Jakob Gibson received his B.A. in Political Science from Westminster College in Fulton, MO, where he also completed various internships, op eds, and conference presentations on various ethical warfare topics. As a student in the M.A. program, he hopes to specialize in the study of ethical warfare and the War on Terror.
From Providence, RI, Mia graduated from the University of Rhode Island in May 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Africana Studies. She spent time on the Student Advisory Council for the Africana Studies Department to help revamp the program and recruit others who may be interested in the major. She also held a position as the Vice President of Intellectual Development, and was a founding member of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, which re-established at URI in 2021. Additionally, her favorite shows are RuPaul’s Drag Race and Survivor, and being from New England, she also loves watching Celtics games. Go Celtics! Currently, Mia’s research is focused on the free Black society of New Orleans from 1763 to 1825. History and Geography have been her favorite subjects since she was young.
Erica Croft received a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Constitutional Studies from Utah Valley University in 2021, graduating magna cum laude. As a Wood Research Assistant at UVU’s Center for Constitutional Studies from 2019 to 2022, Erica contributed to the Quill Project, a digital history initiative which maps legislative and constitutional processes. In 2022, Erica presented her work on the digitization of the records of the United States Congress from 1862 to 1875, which emphasized the development of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Constitutional Amendments.
From St. Louis, Missouri, Alex Bernier graduated from Mizzou with B.A.s in Political Science, History, and Constitutional Democracy, along with a minor in Ancient Mediterranean Studies. His primary academic focus has been on the formation, development, and impact of government regimes, with a specific emphasis on the Haudenosaunee Confederacy of the American Northeast and its influence on the U.S. Constitution. Alex plans to attend law school after completing the M.A. program. Outside of academics, he spends his time hiking, biking, or playing ultimate frisbee with the Mizzou club team.
Ruth Adesanya graduated from the University of Warwick with a B.A. in History, where she mainly focused on the ‘Black Atlantic’, British imperialism, and Migration History. During her time as an undergraduate, Ruth also had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Outside her studies, Ruth enjoys drawing, painting and travelling to explore different countries and cultures.
Grant Hopkins earned a B.S. in Philosophy from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2012. His undergraduate studies focused on ethical and political philosophy. Upon graduation, Grant commissioned in the United States Army as an active-duty Infantry officer. After fulfilling his service obligation, Grant returned to his hometown of Jefferson City, Missouri and applied to the University of Missouri School of Law. As a dual J.D./M.A. student and veteran, Grant is thankful for the opportunity to learn from his peers and instructors while also bringing his own unique experiences and perspectives to the classroom.
Sean Kelly graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in May 2019, majoring in both Accounting and Economics. After a two-year stint as a public accountant, he came to the Kinder Institute as part of their dual-degree program, concurrently pursuing the M.A. in Atlantic History & Politics and a J.D., with a concentration in tax law. Sean has a keen interest in modern transatlantic political exchange and heterodox political economy. When he isn’t listening to a good podcast, he enjoys watching college football and hockey.
