Abby is a rising senior with the expectation of graduating in May 2025. She is an International Affairs major with a concentration in Foreign Policy and Global Governance. At JMU, she is the President of the JMU Alumni Association Student Committee as well as a voting member on the Board of Directors as the Student Representative. She works as a University Events Intern during the year and is a part of many clubs and organizations such as JMU SafeRides and the Cyber Defense Club. She is passionate about getting college students more involved with local and state elections and hopes to accomplish this during her time as a Democracy Fellow in the upcoming year.

Annika is a junior Graphic Design major with a Spanish minor. She began working with the Madison Center for Civic Engagement her freshman year as a First Year Research Experience (FYRE) student and has continued to work with them as a Democracy Fellow since then. Growing up near D.C. with both parents working for the government and going to a politically active school, she developed an interest in both global and national politics from a young age. As a FYRE student, she worked on the Bridging Wicked Divides Project, which seeks to help students overcome political divides, talk across differences, and deliberate different solutions to modern day issues. Since becoming a Democracy Fellow, she has worked on Dukes Discourse, a project on JMUs campus that asks students to engage with current events by answering an opinion-based question in an interview or on an anonymous sticky note for others to see. She is excited to continue supporting students’ freedom of expression this year and well into her senior year when she graduates in 2026. In addition to Dukes Discourse, she is excited to continue working on the We Are Madison’s Legacy project, (WAML) which asks two students from different political backgrounds to have a casual conversation about a challenging, current topic.

Caroline is a junior Political Science major with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies with a Pre-Law focus, from Chesapeake, Virginia. Caroline is serving as a democracy fellow this year on the Dukes Vote and the Overcoming Democratic Barriers Teams this year. She is also a Campus Vote Project Fellow. Through her involvement in on campus organizations she found her passion for fostering a community at JMU that prioritizes civic engagement. Caroline is passionate about advocating for voting accessibility and promoting democratic participation in a polarized system.

Daniella is a senior Public Relations major with a minor in Business while serving as a Communications Fellow for the Madison Center. She previously served as the Marketing Assistant for JMU’s Centennial Scholars Program, which allowed her to craft meaningful connections between organizations and their audiences, shaping positive narratives that drive engagement, trust, and impact. Daniella assists the Presidential Engagement fellow in crafting and enacting a media plan which supports the mission of the Madison Center and all of its programs. Thriving in environments that are collaborative and innovative, Daniella is excited to focus on social media strategies for civic engagement. Daniella is passionate about using digital platforms to inspire civic participation and foster a community of informed, engaged young voters.

Emma is a sophomore Anthropology & International Affairs double major with minors in Latin American & Caribbean Studies and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. Emma served as the 2021-2022 Virginia Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) State President and spent two years on the Virginia FCCLA Board of Directors. Through her involvement with FCCLA, she has had the opportunity to lobby with several Virginia Congressmen on the behalf of Career and Technical Education. She also had the opportunity to complete the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Youth Advocacy Institute where she found her passion for advocacy and civic engagement. At JMU, she has been an active participant in the Madison International Residential Learning Community, JMU Valley Scholars Program, and the Anthropology Club.

Erin is a senior Political Science and Communication Studies double major with a concentration in Advocacy Studies. This past spring she spent the semester in DC with the JMU Washington Semester where she interned for LB International Solutions, a government affairs and consulting firm. Following this summer, where she spent her time as a constituent intern for the constituent services office of Senator John Fetterman, Erin is excited to be back on campus. At JMU, Erin is the secretary of Generation Action and continues to work towards publication of a political rhetoric essay that she presented this past March at the JMU College of Arts and Letters Undergraduate Research Conference. She can't wait to be a team leader for the Immigration and Democracy Barriers Initiative and to continue to help build the civic engagement of her fellow students and those in her community.

