Directory

Gwen Blevins is a junior from Kansas City, MO, majoring in Constitutional Democracy and International Studies, with minors in Spanish, History, and Political Science. Gwen is involved on campus with the Missouri Debate Union as the Director of Programming, Mizzou Model United Nations as Parliamentarian, and the Kinder Undergraduate Society. She also works as a Research Assistant with Dr. Soren Larsen on a project related to Place Based Learning. In her free time, Gwen enjoys crocheting, playing video games with friends, and reading comics. Gwen is passionate about international affairs and Indigenous rights and she hopes to attend graduate school to pursue a career in the Department of State.

Trent Bracht is a rising senior from Warrenton, Missouri. He is studying Political Science. Trent is involved in multiple extracurriculars on campus, including two campus ministries, Salt Company and the Christian Campus House, and the Washington Society, an organization dedicated to debating philosophy. Outside of class, Trent likes to spend his spare time going on walks and line dancing. Trent’s career goals involve attending law school upon graduation, after which he plans to seek a job in constitutional law that will utilize his interests in politics and the law.

Maddie Bunger is a junior from Roscoe, Illinois, studying Biology and Health Science, with a focus on Leadership and Policy. On campus, Maddie is a member of the Little Sisters of the Golden Rose service sorority and the College of Health Sciences Fraternity, Sigma Eta Rho, and outside of school, enjoys hiking, spending time with friends, wasting too much money at Target, and reading. After graduation, Maddie plans to pursue a career in medicine or healthcare policy and law after graduation.

Laine Cibulskis is a third-year student from Bolingbrook, Illinois, pursing a dual degree in Journalism and Political Science with minors in Economics and Constitutional Democracy. An aspiring data and investigative reporter covering political and economic policy issues, Laine currently serves as a health and higher education reporter with the Columbia Missourian and KBIA, mid-Missouri’s NPR-affiliate; an editorial assistant with Investigative Reporters and Editors; a grader for the MU Economics Department; and treasurer for MU’s chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, a political science honors society. When not writing or studying, Laine loves to hike, rollerblade, run, write poetry, take artsy photos, and paint.

Kathryn Eisler is an MU junior majoring in Political Science and Constitutional Democracy, with
minors in Spanish, Latin American Studies, and History. On campus, Kathryn serves as the co-chair for a student recruitment organization that works closely with the Mizzou Office of Admissions and is a member of Alpha Delta Pi. When not studying or working, Kathryn enjoys spending time in nature, listening to music, and hanging out with friends, and after graduation, hopes to pursue a career in international relations and foreign policy.

Mya Franklin is a junior from St. Louis, MO, studying Political Science and Constitutional Democracy, with a minor in Spanish. After her undergrad career, she hopes to obtain her Master’s in History and then pursue a law degree. On campus, she is involved with Kinder Institute’s Society of Fellows, the Little Sisters of the Gold Rose service sorority, the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center, and the Courageous Leadership Series through the Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusion. In her free time, she enjoys binging sit-coms (The Office, currently), hanging out with her friends, and spending time outdoors.

Maggie Funston is a junior from Festus, Missouri, studying Political Science and Constitutional Democracy. Maggie is a part of several organizations on Mizzou’s campus, serving as the co-director of student government freshman programming (First Year Council); a senator in the Missouri Students Association; president of Mizzou Model United Nations; and an attorney and witness for Mizzou Mock Trial. Outside of her academic commitments, Maggie also serves as a legislative intern with State Senator Angela Walton Mosley in Missouri’s State Senate. While all this keeps her quite busy, Maggie enjoys taking time to watch movies (particularly those starring Matt Damon), listen to music (particularly that of Frank Sinatra), and bake desserts with her dad. After completing her undergraduate studies, Maggie will attend law school to study criminal law and practice as a prosecuting attorney before moving into the world of politics to serve the communities around her.

Carly Gordon is a junior from St. Charles, Missouri, pursuing majors in Political Science, Constitutional Democracy, and International Studies, with an emphasis in Latin American Studies, as well as a minor in Spanish. On campus, Carly served as Vice President of Mizzou Model United Nations and was a 2023-24 Kinder Fellow. She also works as a student assistant at the Office of Accessibility and ADA, addressing access barriers on campus and ensuring that workplace accommodations meet the needs of staff and faculty. After graduating, Carly hopes to utilize these skills in a career in foreign service, advocating for human rights on a global stage. When not studying or working, she enjoys eating vegan food and traveling with friends.

