Alexia is a senior Justice Studies major with a minor in Humanitarian Affairs. Alexia is an active member of Alpha Kappa Psi and has also worked with the Office of Orientation and Transition at JMU as a First Year Orientation Guide. Alexia has had a very international upbringing which has made her passionate about global justice. Alexia is very excited to work as a Democracy Fellow alongside the Madison Center for Civic Engagement at JMU, as well as excited for the skills she is going to acquire for the future!

Annika is a senior 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 what has become the Better Conversations Together program, 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.

Brady is a first year Political Science major. He loves service-oriented activities and has already done work with the CEVC. He loves golf and hopes to continue competing in competitive tournaments in the years to follow. Brady looks forward to making a difference through the efforts of the Madison Center and promoting the importance of civic participation.

Bubuney is a Senior Public Policy and Administration major with a concentration in Public Management and an Honors minor. She serves as a Resident Advisor, guiding students through academic and personal growth, and was a Facilitation Fellow with the Madison Center for Civic Engagement, promoting dialogue on campus. She has also supported students as a Language Resource Center Assistant and gained leadership experience through roles with Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation and Virginia Cooperative Extension. Bubuney enjoys reading, photography, and spending time with her three sisters in her spare time. She has held leadership roles in the African Student Organization, contributed to the Society of Human Resources Management, and represented Zambia at the Model Africa Conference in Washington, D.C. She is an Aspen Index Youth Impact Fellow, Bezos Scholar Alumnus, and was an intern at the John A Kufuor Foundation in Ghana while studying abroad this summer.

Caden is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Legal Studies, following the Pre-Law track. Prior to attending JMU, he was a member of a nationally ranked We the People team, a civics competition for high school students, and volunteered with various political campaigns across Virginia, including those for the General Assembly and Representative Schuyler VanValkenburg. At JMU, he has served as a Senator in the Student Government Association and as a Democracy Fellow, roles he proudly returns to this year.

Caroline is a senior 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.

Christian is a sophomore International Affairs minor. Growing up in Fairbanks, Alaska and moving a lot as a child, he learned to always be curious about different perspectives and ideas. A graduate of Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, VA, his local roots help him connect his peers with different issues facing Rockingham and Harrisonburg. He is excited to work on Dukes Discourse and Dukes Vote this year helping students to have difficult conversations and to vote.

Ella is a senior Communication Studies major with a concentration in organizational communications, and minors in Ethics and WGSS. She transferred to JMU in spring 2024 and immediately sought after campus involvement opportunities. Ella was hired as part of the founding Facilitation Fellow cohort in September 2024 and continues to work closely on Better Conversations Together projects. She is also an active member of JMU's Alpha Kappa Psi chapter, where she was elected to the Career Development and Awards committees. Ella is passionate about civic engagement and is excited to continue upholding the Madison Center's values as she enters her last year at JMU.

Emily is a senior International Affairs major with a concentration in Conflict and Security with a minor in Middle Eastern Communities and Migrations. She is also the Ritual Director of Alpha Sigma Alpha. Her passion for political discourse and diverse perspectives drives her academic and extracurricular pursuits. She is eager to engage with and understand different viewpoints across the JMU campus.

Emma Notarnicola is a sophomore from Richmond, VA majoring in International Affairs and the School of Media and Art Design (SMAD) with a concentration in Journalism and Pre-Law. Emma is currently the News Editor for the JMU newspaper, The Breeze. She began working for the Madison Center through the First Year Research Experience (FYRE) program at JMU. Inspired by the research, she decided to continue her work with the Madison Center as a Democracy Fellow opportunity. She is very passionate about bringing people together and uplifting everyone's perspective to form constructive conversations. She believes one of the most important ways to do this is through the media, and hopes to work with both The Breeze and the Madison Center to spread true, factual, and reliable information. In her free time, she likes to paint and read. She is excited to continue to uplift peoples guaranteed rights and liberties through this opportunity.

Emma is a senior 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 currently serves on the Virginia FCCLA Alumni and Associates Executive Board. 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, the JMU Valley Scholars Program, and Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Service Society, where she serves as Junior Community Outreach Chair.

Giavanna is a senior Political Science major with a minor in Legal Studies on the Pre-Law pre-professional track. Originally from Trenton, Michigan, Originally from Trenton, Michigan, she is an active member of JMU Debate as a varsity-level debater and has also served in the Student Government Association as a representative during the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 sessions. Through these experiences, Giavanna has developed strong skills in advocacy, leadership, and public service.

Hannah is a Senior Political Science major and is on a pre-law track with plans to attend law school in the fall. Hannah is passionate about increasing voter awareness and efficacy, and she is excited to apply what she has learned in her classes to JMU’s campus. Hannah is a member of the JMU Moot Court and has previously volunteered with The Madison Center for Civic Engagement. She spent her summer working at the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority Headquarters in the division of Hearings and Appeals as an intern. 

