Current MPA Students

Originally from Cincinnati, Ethan is a second-year Master of Public Affairs student at Princeton University. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Near Eastern Studies. A Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative (SINSI) Graduate Fellow, Ethan spent two years working on rotations at the Department of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; the Department of Defense in the Office of Indo-Pacific Security Affairs; and the U.S Institute of Peace (USIP). Highlights from his government work include organizing and staffing senior-level economic dialogues in Jerusalem and Ramallah; drafting policy initiatives and remarks for the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and leading security sector reform consultations as part of a USIP delegation to Bulgaria. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, language learning, and long walks with friends.

Luka grew up in Sagarejo, a small town just outside Tbilisi, Georgia. In 2023, he graduated as valedictorian from Tbilisi State University’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences. As an undergraduate, he studied abroad for three semesters, attending European University Viadrina in Germany, the University of Limerick in Ireland, and the University of Alabama in the United States. Before enrolling at SPIA, Luka worked in the United Nations Association of Georgia, where he led projects aimed at advancing religious freedom and fostering a culture of tolerance. In this role, he coordinated the Council of Religions under the Public Defender of Georgia - the country’s largest civic platform for religious minorities, uniting more than 20 religious organizations. At SPIA, Luka aims to deepen his understanding of how human rights and national security intersect. He hopes to apply what he learns at Princeton to help develop evidence-based policies that uphold human rights and ensure social cohesion. In his free time, Luka enjoys reading, taking long walks, and supporting FC Barcelona.

Jack is an experienced public policy professional and native Texan. Jack graduated from Yale University in 2022 with a B.A. in economics and additional interests in data science and international politics. After a short stint as an outdoor wilderness guide, Jack entered the public arena in the service of a bipartisanship-oriented Member of Congress. In his role as a Legislative Assistant, Jack analyzed legislation relating to poverty and opportunity in America, specifically focusing on affordable housing access, immigration and refugee policy, as well as democratic strengthening. He coordinated the introduction of almost 20 bipartisan legislative bills related to these critical issues. Through dialogue with humanitarian advocates and independent study, Jack became interested in the possibility of pursuing international development as a career, combining many longstanding personal and professional interests. At Princeton, Jack hopes to enhance his skills in economic analysis, development practice, and foreign language in order to prepare himself for a career in evidence-based poverty alleviation at an international development organization.

Before coming to Princeton, Wonkyung worked at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris as a Young Associate. Her work focused on tackling discrimination and inequality through evidence-based policies. She contributed to key projects on anti-discrimination legislation across OECD countries and gender statistics in Egypt, while also serving as a liaison for the Norwegian delegation during the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. Wonkyung holds a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in women’s studies from Ewha Womans University in South Korea. During her undergraduate years, she studied abroad in Norway and Canada, deepening her interest in international policy and social equity. At Princeton, she hopes to explore ways to secure sustainable funding mechanisms so that critical social policies can thrive – regardless of shifting political and economic conditions. She also looks forward to learning more about inclusive development, particularly in countries like South Africa. During the summer before starting at SPIA, she traveled across Europe, North America, and South Korea, reconnecting with loved ones and enjoying a well-earned break before grad school. Born in Indiana and raised in Seoul, Wonkyung brings a cross-cultural perspective to her work. After graduation, she hopes to join an international organization such as the World Bank or United Nations to help countries design inclusive policies and improve equality data. In her free time, she enjoys birdwatching, spontaneous karaoke nights, and all things delightfully unconventional – if you spot her with a pair of binoculars, don’t hesitate to say hi!

Soon Young received her bachelor’s in public administration from Sung Kyun Kwan University in South Korea. Since 2020, she has worked as a deputy director at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, where she has been primarily responsible for public budgeting and performance-based budgeting. In this role, she focused on enhancing fiscal responsibility and aligning resource allocation with outcomes that matter. Her professional experience has given her deep insight into how budgeting decisions are made in practice and how institutional structures influence the effectiveness of public policies. Building on this foundation, her academic interests now center on how to increase efficiency in public budgeting systems while simultaneously ensuring democratic accountability. Through graduate study, she hopes to gain a more interdisciplinary and comparative perspective on public finance systems. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Soon Young is an avid photographer who enjoys capturing candid moments of everyday life. She also values personal wellness and maintains an active lifestyle through running and swimming. Most of all, she finds great meaning in connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and learning from their unique experiences and perspectives.