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Stanford
Department of Political Science
School of Humanities and Sciences

Peer Advising

The Political Science peer advisors are current majors who are passionate about the program and available to advise prospective and current students. They have all taken very different paths within the major and each can talk about courses, the declaration process, picking a major advisor, and other opportunities within the department and the University. Peer advisors are available via email, and they hold frequent office hours and events throughout the year. They are very willing to help!

 

2024-2025 Peer Advisors

 

Alex Ellison

ellison9 [at] stanford.edu (ellison9[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Alex (she/her) is a senior majoring in Political Science, specializing in the Justice & Law and International Relations tracks. Her academic interests primarily center around educational equity and systemic issues of justice. In the past, Alex has furthered her commitment to ethical community service by working with organizations such as the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office, Junior State of America, and the ACLU to advocate for diverse, low-income students and communities, improving their access to resources regarding civic and civil education. Additionally, she has gained cultural fluency working, living, and studying abroad in both Santiago, Chile and Madrid, Spain. On campus, Alex serves her local collegiate community as a writing tutor for the Hume Center, a co-director within Stanford in Government, and a Spanish-language ESL tutor. Presently, she is researching and writing her Political Science Honors Thesis, investigating the intricate relationship between ethnic conflict and federalism in states with high levels of political instability. In her free time, Alex loves to crochet, read classic literature, and obsess over Greek mythology. She loves discussing anything related to political philosophy, so make sure to connect with her about anything related (or unrelated) to Political Science at Stanford!

 

Drew Messing

drewmess [at] stanford.edu (drewmess[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Drew (he/him) is a senior majoring in Political Science with concentrations in Data Science and Political Economy and Development. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Drew grew up with a deep passion for discussing policy –– and loves watching (and re-watching!) presidential debates, dating back to Kennedy-Nixon. He was drawn to political science for the analytical tools it provides to dissect governments, markets, and organizations. Drew’s academic focus lies in business and technology, and how they are shaped by policy. He has spent each summer in college working in a different area of investing: real estate, private equity, and hedge funds. In his free time, you might find Drew on the tennis court, watching stand-up comedy, or sharing stories from studying abroad in Florence. Feel free to reach out to Drew with any questions or for advice — he’s always happy to chat!

Erik Bradley

erikwbradley [at] stanford.edu (erikwbradley[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Erik (he/him) is a senior from Issaquah, Washington studying Political Science, with tracks in Political Economy and International Relations. His academic interests are broad, having taken the core in CS, as well as coursework in economics, math, statistics, and chemistry. He spent Winter ‘24 at Stanford in Washington, working at the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. Outside of class, he is working towards an EMT certification, an editor for the Stanford Journal of International Affairs, and a fellow at the Constitutional Law Center. Talk to him about anything, but he’s particularly interested in healthcare reform, energy startups, and agriculture technology in the Netherlands.

Alondra Martinez

alondra7 [at] stanford.edu (alondra7[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Alondra (she/her) is a junior studying Political Science focusing on the Elections, Representation, and Governance and Justice & Law tracks. She is from Los Angeles, California and is interested in social justice, civil rights, elections/politics, and entertainment law. Alondra spent her spring quarter of sophomore year at Stanford in Washington (SIW). At SIW, she was a legislative intern for the Office of Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove and took classes on civil rights law, foreign policy, and U.S. political violence. This past summer, she was a legal intern for the LA County Public Defender's Office. On campus, she is an active member of Stanford Women in Politics and The Stanford Daily. Alondra is also a research assistant for the Social Media Lab, focusing on political misinformation and disinformation among Spanish-speaking individuals. This year, Alondra is also going to be an RA for Donner. Outside of class, Alondra loves to watch movies, go to concerts, and do arts and crafts. She is excited to connect with anyone interested in Political Science and is happy to answer any questions!

