Congratulations to Our Spring 2024 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. The Spring 2024 cohort represents 34 young professionals from 15 states and D.C. 

Interested in joining our next Writing Fellows cohort? Sign up here to be notified when the applications open!

First off, our D.C.-based Fellows!

Max Bluestein is a Senior Advisor at INTERPOL Washington, with a portfolio including government affairs, domestic and foreign police partnerships, and public affairs. He is a policy and public affairs expert with leadership experience at the federal, local, and private sector levels, including at four U.S. Department of Homeland Security components and in the Intelligence Community. He served as the DHS Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications during one of the most trying times in the Department’s history and was later detailed as a Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security. He also served as a Senior Advisor in Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention Policy at DHS and as an Assistant Director in the Strategy, Policy, and Plans branch of the Office of Naval Intelligence. He received his B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Georgia, his M.A. in Middle East Studies from Ben Gurion University in Israel, and is a graduate of the Executive Leaders Program at the Naval Postgraduate School.

At Stand Together, Darien Contu lives at the crossroads of their vision and strategy for education. In her role, she spends her days communicating about their vision, designing learning experiences and materials, and driving collaborative projects across their working group. She operates with intense customer focus and a passion for learning. She enjoys building relationships, always embraces adventure, and has an unquenched curiosity. Originally from small-town Avoca, NY, she enjoys city life in Washington, DC. She has an B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from The King’s College, NYC and an M.A. in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University. In her spare time, you can find her roaming around a bookstore, drinking iced lattes, writing for her substack Zesty Bookworm, playing board games with her husband, exploring local playgrounds with her son & daughter, or planning their next family adventure.

Ben Dennehy is the Communications Director with the American Consumer Institute where he works with the broader team to advance communication initiatives for the Institute. Prior to coming to ACI, Ben worked at Young Voices within their external communications team and completed the Koch Associate Program. Ben has also worked within policy administration at the Australian Embassy to Washington, DC and brings a unique perspective to the ACI team, witnessing firsthand the impact government policy can have on individuals, families and businesses across the globe. Completing a Bachelors in Political Science from the Australian National University, Ben has applied his professional and academic experience to make an impact to policy formation and execution in the US.

Nischal Dhungel, a Nepali native, boasts over five years of experience in Development Economics, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL), and holds a Master’s in Economic Theory and Policy. His interests span various economic topics including budgeting, debt dynamics, inflation, and labor market analysis. He possesses expertise in gender analysis and social inclusion, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and participatory approaches. As a founding member of the Commission on Economic Development at Alumni for Liberty, he has organized policy events in Washington DC, and engaged in a series of meetings with the US Senate Office and the US State Department, advocating for financial inclusion and individual rights. He has delivered presentations on economic development in Nepal, comparing it to other South Asian countries, for the US State Department’s entry-level to mid-career diplomats. As a non-resident fellow at the Nepal Institute for Policy Research, he has contributed to flagship publications like the Nepal Competitiveness Index and the Digital Competitiveness Index. Dhungel has authored numerous Op-eds in both national and international outlets.

Jacob Fox is an economics major at Hillsdale College, currently interning for America’s Future in Washington D.C. Fox has conducted political research for the British Parliament and the President’s Office at Hillsdale College. He is a George Washington Fellow at Hillsdale and a Don Lavoie Fellow at the Mercatus Center, continually developing ideas on political economy and free market economics. Fox is also a writer for Young Voices and has been published in the Courier Journal and the Collegian. His interests include urban planning, government accountability, and free market solutions to complex problems. Jacob Fox lives in Louisville, KY when he is home from college.

Heberto Limas is currently a fellow at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Shreck, focusing on international and defense policy. Previously, he worked as a management consultant at Bain and Company focusing on the aerospace and defense industry. He also was a fellow at National Defense Industrial Association, where he focused on identifying key issues in the defense industry. Heberto started his career as an investment banking analyst for Goldman Sachs. He holds a master’s in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School and a bachelor’s from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Heberto is a Colorado native and lives in Arlington, VA.

