the applications open!
First off, get to know our D.C.-based Fellows!
Chad Kunkle
Chad Kunkle is a recipient of a B.S. and M.S. in International Affairs from Florida State University and a former intern at the Hudson Institute. Chad currently works as a research analyst in the private security sector, and recently completed the Marcellus Policy Fellowship with the John Quincy Adams Society. Chad has experience publishing writing covering foreign policy and national security, and aims to continue and expand upon that work.
Dylan Landon is an incoming Master of Science in Applied Economics student at Johns Hopkins University, with a passion for analyzing how economic policies impact consumers. His work focuses on simplifying complex economic policy issues, making them accessible to everyone. In pursuit of this goal, he is launching The Economist Attorney, a news platform dedicated to delivering data-driven, straightforward commentaries and policy analyses. Through his writing, Dylan seeks to bridge the gap between academic research, public policy, and public understanding.
Jack Baum is a State Affairs Coordinator for Americans for Tax Reform, a Washington D.C based advocacy and policy research organization founded at the request of President Ronald Reagan. He holds a degree in economics and political science from American University in Washington, D.C.
Jeff Mayhugh is a husband, father and Christian. He is a civic educator and political reform advocate dedicated to strengthening American democracy through better representation, as the founder of The Madisonian Republicans and Vice President of No Cap Fund. Jeff works to promote Madisonian principles of extending the sphere and shared authority. With experience in grassroots organizing and a deep interest in congressional reform, he emphasizes the importance of increasing representation to combat political dysfunction and populist instability. His work highlights the need for informed, engaged citizens and serious leadership in governance. Jeff is also active in his community, volunteering at church and school libraries and hosting a story time called the Very Flannel Dino at local coffee shops.
Lilah Kimble holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from Washington and Lee University, where she also minored in Mass Communications and Creative Writing. Lilah recently interned and contracted at the Cato Institute with Libertarianism.org, and she is currently interning at the United States House of Representatives. Lilah is deeply committed to spreading the libertarian principles of individual liberty, free markets, and limited government.
Lucia Orlandi is an editor and ghostwriter at Keybridge Communications, a public relations firm in Washington, D.C. She was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Richmond, where she studied philosophy and politics. She writes at luciaorlandi.substack.com.
Patrick McFarland is a tech professional by day and a student by night. With a strong appreciation for culture, international relations, media, and politics, he has taken various classes during his graduate tenure at Georgetown University. Before his graduate studies, he worked forthe Department of State, spent a year as an AmeriCorps volunteer, and was a Capitol Hill intern.
A military brat, Patrick attempts to look at every situation with nuanced patriotism and an open mind. He tries to approach everyone with empathy, nuance, and wit. When he is not working or studying, he enjoys reading, trying to hone his comedic skills, and hunting for new music. He always tries to master new Commonwealth accents and maintain his basic Spanish.
Mia Azizah is a communications project manager at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition in Washington, D.C. She graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in political science. Previously, she wrote for the two largest newsrooms in her home state, Nebraska, the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal, where she covered local community engagement, breaking news, and the State of Nebraska Legislature. Mia began her involvement in campaign work by volunteering with Senator Deb Fischer’s and Congressman Bacon’s re-election campaigns. As she continues to adjust her life in D.C., she’s glad to be surrounded by a liberty-minded community and any chances to hone her writing skills.
Aidan Grogan is a history PhD candidate at Liberty University and the donor communications manager at the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER). He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in English from Liberty. Prior to joining AIER, he was the development writer at the Illinois Policy Institute. A contributor with Young Voices, his work has appeared in The Daily Wire, The Federalist, The American Spectator, RealClearMarkets, RealClearHealth and AIER’s The Daily Economy. Follow him on X @AidanGrogan.
Amanda Peterson is a conservative content creator focused on topics such as internet fraud schemes on her true crime podcast, as well as political strategy and foreign policy on her Tik Tok page. Amanda seeks to teach her audience about complex topics in an easy to understand, approachable format.
Anna (AJ) Given is the Executive Assistant to the Chancellor at the Institute of World Politics, an independent graduate school of statecraft and national security. She also works as a Regional Director for the Network of Enlightened Women. Her research and writing interests include irregular warfare, great power competition, strategic influence, and the defense industrial base. Her work has been featured in RealClearDefense, the Daily Signal, and the Lone Conservative. When she is not working, AJ enjoys studying vexillology, cooking, and swing dancing. AJ graduated from the School of International Service at American University with a B.A. in International Relations. This year she will receive her M.A. in National Security from the Institute of World Politics.