Alvin Lee

alvinhonglee [at] stanford.edu (alvinhonglee[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Alvin Lee (he/him) is a senior at Stanford University studying polisci and education. He is deeply passionate about California education policy and has worked at all levels of government, including City, State, and the Federal Government. On campus, he is a tour guide and founder of the California Policy Forum. Alvin also conducts research and serves as a TA. Come talk to him about anything polisci related, or just all things life / stanford!!!

Mobina Riazi

riazim [at] stanford.edu (riazim[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Mobina (she/her) is a senior majoring in Political Science with concentrations in the Political Economy of Development and International Relations, while also pursuing a Coterminal Master’s in Communications. Her academic and professional interests focus on the critical intersection of cybersecurity and human rights.Last summer, Mobina interned with the CyberPeace Institute in Geneva, where she helped develop a human-centric framework for measuring the impact of cyberattacks. Currently, she serves as a Network Navigator at Graphika, analyzing complex digital networks. Mobina has also contributed to various academic and research initiatives, including projects with the Stanford Ethics Center, HAI (Human-Centered AI Institute), the Iranian Studies Program, and The Humanitarian Program at Stanford Law School.On campus, Mobina is an active member of the Persian Student Association and the Stanford Iran Policy Group. Outside her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and practicing calligraphy.Mobina is passionate about helping others navigate the world of Political Science, find the right major, and secure meaningful internship opportunities. Feel free to reach out to her with any questions or concerns!

Anna Perronne

annaperr [at] stanford.edu (annaperr[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Anna (she/her) is a senior majoring in Political Science with a primary track in Elections, Representation, and Governance and a secondary track in Justice and Law. She is interested in thinking about identity and society, particularly how racialized ideologies and hierarchies within the U.S. shape or limit the ways that politics and policy impact certain identity communities. Anna’s interest in and passion for pursuing social justice from a multicultural standpoint led her to spend one summer working with a local human rights organization in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to promote and protect women’s rights as they relate to domestic violence and another working with Somos Familia, an Oakland-based organization that provides education and support for families of queer Latinx youth. She continued her multicultural study of policy, human rights, social movements, and identity while abroad in Santiago, Chile, and again in Hong Kong. On campus, Anna is the editor in chief for Embodied, the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department journal, and can be found playing ultimate frisbee, sewing a new outfit, or baking cookies at Antoine’s Cookie Shop. She is excited to answer any questions and talk about anything related to Political Science at Stanford!

Nilou Davis

nmdavis [at] stanford.edu (nmdavis[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Nilou (she/her) is a junior majoring in Political Science (with tracks in Political Economy of Development and Data Science) and History. Nilou’s academic interests lie at the intersection of theories of state formation, post-conflict and refugee governance, and institutional design. With the support of the Human Rights Department, Nilou spent the last summer working in Jakarta at a judicial transparency NGO, focusing on legal research and developing advocacy strategies for legal reform in the Supreme Court of Indonesia. The summer following freshman year, Nilou had the opportunity to intern at Stanford’s Immigration Policy Lab (IPL), conducting research on refugee and asylum law. On campus, Nilou is involved with the Cardinal Policy Group, Stanford Debate Society, Stanford ACLU, Herodotus History Journal, and she works as a research assistant in the Political Science and Human Rights departments. Outside of class, Nilou loves to read, hike, and go to art galleries. Come talk to Nilou about any questions you may have related to wanting to pursue academia, working law or policy jobs in the summer, or the best pastry rotations at CoHo!

Kate Tully

ktully03 [at] stanford.edu (ktully03[at]stanford[dot]edu)

 

Kate Tully (She/Her) is a Junior from Sacramento, California studying political science with tracks in Elections, Representation and Governance, and International Relations. She is interested in foreign policy, authoritarian regimes and failed/failing states. On campus, Kate is an intern for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the Hoover Institution, and conducts research on geopolitics for Professor Stephen Kotkin. She has interned at the U.S. Department of State and is currently interning for the U.S. Department of Defense. In her free time, Kate enjoys reading, improving her French, and playing Geoguessr. She is happy to connect with anyone interested in political science or international current events!