Hannah is a senior Philosophy major with a minor in Ethics on a Pre-Law track from Clifton Virginia. Hannah is currently the president of the Vietnamese Student Association and interned at LAWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services in past summers. Her emphasis on empathetic advocacy blossomed at a young age partly due to her love of Legally Blonde. Hannah is excited to spend this upcoming year working on educating students on various civic processes and in turn helping them find their voice within what can seem like a daunting political landscape.

Jacob is a junior Marketing major with a minor in Sports Communications. He is the Historian for Pi Kappa Phi, an active member in Club Pickleball, and the President of Dukes for Israel. Jacob is a second-generation JMU student from Los Angeles, CA. He has spent the past two years writing in the sports section for The Breeze, helping ESPN+ with broadcasting duties at other JMU sporting events, and is currently working with JMU Athletics Fan Services. Becoming a Democracy Fellow was important for Jacob, as he hopes to educate his peers, help others become more understanding, and assist students in finding their own religious identities. He has a passion for helping out his community, so consequently, he is excited to work as a Campus Pluralism Fellow in the Madison Center for Civic Engagement. With this relatively new position, Jacob aspires to expand the program's capabilities, help incoming JMU students acknowledge their individualism, and personally grow in knowledge and experience.

Kieran is a senior 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.

Kyle is a junior SMAD major in the Creative Advertising concentration with a minor in Illustration from Sterling, Virginia. Passionate about art, media, and politics, he is excited to be a part of this program and see how modern-day media impacts the many varied viewpoints of JMU Students.

Makenzie is a Senior Public Administration major with minors in Sociology and Integrated Science & Technology (ISAT), and is hoping to work in the nonprofit sector after college. During her time at Madison, Makenzie found a love for service, student leadership, and advocacy through multiple student organizations, and eventually had the opportunity to intern with Valley Open Doors. In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking, reading, hiking, and spending time with her friends!

Maria is a third-year student in political science, Pre-Law pre-professional track with double minors in  Humanitarian Affairs and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She is an active member of the JMU Debate Team as well as a founder and Vice President of the First-Gen Honor Society "Tri-Alpha". Maria has also been a member of the Student Government Association for the past year. Maria has worked as a swim instructor for the past three years. Her passion is on Latin American politics with an emphasis on human rights.

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 representatives. 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.

Matt is a junior Political Science Major at James Madison University from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. At JMU, he works at the Madison Center for Civic Engagement where he facilitates difficult conversations across differences among students and helps students register to vote for upcoming elections. He is also the treasurer of the JMU Heavy Music Club.

Mischa is senior International Affairs major with minors in Political Science and Italian, on a pre-law track. Mischa is an active member in Alpha Kappa Psi and previously served as the organization's Vice President of Membership. Outside of JMU, she is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Blue Ride CASA and a Research Fellow for the political journal Civitas One. Mischa is excited to contribute to the Madison Centers initiatives, especially Dukes Vote!

Reagan is a senior majoring in Health Services Administration with minors in General Business and Human Resources Development. Previously, she served as a Leadership Counselor with Make Your Mark on Madison, where she led group discussions and activities on leadership with both new and returning students. On campus, Reagan is a program ambassador for the Health Services Administration program and volunteers in the lab at the University Health Center. She also enjoys working as a camera operator for JMU Sports events and volunteers at the local Cat Café in downtown Harrisonburg. Reagan is interested in promoting civic engagement through voter education, helping students become more informed voters, and supporting them in navigating political processes in an increasingly polarized environment. She looks forward to contributing to efforts that foster civil discourse, encourage meaningful participation, and strengthen connections between students and their communities.

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.

Sabrina is a senior double major in Public Administration and Public Policy, with a minor in Economics. A native of Arlington, Virginia, her interest in politics was nurtured from a young age, influenced by her proximity to Washington, D.C., and her politically engaged family. Over the past few summers, Sabrina has worked as a swim coach and camp counselor, where she has built strong connections with families in the D.C. area. Additionally, she frequently nannies during school breaks. Sabrina is particularly passionate about fostering unbiased civic education from an early age.

Sam is a junior Political Science major on the Pre-Law track with minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Music Industry from Delaware. She is an active member of the Madison Honors Leadership Council, serves as an Honors Ambassador, and has recently joined the Honors Program Board. Sam values community service and is a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha. Her passion for music has led her to being a Marching Royal Duke last year and a new member of the Concert Band this year. She is excited to be a part of this new program to encourage constructive and respectful dialogue around campus. For the Fall 2025 Semester, she is studying at Yonsei University in South Korea through an exchange program.