Ashton Hawkins is an MU junior from Kansas City, majoring in Sociology with a minor in Criminology/Criminal Justice. A member of Mizzou’s Mock Trial Association, Ashton hopes to attend law school after graduating. In her free time, she enjoys reading and painting.

Charles Hodge II is a senior from Dacula, GA, majoring in Political Science (Pre-Law emphasis) with a minor in American Constitutional Democracy. Charles is Treasurer of the Black Pre-Law Student Association (BPLSA) and a general member of Mizzou Model United Nations (MIZMUN). Charles plans to go to law school after graduating, and when not studying or working, likes listening to music artists like Fiona Apple and her album “When the Pawn…”

Zeb Howell is an MU junior from the rural town of Summersville, MO, pursing degrees in Political Science and Public Administration and Policy. He aspires to have a career in public policy or non-profit management where he can help give back to others. On campus, Zeb is a member of MU Tour Team and has held multiple roles in the Missouri Students Association, and in his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and spending time back home in the Ozarks.

A senior at Mizzou, Luke Hruby is a double major in Political Science and Constitutional Democracy. He is involved in the Missouri Students Association, where he serves as an Academic Senator for the College of Arts and Science and sits on the Internal Affairs Committee to help delegate funding to student organizations across campus. He also serves as a Justice for the Residence Halls Association, where he works to improve student life and well-being in the dorms. Outside of his involvement on campus, Luke enjoys cheering on Mizzou athletics and is a huge fan of Chicago sports and Formula 1 racing.

Scout Hudson, a sophomore from St. Peters, MO, is studying Journalism and Constitutional Democracy, with minors in Political Science and History. She is currently the editor-in-chief of MU’s student newspaper, The Maneater, volunteers at Tiger Pantry, and is a member of MU’s student radio station, KCOU 88.1 FM. She hopes to pursue investigative journalism and is considering attending law school post-graduation. In her free time, she enjoys reading, collecting vinyl, and spending time with friends.

A senior from Little Rock, Arkansas, Emily Jones is double-majoring in Political Science, with a Pre-Law emphasis, and Interdisciplinary Studies, with an emphasis in Women’s and Gender Studies, while also pursuing a minor in American Constitutional Democracy and a certificate in Multicultural Studies. After graduating, she plans on going to law school to pursue a career as a human rights lawyer, focusing on cases that deal with social justice issues and civil rights. On campus, Emily is the Outreach Coordinator for Mizzou Democrats and is also one of the founding Youth Ambassadors for the Missouri Chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus. An organization whose mission is to elect female policymakers who are passionate about women’s issues, Emily’s role as a Youth Ambassador involves working to increase the demographic of young voters, specifically 18–25-year-olds, and supporting the election of pro-choice female candidates. In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, and completing puzzles.

Bobby Lee is a senior from Waterloo, Illinois, majoring in History and Constitutional Democracy, with minors in East Asian Studies and Political Science. He plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Modern Chinese and Taiwanese History after graduation and hopes to go into academia. He was involved in the Kinder Institute’s Society of Fellows and ASH Scholars Team during 2023-24, and is also a member of the MU Tour Team. In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer and basketball (Go Newcastle and Nuggets!) and playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Benjamin Miller is a senior Journalism student from Miami, Florida, concentrating in Reporting & Writing. He also works as a Registered Behavioral Technician at Atlas Autism Health. During his time at Mizzou, he’s written and reported for the Columbia Missourian, the Missouri Business Alert, and KOMU8. He hopes to obtain a master’s degree in behavioral science and become a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst after graduating. In his free time. he enjoys reading and playing guitar.

Aidan Pittman is a senior from Kansas City, Missouri, majoring in Journalism, with a minor in Constitutional Democracy. He currently reports for the Columbia Missourian, covering the 2024 session of the Missouri General Assembly, and has also been working with True/False Film Festival, serving as both a screening committee member and an assistant venue captain. On campus, Aidan is the Social Chair of the Missouri Debate Union and a member of Mizzou Model United Nations and was a 2023-24 undergraduate fellow at the Kinder Institute. After college, he hopes to become more heavily involved with film and/or politics to make a positive difference in these fields. In his free time, Aidan enjoys catching films at movie theaters, listening to Talking Heads and David Bowie, and going for walks when the weather cooperates.

Abby Ramirez is a senior from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, majoring in Constitutional Democracy and Journalism, with minors in Political Science and History. She was involved with the Kinder Institute’s inaugural ASH Scholars Team in 2023-24, studying the evolution of women’s identity along the Santa Fe Trail. On campus, Abby is also a writer for Vox Magazine and Assistant Director of MU It’s on Us, a sexual assault prevention club. In her free time, Abby likes to ride her bike on the MKT Trail and rewatch her favorite TV shows, Gilmore Girls and Ted Lasso.