Martin Makaryan is currently a Master’s student at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University where he focuses on Security, Strategy, and Statecraft with a regional specialization in Europe and Eurasia. A Staff Writer at the SAIS Observer, Martin routinely writes for both the student journal and outside outlets on various topics related to international affairs, U.S. foreign policy, Turkey, and the Caucasus. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and Global Affairs from UCLA where he served in student government and the Political Science Undergraduate Council and was a writer for the Journal on World Affairs at UCLA. Martin has previously worked in local and state government in California, for various non-profits and trade associations, and was recently an intern at the American-German Institute in Washington, D.C. Originally from Yerevan, Armenia, Martin is interested in exploring new topics related to U.S. domestic politics, the intersection of society, culture, and politics, political movements, and the impact of domestic politics on foreign policy.

Josh Meyer is a Policy Analyst at ALEC’s Center for State Fiscal Reform where he works to apply the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism to issues like taxes, state debt and government spending. He also assists with ALEC’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force. Josh grew up in Orange County, California before moving to Utah for college. His experience at ALEC began with an internship while still a student. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in Quantitative Analysis of Markets and Organizations, Josh returned to ALEC as a full-time member of the team. His work has been featured on the ALEC blog and he has contributed to many of the organization’s economic policy publications. Outside of the office, Josh can often be found training for his next marathon, hiking in the wilderness, or enjoying a book on political philosophy.

Alexandra Morar is an Ohio native and currently teaches third grade and Spanish in the DC area. She graduated from Waynesburg University in May of 2022 with a B.A. in History and Political Science. She spent last year traveling Spain/Europe and writing of her travels. Along with teaching, Morar currently acts as a freelance writer to share others’ faith and personal stories. Her interests in writing include culture, storytelling, and investigative journalism. Morar wrote and edited for Waynesburg’s Yellow Jacket Student Newspaper and currently has the blog “Never Not a Nomad.” In her free time, she enjoys busking in the streets with her violin and volunteering at an immigration legal aid facility.

Rich Sill is a Technology Policy Intern at Reason Foundation and a contributor for Young Voices, and is looking forward to being an America’s Future Writing Fellow soon. His policy interests include data privacy, online content moderation, artificial intelligence, and so much more. He has a Master of Public Policy with a focus in Space, Science and Technology policy and previously interned at the Cato Institute and Americans for Tax Reform doing tech policy. Aside from politics, Rich is an avid baseball fan. Both a stats nerd and a history buff, he enjoys applying his geekdom towards the game he grew up playing, coaching and umpiring, especially when his beloved New York Mets are on.

Corey Walker is a Washington, D.C.-based reporter who focuses on institutional capture, education, and public safety. He has written for the Daily Caller, contributed to C3 Solutions, and has worked with the College Fix and Young Voices. He has a B.A. in history from the University of Michigan.

Matthew Philip Wee currently serves as a Foreign Affairs Officer for the United States Department of State. Previously, he served for 20 years in the United States Marine Corps as an Active-Duty Marine as an Administrative, Training & Operations, and Foreign Affairs/Security Cooperation Specialist. After the Marine Corps, he served for a year as a Hill Vets Defense & Veterans Congressional Fellow in the United States House of Representatives for a Member of Congress. Matthew was also a Senior Events Program Planner Contractor for Human Domain Solutions, supporting the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of the People, originally from San Mateo, California, and currently lives in Washington, D.C.

Now meet our virtual Fellows!

Maria Amare is a lawyer and is currently working as an Outreach Associate at the Foundation for Economic Education. Originally from Venezuela, she had to escape the horrors of socialism as a result of her pro-liberty activism and now resides in Spokane, Washington state. As an Outreach Associate, she works closely with schools and school districts to promote financial literacy, government, and economics programs to middle school, high school, and college students. She was a Generation Liberty Fellow of the State Policy Network in 2023. She is also the Co-founder and Leader of the Ladies Of Liberty Alliance chapter in Venezuela and Washington state. Maria has served as a speaker in dozens of conferences related to economic, financial and business education in terms of promoting a freer society in the U.S and Latin America.

