Current MPA Students

José Tomás is from Santiago, Chile. Before joining Princeton, he was an economist at Chile’s National Committee for Evaluation and Productivity (CNEP), where he tackled projects aimed at improving efficiency in public healthcare spending, evaluation policy and water management at a national level. Previously, he served under two presidential administrations at Chile’s Ministry of Economy, analyzing the economic impacts of COVID-19 and helping design a crucial support package benefiting nearly a million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). José Tomás holds a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in the same field, both from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, thinking daily about the Roman Empire and traveling.

Rooya is originally from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and is a graduate fellow in the Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative Program, pursuing an MPA in international development. Rooya graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University in the Department of Politics and received the Lyman H. Atwater Prize for the best thesis on a topic of political science for her senior thesis, "The Power of Getting Perspective: A Study of Point of View and Narrative on Attitudes and Behavior towards Refugees." Rooya was also a 2022 Rhodes Scholarship Finalist. Rooya worked as a research assistant for Professor Andrew Reynolds and completed summer internships with Hunger Free Colorado as a 2019 John C. Bogle Fellow, with the World Wildlife Fund as a 2021 Princeton RISE fellow, and interned with the federal government. Her first SINSI rotation was at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration in the Office of Assistance for East, South, and Central Asia. Outside of politics, she is passionate about hiking, swimming, reading science fiction, and writing poetry.

Mahmud is a career civil servant from Bangladesh with a multidisciplinary background spanning electrical engineering, public administration and social protection. He has served in diverse regional contexts – from coordinating humanitarian and environmental interventions in Cox’s Bazar during the Rohingya crisis, to resolving land disputes and ensuring access to services for marginalized communities in the flood-prone district of Kurigram. Most recently, he worked as the Private Secretary to the Executive Chairman of the National Pension Authority under the Ministry of Finance, where he contributed to pension scheme redesign and international coordination efforts, particularly with the International Social Security Association (ISSA). Mahmud completed his undergraduate studies in electrical and electronic engineering at BUET. After starting his career in civil service, he has helped mentor and motivate countless young engineering graduates from his alma mater to pursue similar paths. Once admitted, he offered them vital guidance to navigate the early years thoughtfully. He is now also inspiring his juniors in civil service to pursue graduate studies in public policy, public affairs, international development, and other relevant fields at prestigious U.S. institutions. This past summer, Mahmud interned with organizations involved in FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations, gaining firsthand insight into the inner workings of a global sporting event. He had the opportunity to visit several host cities and watch a few matches from an organizer’s perspective. After graduating from SPIA, Mahmud plans to serve his country in a policy role and later contribute to global international development efforts through institutions such as UNDP or the World Bank.

Augusta Reinhart is a 2025 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow and currently serves as a contractor with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, having previously supported the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Her work focuses on cooperative threat reduction, economic statecraft, and regional policy.

She previously managed international education and exchange programs at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center, overseeing initiatives centered on leadership development and public diplomacy. She also partnered with the International Rescue Committee and local government officials to design and implement employment initiatives supporting refugee resettlement in rural communities.

Augusta has participated in U.S. delegations to China through the Max S. Baucus Institute and the Johns Hopkins University–Nanjing Center, as well as the MOSAIC program in Taiwan. In 2019, she was selected as a Fulbright Killam Fellow, studying at the Université de Montréal, and later spent a year in Lyon, France.

She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Montana with a Master’s degree in Political Science and dual Bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and French, along with certificates in Migration Studies, Global Leadership, and Pre-Law.

Ivan is originally from Miami Beach, Florida, and most recently called Washington, D.C., home. Before coming to Princeton, he spent over four years as a policy advisor for the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, where he focused on advancing climate resilience and environmental justice for underserved communities. His work prioritized equitable policy solutions for residents of the U.S. territories, including efforts to promote clean energy access and address systemic inequities. Ivan played a key role in advancing the Puerto Rico Status Act, a landmark bill that outlines a decolonization process for Puerto Rico to choose a non-territorial political status. He also helped establish the Department of Energy’s Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund, which supports rooftop solar and battery storage systems for vulnerable communities on the island. Earlier in his career, Ivan served as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellow, supporting American Red Cross initiatives to improve disaster response for marginalized populations. Ivan holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Comparative Studies from Duke University. At Princeton, he is pursuing a Master in Public Affairs focused on environmental and energy policy. His goal is to help ensure that all communities, regardless of geography or income, have access to a healthy environment and reliable, clean energy. A former competitive figure skater, Ivan is looking forward to practicing his jumps and spins at Princeton’s Hobey Baker Memorial Rink.