Corey is a speechwriter and strategic communications specialist within the Executive Office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In this role, he spends every day contributing to the mission of protecting freedom and advancing conservative principles for the people of Florida. He previously served as a research analyst with the Government Accountability Institute, where his research focused heavily on government corruption and foreign influence. He also has extensive experience working on campaigns at the local, state, and presidential level. Corey earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science and his master’s degree in Applied American Politics and Policy from Florida State University. During his free time, he enjoys staying active, spending time in nature, traveling, and rooting for his alma mater.
Garrett W. Fulce hosts “Seeing Red,” a Texas politics podcast, and owns Fulce Consulting LLC, a Houston-based public relations and campaign consulting firm. He has a track record of helping conservative Republicans secure victories at the local, state and national levels.
Jovan Tripkovic is an outreach coordinator at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal and a freelance journalist covering religion, politics, and international relations. He was an editorial fellow at Religion Unplugged, focusing on Orthodox Christianity. Jovan holds master’s degrees in European and Global Studies (University of Padova) and Political Science
(University of Wyoming), where he was a teaching assistant. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Caldwell University. A former Shaftesbury Fellow at the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy and Wilbur Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center, his work has appeared in Religion Unplugged, Inside the Vatican, The American Conservative, and American Habits.
Kristin Loewen is a student at Regent University. She is earning her Master’s degree in Government with a concentration in International Relations with aspirations of earning a Ph.D in Government. Kristin has held positions as an intern at The Family Research Council, on Capitol Hill, and the Leadership Institute. She also spent three election seasons working on various campaigns as a contractor. She has written speeches for official events for the U.S. Senate and has even written a couple of Congressional Records.
Naomi Grant Risch is a research associate at Do No Harm. She holds a bachelor’s from the University of Maryland in Government & Politics and Spanish and a master’s in international relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), with concentrations in security and Latin America. Naomi resides in Tampa, Florida with her husband and dog.
Harini Gunasekaran is a recent undergraduate student at Knox College, majoring in Political Science and Economics, and an alumna of the London School of Economics (LSE). She previously interned at the Cato Institute, where she primarily worked with the Public Opinion Department, analyzing voter behavior and public sentiment. Harini is passionate about improving accessibility in housing and healthcare markets, advocating for policies that address systemic barriers in these sectors. This fall, she will be continuing her graduate studies in policy, furthering her commitment to evidence-based solutions for social and economic challenges.
Ann Phelan leads R Street’s Media Relations team, which promotes its research, scholars, and brand to a variety of audiences. She also helps create new products that amplify the organization’s presence with key audiences and assists the Communications director in executing comprehensive communications strategies. Ann joined R Street in 2018, working for the Editorial and Communications departments. Prior to that, she spent nearly four years as communications manager at the Eno Center for
Transportation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and anthropology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Ann lives in Chicagoland with her incredibly patient husband, two adventurous boys, and a troublemaking rescue mutt.
Michael “Mike” Hernández is a Master’s of Public Policy and Master’s of Divinity candidate at the University of Chicago focusing on urban policy and the role of religion in American public life. At the University of Chicago, he is an Events and Voting Ambassador at the Institute of Politics. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a dual degree in Political Science and Economics in the Honors Program, with minors in English and Urban and Community Studies. On-campus, Michael served as the Student Body President, Founder of the Undergraduate Political Science Association, the Vice-President of the Connecticut Young Democrats and a regular contributor to the Undergraduate Political Review, the Business Review and the student newspaper. Off-campus, Michael has worked on various political campaigns, the U.S. Census, the Stamford Housing Affordability Study, and the historic Afford to Dream Act. Most recently, he was a Policy Fellow at NextGen Chamber of Commerce. His interests in public policy include housing and urban development as well as promoting civic engagement at the municipal level, which are reflected in his honors thesis. In his personal time, Michael enjoys photography, going out for runs and spending time on Long Island Sound with his family. After completing his time at the University of Chicago, he hopes to serve in the U.S. Navy, attend law school and enter public service in his hometown. Michael calls Stamford, Connecticut home.
Freda Donnelly
Susanna Edgecomb is a fiancée, an Alabama resident, and an aspiring writer. Since graduating from the University of Alabama in December of 2023, she has worked for the Leadership Institute cultivating conservative influence on college campuses across the south. With this fellowship she hopes to gain the courage to publish opinions and document culture and policy from the conservative perspective.