Turkish Heritage

As a graduate student in the Governance of International Relations at Sciences Po Toulouse, in France, Sonia foresees to pursue a Ph.D. During a one-year exchange at Yeditepe University, she has researched Istanbul and Gaziantep as part of her undergraduate thesis, before displaying her results in Berlin and Istanbul. Her work deals with the years following the 2016 EU-Turkey deal and the Syrian refugee response implemented by varying actors in Turkey. As a former Research Intern at the Istanbul Policy Center in Spring 2019, among other tasks, Sonia participated in the elaboration of quantitative analysis of Turkey’s economic trade with the MENA. For the past nine months, she has been involved in European Horizons, Yale's student policy-incubator as a Research analyst, and now as Co-President of a Chapter.

Currently, she is thrilled to be associated with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and The Turkish Heritage Organization. Throughout a combination of political sociology, sociology of international organizations, and urban geography, her main areas of research concern forced displacements, refugees' resettlements and returns, urban migrations, and migration governance and policies in the Middle East and North Africa.

Born and raised in Washington state, Hannah Jacobson first discovered her passion for international politics and cultures after getting the opportunity to participate in a yearlong study abroad in France. She is currently a graduating senior at the University of Washington, pursuing her degree in political science and international studies, while specializing in issues of international security.

Specifically, Hannah’s interests are in conflict analysis and prevention through mediation and negotiation dialogue. Rather than focusing on a specific region, Hannah chose to broaden her interest in international affairs through her academic experiences. This has made Hannah knowledgeable and sensitive to the cultural contexts of several different regions around the world.

She is excited to be an asset to THO and promote the importance of US-turkey bilateral relations.

Home to Los Angeles, California, Sean Russell found his spark for International Affairs after completing his first year at American University. Making the bi-coastal commute, Sean studies International Relations through the lens of Global Economics. He recently concluded an internship with the Congressional office of his home town Representative, Adam Schiff. His short time so far in DC was filled with academic rigor and critical work experience making Sean productive and adaptive for such a young age.

Sean was introduced to the Turkish Heritage Organization through a field trip led by his Professor. Coincidentally, Sean traveled to Turkey shortly after this visit. Cementing his interest in all things Turkey, Sean is thrilled to utilize his ability and help the THO team.

Caelan Elliot is a junior at Baylor University in the University Scholars program, concentrating in Political Science, Great Texts, Languages, and Music. A native Texan, Caelan's international interests have broadened through academic experiences in China, Turkey, and Greece. She is now a member of Baylor’s competitive Model UN team and is working towards fluency in Spanish, Swahili, and Turkish. Caelan is passionate about the intersection of policy and international affairs with the humanities, and finds great joy in learning—whether she is researching current events or reading Jane Austen.

Dustin Hinkley is a senior at the University of Massachusetts Lowell studying political science and history, an alumnus of Massachusetts Bay Community College, and a proud New Englander. Dustin is a member of his university's internationally recognized Model UN group and is studying French, German, and Japanese.

Dustin is particularly interested in issues relating to international energy and environmental politics, the transatlantic relationship, American foreign policy in East Asia, and nuclear security. Having interned at the Massachusetts State House and for Congressman Jim McGovern, Dustin is looking forward to expanding his horizons in the field of international affairs and to exploring his interests through the lens of the US-Turkey relationship while at the Turkish Heritage Organization.

Tyvin Whittaker is a senior at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Tyvin is currently studying International Relations and Philosophy. He is a proud Midwesterner, and lover of the great outdoors and exploring new places. A leader in his fraternity, he developed a passion for policymaking and diplomacy. He is driven by finding beneficial solutions to the complex problems facing society in today's world. 

He aspires to deepen and expand his knowledge of foreign affairs while at the Turkish Heritage Organization.

Tania is an undergraduate International Relations student at Iberoamericana University based in Mexico City. Throughout her time in university, she explored human rights issues as part of Iberoamericana University´s Human Rights Program. As a volunteer in the program, she documented and systematized clandestine graves reported by the local and national press during 2019 in Mexico as part of the program´s leading research project. In 2020, she conducted research on the Uyghur Human Rights Crisis in China.

She is currently a volunteer for Amnesty International´s Digital Verification Corps Project, an innovation project in human rights and technology. Her areas of interest are human rights, refugees in the Middle East and foreign affairs. Tania is currently a member of The Washington Center´s Fall Internship Program, where she expects to work on her professional development. As an intern in the Turkish Heritage Organization, she looks forward to nurture her interests in Human Rights, specifically in refugees approaching Turkish boarders. Moreover, she looks forward to gaining knowledge in Foreign Affairs between Turkey and the United States, as well as in security concerns between both countries.