Toyin is a lawyer from Nigeria passionate about increasing inclusive access to justice. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Lagos in Nigeria and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2015. She currently works as the Special Assistant to the Governor of Ogun State on Legal Matters. She places special focus on interventions in domestic and sexual violence against persons in her home state and she routinely works with law enforcement agencies, government departments, and civil society organisations to ensure that offenders are prosecuted, and victims are provided with much needed legal, medical, and psycho-social support. After Princeton, she hopes to continue to deliver meaningful and effective justice sector reforms in her country. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, planning events, and playing drums.

Maximiliano is a career diplomat from Argentina with over a decade of experience in peace and security, human rights, development, and decolonization. He most recently served at Argentina’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, representing his country in high-level negotiations and consensus-building efforts. He previously held diplomatic postings to the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C., and at the embassies in Brazil and Nigeria. A lawyer, Maximiliano graduated with honors from Argentina’s diplomatic academy. Originally from a small town in Argentina, he believes in the transformative power of diplomacy to foster cooperation and improve people’s lives. He also works to bridge diplomacy and academia, collaborating with universities and think tanks on policy and public engagement. After SPIA, Maximiliano aims to continue his work in international affairs and public service. His personal motto is “gentileza gera gentileza,” a Brazilian phrase meaning that kindness generates kindness – a principle he believes should guide both professional and daily life.

Avichal vividly recalls the moment he not only understood, but deeply felt his calling to public service. As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc across India, he spent the night in the hospital, carefully monitoring every ounce of medical oxygen. The next morning, he launched a crowdfunding campaign in Sikar district where he was serving as District Collector (administrative head). Driven by the trust placed in him by thousands of citizens, he ensured the installation of an oxygen manufacturing plant in the district within a month. Witnessing communities unite in the face of immense adversity reinforced his own faith in public service. Raised in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, and one of its most underdeveloped, Avichal was acutely aware of poverty and the lack of basic facilities. Yet he consciously resisted cynicism and negativity, choosing instead to seek systemic challenges and potential solutions – an ethos shaped by his upbringing in a family of civil servants. While in college, his involvement in street theater further motivated him to engage with people on critical issues. Over the past 12 years, he has worked in Rajasthan – the largest state in India – as an officer of the Indian Administrative Service. His tenure has included serving as District Collector in three districts and spearheading initiatives in sectors like public health, education, rural development, water security, and disaster management. He considers himself extremely fortunate to study public policy at SPIA, and learn from the highly accomplished and diverse cohort.

Kezia is a U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer (FAO) specializing in the Indo-Pacific region, with over ten years of experience spanning tactical, operational, and strategic intelligence roles across special operations, interagency environments, and multinational partnerships. Commissioned through the Army ROTC program at Georgetown University in 2015, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Peace and Conflict Resolution. Prior to her selection in 2022 as an Asia-Pacific FAO, she served as a Military Intelligence Officer. She was selected by the Department of Defense to serve as a Military Mentor for the United States Senate Youth Program and has been a strong advocate for professional development, diversity, and empowerment within the Army, serving as an advisor for women’s mentorship initiatives and championing programs that promote team cohesion and resilience. Previous assignments include the Pentagon, Army Cyber Command, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and Joint Special Operations Command. Her expertise includes counterterrorism, unmanned aerial systems, open-source and geospatial intelligence, and information operations. Motivated by intellectual curiosity and a deep commitment to strategic leadership, Kezia joins Princeton to further explore the intersection of international relations, diplomacy, and policymaking – particularly as they relate to security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. She is especially interested in how thoughtful, informed policy can advance regional stability and foster enduring partnerships. She aims to explore how policy can promote stability and cooperation in an increasingly complex global landscape. Outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys hiking, rock-climbing, windsurfing, and snowboarding.

Panagiotis is a Greek career diplomat with 18 years of experience in international affairs, security, and defense policy. Before joining SPIA, he served six years at the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, where he headed the team responsible for security and defense dialogue and cooperation with key partner countries and international organizations, including the United Nations and NATO. Since 2021, he has coordinated the EEAS Task Force on EU-NATO relations and co-chaired the EU-NATO Core Group. His previous diplomatic assignments included postings in Belgrade and at the Greek Permanent Representation to the EU, where he served as national delegate to the Council’s Politico-Military Group and contributed to new EU defense initiatives, including the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). These experiences shaped his policy interests at the intersection of European security and transatlantic relations, increasingly focusing on digital diplomacy, innovation, and emerging technologies – particularly artificial intelligence – in defense cooperation. Before entering the Foreign Service, he served as a reserve infantry officer and held traineeships at international organizations in Strasbourg, Paris, and Brussels, including the European Commission, focusing on energy security. He is a graduate of the Hellenic Diplomatic Academy and holds a bachelor’s in philosophy from the University of Athens and a master’s in the history of international relations and European integration from the University of Strasbourg. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, photography, and reading history. Upon graduation, he plans to return to the Greek Foreign Service with a sharpened focus on public diplomacy, peace, security, and defense.