Emily Reed is a junior from Blue Springs, Missouri, double-majoring in Constitutional Democracy, with an emphasis in Law and Institutions, and Philosophy, with a certificate in Ethical Theory and Practice, and pursuing minors in History, Political Science, and Law. After graduation, Emily plans to obtain both a master’s degree and attend law school, with the ultimate career goal of working within the federal circuit court of appeals, ideally in a clerkship position. Emily is also involved in multiple organizations at Mizzou. She is Vice President of the Mizzou Mock Trial Association, Vice President of the Kinder Institute Undergraduate Society, and a member of Model United Nations, the Missouri Debate Union, and the Kinder Institute Society of Fellows. In her free time, she enjoys reading random new books and cooking/baking random new recipes.

From outside St. Louis, Erin Reynolds is an MU senior majoring in Political Science, Constitutional Democracy, and Psychology, with a minor in History. She is captain of the MU Mock Trial Association and a member of the Phil Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity and plans to attend law school after her undergraduate career is done, with the goal of becoming a practicing attorney. In her free time, Erin enjoys working out and spending time with friends and family.

Cristal Sanchez is a third-year student from Rockford, Illinois, majoring in Journalism and Political Science, with minors in Constitutional Democracy and Business. She is the co-founder of ¿De Veras?, an upstarting bilingual news outlet in the Mid-Missouri area. This passion has ignited her to join the MU Communications Department as a research assistant analyzing how news outlets reporting specifically for people of color are building community. At Mizzou, Cristal is also a part of the executive board for both the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Association of Latin American Students to advocate for Latino students on campus. When she finds a free spot on her calendar, she tries to take care of her many plants, and enjoys trying different foods from different cultures.

Kylie Schmerbach is a junior from Lawson, Missouri, a small town north of Kansas City. She is studying Constitutional Democracy and Public Administration and Policy, with minors in History and Political Science. On campus, Kylie is a member of the Missouri Student Foundation, ASUM, and Kappa Alpha Theta, and at the Kinder Institute, she was part of the 2023-24 cohort of the Society of Fellows and assists with the Kinder Institute Democracy Lab as a coordinator for the Undergraduate Lecture Committee, in addition to working at the front desk as an Ambassador. In her free time, she is an avid reader and likes exploring local shops with friends, and after graduation she hopes to work with a think tank in the D.C. area.

Danika Stilwell is a junior from Fenton, Missouri, majoring in Constitutional Democracy (Law and Institutions) and Economics, with minors in Journalism, History, and Political Science. She participated in the Kinder Institute Residential College her freshman year and is a member of the Honors College. On campus, Danika served as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for her sorority and worked as a Peer Learning Assistant for the Economics Department, and she is
currently a tutor at the Writing Center and a member of Mizzou’s largest student-run philanthropic organization, Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis (RAMS). In her free time, Danika loves to read, golf, and spend time with her family.

Emma Thompson went to middle and high school in Edmond, Oklahoma, a suburb outside of OKC, and spent her earlier years in a suburb outside of Houston, Texas. She is a junior double major in Constitutional Democracy and Political Science, with minors in History and Religious Studies. Emma is the Vice President of Operations for the Alpa Mu chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, doing risk prevention and member support, and after graduation, she plans to go to law school and then work in government doing political advising and communications. In her free time, she is either laughing with friends or consuming some sort of media and particularly loves when books and TV collide.

Lucy Washburn is a junior from Jefferson City, Missouri, studying Political Science and Constitutional Democracy. On campus, she is heavily involved with 812 Ministries, serves as the Vice President of the political science club Pi Sigma Alpha, acts as the Chair of Educational Outreach for the Kinder Institute Undergraduate Society, and is an active member of Pi Sigma Alpha pre-law fraternity. In her free time, Lucy enjoys reading, painting, and game nights with friends. Upon graduation, she hopes to attend law school.

Alice Willard is a junior from Memphis, Tennessee, majoring in Political Science (Pre-Law) and Constitutional Democracy and minoring in History. In the future, she hopes to practice law and continue researching the fundamental texts and constitutions of the American founding. On campus, Alice serves as a ministry team member in Reformed University Fellowship, Chair of Events for the Kinder Institute Undergraduate Society, and works closely with the Kinder Institute Democracy Lab as a programming fellow. In her spare time, she coaches volleyball, reads novels, watches movies, and is always on the lookout for the next great cold brew.