Mr. George Artem came to the United States as a child from the Soviet Union in 1991. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Washington and maintained a tumultuous career in information technology before finding recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. In 2020, George self-published “Mania”, a collection of topical social commentary, written in the years that followed his experience with pre-trial solitary confinement. In the same year, he earned a scholarship to study law on the East Coast. In 2021, George returned to Seattle and developed a passion for serving others in the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, AmeriCorps program. After an independent run for public office, George continues to serve veterans at the Shoreline Veterans Center where he helps run a drug and alcohol recovery program for previously unhoused service members. George writes about recovery, spirituality, mental health and topical political affairs.

Joe Bursley is the Digital Media Specialist for the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee. Throughout the 2022 election season, Joe worked with multiple candidates to create social media messaging and advertising throughout their campaigns. He also coordinated grassroots efforts with field staff and volunteers to promote individual contact with voters across 25+ Statehouse districts in Indiana. Before this role, Joe served as a communications intern at the Indiana Statehouse for the House Republican caucus. Joe graduated summa cum laude from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications. He currently lives in Fishers and is the current Political Director of the Indiana Federation of Young Republicans.

Shobha Dasari is the Co-Founder of Flair Health, a virtual platform offering nutrition counseling and health coaching services for patients with chronic conditions. Her career has focused on bridging the gap between technology, innovation, and policy in healthcare, and she believes deeply in the synergy of the private and public sectors. She authored “Hacking Healthcare,” a book about utilizing technology to improve the “user experience” of healthcare, and her commentaries about public-private partnerships have been featured in the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature. Shobha has advised U.S. Congress policymakers on AI in healthcare and supported over 500 early-career health technology professionals by founding the Cura Partners community. Shobha graduated from Stanford University, where she studied Computer Science and earned recognition as a Fulbright Scholar Semi-Finalist. She lives in San Francisco and enjoys exploring coffee shops, learning new dance styles, and volunteering in her community.

Benjamin Dixon was born in North Carolina. A veteran of the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division and French Foreign Legion, he served in the Afghanistan War from 2008-2009. Ben currently serves as the Veterans Committee Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation. He is passionate about history, philosophy, theology, geopolitics and grand strategy, and enjoys writing about these topics on Substack and elsewhere.

Seamus Duffy is currently a research associate at the Hoover Institution focusing on the finances of America’s state and local governments. Previously, he worked as a staffer for U.S. Senator Ben Sasse in his Omaha office. During his time in both positions, he has worked extensively with representatives of state and local governments across the country to advise in the creation of financially-sustainable fiscal policies. His works on public finance, retirement reform, and global infrastructure initiatives have appeared in Hoover Press, Boston Globe, The Diplomat, and Social Science Research Network. He is a graduate of Creighton University and a sixth generation South Dakotan.

Rae Easley is a sociopolitical conservative thought leader from the Austin community on Chicago’s Westside. She is the hostess of Black Excellence Hour, Chicagoland and iHeartRadio’s only urban conservative show, Sundays at 5pm on WVON 1690 am Chicago. Since December 2020, P Rae has been building the urban conservative base with a message of self esteem and patriotism because “the Negro is American as sweet potato pie” with the reminder that the Negro is a unique hybrid of African, European, and Native bloodlines exclusively found in the North American country called the USA and 100% American. She earned a BS in Finance from Hampton University, and an M.Ed from UIC with a focus on language, literacy, and culture. She is also a co-founder of IQRA Bilingual Academy, Africa’s first and only international bilingual Islamic school with American accreditation with a current student population of 1000 from 35 nationalities.

Ethan David Eichhorst holds a Bachelors of Arts in History from Sam Houston State University with research in the Chinese Communist Revolution. After college, Ethan served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) in El Paso, Texas where he gained experience in non-profit fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and marketing. Ethan is currently studying to attain his Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA).

Shakira Jackson, a University of Pittsburgh alumna with a BA in History and Political Science, pursued a MA in Government at Georgetown University and is a Law Student at Liberty University. Her academic journey reflects her dedication to understanding societal and legal complexities. In her professional role, Jackson has led research workshops to support low-income families and individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges, aiming to provide comprehensive support for recovery and growth. Jackson is also committed to community service, focusing on uniting environmental and mental health coalitions for collective progress in Philadelphia and Washington, DC. As a Policy Analyst, she influences policy decisions by engaging with legislators to address social justice issues. Her extensive campaign work and research have made her a motivated individual with a strong work ethic, dedicated to community organization and the well-being of society.