Siatta is a dedicated public servant from Liberia with a multidisciplinary background spanning public health, strategic planning, and workforce development. She serves as Director for Human Resources at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), where she has led major institutional reforms and capacity-building initiatives. Previously, as Deputy Director for Training and Capacity Building, she coordinated projects, collaborating with partners, including Johns Hopkins University, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to build a resilient and fit-for-purpose public health workforce. With a demonstrated ability to translate data into actionable policy and institutional impact, she led Liberia’s One Health Workforce Needs Assessment, coordinated the institutionalization of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Guidelines in 26 pre-service institutions’ curricula, and authored the Evaluation of International Health Regulations Core Capacities at Designated Points of Entry in Liberia, 2019, translating evidence to policy and practice. Driven by a vision to bridge global health, governance, and the law, she began legal studies at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, before transitioning to Princeton. At Princeton, she is sharpening her skills in policy analysis, global health diplomacy, and institutional leadership, and brings a deep commitment to public service, a collaborative spirit, and an unwavering belief that evidence-based policy is one of the most powerful tools for justice. Upon graduation, Siatta hopes to influence global health policy, advocate for resilient systems, and expand equitable access to healthcare.

Josh is an Emmy Award-winning journalist focused on U.S. foreign policy, politics and international affairs. He served most recently as a foreign correspondent for NBC News, reporting live from 40+ nations for The Today Show, NBC Nightly News and MSNBC. He has reported extensively from war zones in Ukraine, Israel, the Gaza Strip and Iraq, and covered the Jan. 6 insurrection live from the U.S. Capitol. Previously, he was a White House reporter for The Associated Press (AP) and covered U.S. diplomacy based at the State Department. After SPIA, he hopes to pivot into public service in international security and development. Outside of work, Josh is an avid student of meditation and Buddhist philosophy, and is training as a mindfulness meditation teacher.

Jeff is a career Army officer with over a decade of experience in operations across the world. He holds a B.A. from the University of South Florida in Political Science and an ALM in International Relations from Harvard University. Upon completion of the MPP at Princeton SPIA, Jeff will continue his military career as a General Wayne A. Downing Scholar and pursue an additional graduate degree in the United Kingdom before returning to an operational assignment.

Heather is the founder and president of Global Hope, a nonprofit advancing freedom and human dignity in conflict zones. With 25 years of residential field experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, she has led initiatives focused on minority rights, gender equality, economic development, and protection for victims of gender-based violence. In 2021, Heather founded The Freedom Center in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to provide emergency relief, language education, employment opportunities, leadership development, and safe haven for vulnerable populations. With two advanced degrees in business and global leadership, Heather is committed to reimagining Middle East policy by exploring solutions that balance traditional issues with modern challenges, while promoting peace and human rights in an era of global conflict. This summer in Iraq, Heather launched a new café and restaurant business as a social enterprise to create jobs for displaced Syrian minorities. At Princeton, she looks forward to building lifelong friendships with fellow changemakers, exploring cross-sector strategies for peace and international development, and deepening her capacity to shape innovative, human-centered foreign policy. Outside of her work, Heather finds joy in design, renovations, hospitality, outdoor adventures, and exotic travel – especially when it is shared with great friends.

Before joining SPIA, Naila built a career as a labor market policy expert in Kazakhstan, where she led key national initiatives aimed at modernizing employment systems and expanding economic opportunity. At the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, she designed and implemented large-scale workforce development programs and introduced digital tools to reduce corruption and improve service delivery – most notably the Digital Control project, which received national recognition. She also served in the National Commission on Women and Family Affairs under the President of Kazakhstan, where she advanced policies on economic inclusion, gender equality, and the integration of women into the labor market. Her cross-cutting experience includes co-authoring legislation to strengthen protections against domestic violence and managing U.N. Women-funded programs supporting women’s leadership and access to political processes. Over the summer, she worked on labor market diagnostics and regional policy recommendations focused on inclusive employment systems in Central Asia. After graduation, she plans to continue working at the intersection of labor, governance, and gender – either through multilateral organizations or international advisory work – bringing innovative solutions to public employment services and workforce development.