Jameson Balda is a senior double majoring in Political Science and Public Administration, with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and on the Pre-Law pre-professional track. At JMU, he has served as an Honors Madison Advising Peer, SGA Senator, Honor Council Investigator and Representative, and Student Board Member with OSARP. For the 2024-2025 school year, Jameson will serve as President of the Honor Council for his second year, as well as President of the JMU Debate Team. This will be Jameson's fourth year on the Debate Team, where he has fostered a community of politically active students interested in critical thinking and communication, while also competing at the National Debate Tournament. He is incredibly proud to have received both JMU's Outstanding Debate and Communication Student award and the Congressional Recognized Debate Scholar award. In his spare time, he can be found reading anything from late American philosophy to high fantasy and looking for new trails in Shenandoah National Park.

Kieran is a junior Political Science major with dual Minors in Legal Studies and Civic Leadership. During his time at JMU, he has been an active three-year Senator of the James Madison University Student Government Association serving the 2023-2024 year as the Secretary of the Legislative Affairs committee and Student Representative to the Harrisonburg City Council. This coming academic year Kieran will serve on the Executive Leadership Team of SGA as the Speaker of the Student Senate for the 110th Student Senate. Through SGA Kieran has been able to lobby at both the Virginia General Assembly and the United States Congress and work on the yearly Dukes Debate event on campus. Kieran is also an active member of JMU SafeRides, JMU Give and this will be his second year working as a FROG for the Office of Orientation and Transition. Outside of his passion for politics and civic engagement, Kieran loves exploring downtown Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley area.

Mason is a senior majoring in Political Science and Public Administration with a minor in Classical Studies, graduating in December 2025. He is an active member of the Student Government Association serving as the Historian from 2023-2024 and the Legislative Affairs Chairperson in 2024-2025. Through the SGA, Mason has organized and managed a student lobby day at the General Assembly of Virginia reaching 70% of Virginia's representative. Furthermore, Mason volunteered as a First Year Orientation Guide for the Office of Orientation and Transition to assist in the moving for new students at JMU. Overall, Mason seeks to use his passion for politics to help advocate for those in need and uplift the voices of the unheard.

Mia is a senior International Affairs major with double minors in Economics and Humanitarian Affairs. Following two internships at the Washington International Trade Association and the National Foreign Trade Council, Mia is thrilled to serve as team lead for the Democracy Matters and Dukes Vote podcasts. At JMU, Mia is president of Generation Action, and recently participated in the Hacking for Diplomacy program where she presented an embassy security proposal at the Department of State. Mia is passionate about promoting non-partisan discourse across campus and her community, as well as amplifying the importance of civic engagement to younger generations. 

Mina is a senior, pursuing a double major in Communications and Media Arts with a focus on Public Relations and Creative Advertising while serving as the Communications Fellow for the Madison Center. In her role as Lead Designer for The Bluestone, JMU’s student-run yearbook, Mina plays a pivotal role in amplifying diverse student voices and enriching the campus culture. Additionally, she serves as the Assistant Creative Director for Bluestone Communications, JMU’s student-run PR firm, where she helps local organizations and businesses strengthen their community relationships. Mina thrives on collaborating with diverse individuals and gaining new perspectives. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, critiquing movies with her best friend, and taking long drives. At her core, Mina is a passionate storyteller, dedicated to using her skills to support and elevate others.

Reagan Polarek is a junior pursuing a B.S. in Individualized Study with minors in Political Communication and Civic Leadership. She is serving her third year as a Democracy Fellow and her fourth year on the Student Government Association’s Legislative Affairs Committee, having previously served two terms as the 2026 Class President. On campus, Reagan has interned with the JMU Office of the President, Title IX Office, and Government Relations Office. She is an active member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Outside of JMU, Reagan has worked in Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration as a Communications intern and now serves as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Education. Reagan believes that civic engagement is essential for empowering college students and is passionate about advocating for her campus and community. She is grateful for every opportunity to lead and serve at the intersection of faith, policy, and public service.