Donald Kimball is the Communications Manager at Washington Policy Center, a free-market think tank based in Seattle. He graduated summa cum laude from Northwest University with a degree in Political Science, where he also served in various leadership roles, including as a part of the debate team and as Student Body Vice President. He is an alumnus of the Young Voices Contributor program, having been published in multiple outlets including National Review. Other professional experience includes working as an administrator for Advent Anglican, a Culture Guide and Teacher for ESL students, an Assistant Market Research analyst, and spent time working on various political campaigns within Washington State. He is happily married to his best friend Alexa.

Maggie Lamaster is the Marketing Programs Manager for e4health, a healthcare solutions company. She is Co-Chair for the Communications Committee of HFMA’s Southwest Ohio chapter and has recently joined America’s Future. Her previous roles advanced marketing and sales initiatives for large healthcare organizations. With a passion for writing and seeking knowledge, Maggie has written for a few small publications and was a writer for WEVV-TV. She holds an undergraduate degree from University of Southern Indiana and a graduate degree from Longwood University. Although she and her fiancé live in Ohio, she was born and raised in Indiana and is still a proud Hoosier at heart.

Matthew Mastronardi resides in Spokane, Washington. He is a dedicated husband and father. Currently, he is a high school Spanish teacher in the public school system. Prior to this role he was an active duty medic in the United States Air Force. Busy with family life, Matthew typically spends any free time he finds reading or writing. Developing his skills as a writer is something he aspires to do and hopefully be able to use it as a professional one day spreading ideas of truth and liberty.

David Mathisson is a Fullbright Scholar currently conducting research on the Hungarian-Israeli diplomatic relationship in Budapest, Hungary. Prior to his Fulbright Scholarship, David worked as a strategic communications advisor and ran a professional proofreading business in which six proofreaders worked under him. David has served in multiple higher education administrative jobs through which he was able to gain a deep understanding of the higher education policy environment. In those positions, David personally implemented a carbon-saving energy plan, key components of his institution’s academic policy response to COVID-19, housing subsidy reallocations saving students over $2,000 per year impacted, fiscal oversight reforms creating nearly $60,000 in total annual savings, and a $224,000 annual compensation plan for 115 student workers. David’s research prior to the Fulbright has discussed strategies to optimize organizational operations and evaluated the effectiveness of decentralized economic activism. David has previously been published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Anthony Miragliotta serves on the Leadership Council for the America’s Future Northeast Regional Hub, helping to spread the AF mission across nine states. He is a regular contributor to the AF Blog where he writes primarily on professional development and policy. Previously, Anthony worked on the successful re-election campaign for New Jersey State Senator Holly Schepisi. Miragliotta has worked extensively on various political campaigns. Anthony is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of New Jersey Outlook on Substack and the Host of The Anthony Miragliotta Show on Spotify, bringing honest and authentic journalism to New Jersey. Anthony received his degree in Political Science from Ramapo College in 2021. A proud New Jersey native, Anthony enjoys spending his summers at the Jersey Shore, trying out a new recipe in the kitchen, and rooting for his favorite sports teams; the New York Yankees and the New York Giants.

Lisa Noeth is a tenacious grassroots leader, entrepreneur, political commentator, and artist. She is dedicated to her work in becoming a leading voice and on-air political analyst, representing young adults and Asian Americans by spreading the message of America First policies for the upcoming 2024 Presidential Elections. She served as a volunteer for AAPI outreach for the Trump campaign in 2016 and 2020. Lisa is an independent Business Immigration Consultant and business plan writer. She assists attorneys in bringing highly skilled professionals of extraordinary ability in the arts, research, and science, and entrepreneurs to the United States to create jobs for Americans. From NY and NJ to Las Vegas living, Lisa graduated from New York University with her master’s degree in global affairs in 2016 and her bachelor’s degree in political science from William Paterson University in 2014. Lisa maintains a lifelong commitment to drug policy reform by publishing her master’s thesis, “Trending High: the Call for Drug Policy Reform”. She is an advocate for confronting the stigma of cannabis and psychedelic use for therapeutic purposes, mental wellness, and healing trauma. She is currently learning to become a breathwork instructor. Lisa enjoys cheering on the Vegas Golden Knights, traveling, exploring nature, cooking, writing, and creating artwork.

