Behdad is originally from Iran and before pursuing graduate education, he was dedicated to driving social impact through evidence-based policy-making and public awareness in Iran. As the co-founder of the influential Sekke Podcast, with over 100,000 subscribers, he fostered informed discussions on critical economic and development issues. In his role as Head of the Department of Education at the Tehran Economic Policy-making Think-tank (TEPT) at the University of Tehran, Behdad enabled impactful research and provided high-quality education on applied economics and development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Tehran. Upon graduation, Behdad plans to tackle the challenges of development in developing countries and continue nurturing specialized human resources for sustainable development.

Chris is a first-generation student and a proud native of northern New Jersey. A Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI) fellow, he graduated from Princeton University in 2021 with a degree in civil and environmental engineering and a certificate in environmental studies. As an undergraduate, Chris interned for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Environmental Enforcement Section, assisting in litigation against polluters, and for the Regional Plan Association, conducting climate change research in the New Jersey Meadowlands. Chris conducted his senior research on the ties between industrial benzene emissions and historical cancer cases in his community. He completed his first SINSI rotation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Climate and Environment Division. On campus, he helped revive the Princeton BEE Team and is a certified beekeeper. Off campus, Chris is a classically trained pianist, a volunteer at his local senior center, and a poll worker. He also loves picnics, his family, and long walks at night.

Elijah is a faux economist turned international affairs MPA at SPIA. Before coming to Princeton, Elijah worked as a chief of staff and advisor to the Chief Economist of USAID, helping him launch a new Independent Office and build the Agency's Macroeconomic Policy Program. Prior to USAID, he co-founded two nonprofits. He still serves as the treasurer of one, Walimu, an Ugandan NGO with 170+ staff that reduces avoidable mortality across the country. He previously led Walimu for several years as founding Executive Director. The other, ImpactMatters, was a nonprofit rating agency that produced the largest public collection of nonprofit impact estimates in history – by an order of magnitude. ImpactMatters ratings, following an acquisition, became Charity Navigator’s Impact & Results Rating. This summer, Elijah worked as a Research Fellow at the East African Business Council in Arusha, Tanzania. Following SPIA, Elijah intends to pursue his long-term interests in East Africa and the promise of the East African Federation. 

Paco is from Guadalajara, Mexico. He graduated from New York University Abu Dhabi with a bachelor's degree in political science with concentrations in legal studies and Arabic. Before coming to Princeton, Paco worked at Fundación IDEA, where he helped strengthen Mexican criminal justice institutions by assessing and implementing best practices in case management and prosecutor performance evaluations. During his undergraduate studies, he worked as a research assistant analyzing determinants of electoral outcomes in Kenya and Pakistan and interned at the Mexican Mission to the United Nations in New York, where he supported the organization of the STI Forum led by Japan and Mexico. This past summer, Paco worked as a Sustainability and Inclusion Intern at the Green Climate Fund in Incheon, South Korea. At Princeton, he hopes to explore urban and energy policy to support his country's development in these areas. Paco loves learning languages, playing guitar, and exploring new places to find great food spots.

Madeleine grew up in Vermont and attended Dickinson College where she majored in international studies. After graduating in 2018, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked in international development and for the U.S. Congress. She served as professional staff for the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs where she oversaw U.S. foreign assistance programs. After leaving the subcommittee and before moving to Princeton, Madeleine volunteered with a humanitarian aid organization in northern Colombia focused on Venezuelan refugees. She worked as an Graduate Fellow this past summer at The Asia Foundation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Madeleine enjoys exploring new foods, places, and the great outdoors.