Current Students

Manuel was born and raised in Cusco, Peru, and later earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. For over seven years before SPIA, he worked in Peru’s public sector, holding roles across education, social policy, banking, and central planning agencies, where he applied economic analysis and data science techniques, and engaged with technical and political stakeholders at all levels to generate valuable insights for diverse public policies. In recent years, he served in his country’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, leading efforts to strengthen results-based budgeting and approaching the public sector through a cross-sectoral lens to promote efficiency and evidence-based policymaking. He is committed to advancing much-needed institutional reforms in Peru and Latin America to bring quality public services closer to the most vulnerable populations, within a framework of environmental sustainability and digital transformation. Upon completing the MPA, he looks forward to serving either as a senior official within Peru’s central government or in an advisory role at an international institution. Manuel enjoys dabbling in team sports, delving into cultural history, and binge-watching dystopian tales and suspenseful thrillers.

Annie is from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in Economics. After graduating in 2022, she worked in government relations and policy consulting, focusing on global health and trade policy across Latin America and the Asia-Pacific. Through public-private partnerships in regional economic fora, Annie led projects aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment, particularly access to sexual and reproductive health services and the recognition of unpaid caregiving in health systems. After Princeton, she hopes to pursue a career in global health diplomacy, advancing policies that promote health equity and strengthen health systems. In her free time, Annie enjoys grounding activities like sudoku and yoga, as well as getting lost in a good short story.

Daniel was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. He completed both his undergraduate and master’s degrees in economics at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. Before attending Princeton, he advanced his career by working at the Central Bank of Colombia, Scotiabank, the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce, and Colombia’s Tax and Customs Authority (DIAN). His professional journey has encompassed a variety of fields, including data science, economic analysis, economic research, antitrust enforcement, and risk management. He is deeply interested in economic development, the application of data science in public policy, and strengthening institutions for sustainable growth. At Princeton, he aims to delve into development and institutional policies that could bolster Colombia. During the summer of 2025, he interned at the Japan Economic Foundation in Tokyo, where he researched trade resilience and the service sector and contributed to the Foundation’s digital outreach strategy. Following his studies at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Daniel aspires to contribute to Latin America’s development policies through short-term roles at the IDB, World Bank, or IMF. In the long term, his ambition is to lead the National Planning Department of Colombia. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Daniel is passionate about soccer, electronic music, and enjoys attending festivals and concerts with his friends.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Sarah completed her undergraduate degree in international politics and Latin American studies at Georgetown University. Before graduate school, she worked for a D.C.-based global strategic advisory firm, where she researched political and economic trends in northern Latin America to provide market risk guidance to corporate clients and advance U.S. commercial diplomacy. Past experience as a research assistant for a database on Latin American institutions and as an intern at a refugee resettlement nonprofit affirmed her passion for public service, migration policy, and Western Hemisphere affairs. After her first year at SPIA, she joined the World Bank's Social Protection and Labor Global Practice to support a grant program on digital social protection and develop practice-wide portfolio and strategy documents. In her free time, Sarah enjoys running, trying new recipes, and collecting houseplants.

Valerie is from Singapore and holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in education from the University of California, Berkeley. Her career began as a policymaker in the Singapore Government where she worked on preschool and after-school care policies at the Ministry of Education before moving to the Ministry of Manpower to focus on labor issues. Most recently, Valerie served as a Strategic Planner at the Prime Minister’s Office, collaborating with leaders to set the strategic direction and policy agenda for the nation. Valerie is a passionate advocate for education reform, social justice and good governance. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new restaurants, unwinding with Netflix and immersing herself in new cultures.