Rebecca Peters serves as Deputy Communications Director for House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (TN-07). In her role, Rebecca acts as a formal spokesperson, speechwriter, and media liaison for Tennessee press. Over her four-year career in Congress, Rebecca developed robust communications strategies and led its execution locally and nationally. Previously, Rebecca worked in public affairs and was a part of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s successful gubernatorial race in 2019. She is a graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Rebecca is married to Tyler Peters, an engineer for Volkswagen Group of America. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys running with her dog, George, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Noah Peterson is the Tax Foundation’s Editor. Previously, he was Assistant Editor of the Claremont Review of Books and a graduate fellow at The Heritage Foundation. He has written for a variety of online and print publications, including the Claremont Review of Books, RealClearPolitics, and The New York Sun. Noah graduated from the University of Southern California with a master’s degree in public policy and a bachelor’s degree in political science. He lives in San Diego, where he likes to golf, play pickleball, and hike.

Samuel Raus is a senior at the University of Miami, majoring in Public Relations and Political Science with a minor in History. Raus previously interned at Goldman Sachs, the Council on Foreign Relations, and Brian Communications working in the field of media relations. He has been published in RealClearDefense, the Standard-Examiner, and South Jersey Times. Additionally, Raus interviewed Chris Stirewalt for AEI’s student podcast ‘The Campus Exchange’ and appeared on Young Voice’s Moving Forward Podcast. Raus grew up in the Philadelphia metro area and currently resides in Miami, Florida.

Philip Reichert serves as the Southern Regional Director for the American Conservation Coalition, where he manages grassroots operations across the Southern United States. He is a veteran of Army and Space Force intelligence and has worked as a Producer at Fox News. Philip is also a recognized voice in political commentary, with publications in Newsweek, the American Spectator, the Federalist, and other notable outlets. In addition, he currently sits on the City of Austin Commission on Veterans Affairs. Outside of work, Philip enjoys astronomy, skiing, and spending time with his toddler and two pugs. He is a native of Tallahassee and has a deep passion for the American South.

Paul Shakeshaft serves as Associate Director of Policy Initiatives for The Manhattan Institute, helping develop the institute’s work across policy fields. Previously, he worked for the North Carolina GOP and is a former scholar-in-residence of the Kilns, the former home of C.S. Lewis. Paul holds an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Buckingham where his dissertation on natural law and human rights was supervised by Sir Roger Scruton. He holds a J.D. from Regent University Law School and a B.A. from Elmhurst College. His writing appears in the American Conservative, Providence Magazine, and The Federalist, among others.

Coleman Ellis Williamson was born in Atlanta, Georgia and has been a part of the liberty movement being inspired by the Ron Paul presidential campaign in 2012. Subsequently, Coleman volunteered and worked for a variety of liberty candidates in the 2014-2020 election cycles from local city council races to a congressional candidate. Coleman currently sits on the board for America’s Future Southeast Hub, where he recruits speakers and promotes monthly events. He has also participated in leadership for the Georgia Log Cabin Republicans from 2020 until the of 2023, when he moved to Naples in sunny, southwest Florida. Coleman has been called Cole from childhood until he entered into high school, when he decided to be known as his official government name. Upon reflection, as he pursues a writing career, he has decided to drop his last name, and instead use his middle name to be known in publication, Coleman Ellis.

Alex Xenos serves as a Staff Attorney for the Loudon County Circuit Court, where he helps judges navigate complex legal issues that come before the Court. Alex has previously worked as a Visiting Legal Fellow for the Foundation for Government Accountability, served as a speechwriter and content developer for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and its leadership, and served as a Congressional Liaison in OPM’s Capitol Hill office. Alex’s passion for liberty, law, and history drives his life and career. He holds a J.D. from the Washington and Lee University School of Law and a B.A. from the College of William & Mary, where he was an American Politics Scholar.