The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs would like to celebrate the selection of three community members for the Schmidt Futures’ second International Strategy Forum-North America cohort. The Schmidt Futures program aims to forge an interdisciplinary network of rising leaders to strengthen progress and security amid technological innovation and a changing world order through creating a network of problem solvers that will analyze and tackle the world’s hardest strategic problems over the coming decades.

We are incredibly proud of Sofia Ramirez (MPA, ’21), Ken Sofer (MPA, ’17), and Mark Stevens (MPA, ’17).

Sofia Ramirez will earn her Master in Public Affairs in International Development from SPIA in May 2021. She previously served as a Research Analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, where she forecasted political developments and macroeconomic indicators for countries in Latin America. She also worked at the Council on Foreign Relations as the Research Associate for the Latin American Studies Program. Additionally, she received a Critical Language Scholarship for Mandarin Chinese, earned a Fulbright grant to Taiwan, and was a recipient of the 2019 Young Professionals in Foreign Policy Latin America fellowship.

Ken Sofer is the Advisor for Policy & Planning in the Office of the President at the International Rescue Committee. Through his role, he provides policy analysis on issues ranging from the war in Libya, the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and trends in adherence to international humanitarian law. He previously worked as a Senior Policy Advisor and Associate Director for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress.

Mark Stevens is a third-year J.D. candidate at Yale Law School. He previously served as a fellow at the U.S. Department of State under the Obama administration and focused on U.S. policy on the Levant region of the Middle East. He also helped conduct assessments in Uganda and northern Syria to assist international NGOs and UN agencies in their emergency responses. Upon earning his J.D. in June 2021, he will return to the Department of State as an attorney-advisor in the Office of the Legal Adviser.

Through their commitment to public service, these scholars are creating lasting change across the world. As a community, we celebrate their accomplishments. Congratulations!