The Ralph Bunche Summer Institute Program (RBSI) is an annual, intensive five-week program held at Duke University under the direction of Dr. Paula D. McClain. The RBSI is designed to introduce aspiring political scientists to the world of doctoral study. This is the 40th year of the program. The 2026 Institute was held May 24-June 25, 2026. Please join us in congratulating the 2026 scholars!
KYLAH ADAMS
Kylah Adams is a rising senior at Agnes Scott College, pursuing a double major in political science and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. During her time at Agnes Scott, Kylah has been an active member of her community, serving as a peer tutor, an environmental resident, and a member of the Student Government Association’s executive board. She is also a first-generation college student and a member of Tri-Alpha, representing Agnes Scott while lobbying in Washington, DC to preserve federal protections of Medicaid and SNAP benefits. Kylah’s academic interests lie within the intersections of American political behavior and identity. She is particularly interested in how both marginalized identities (race, class, sexuality) interact with other forms of identity (such as sorority affiliation and partisan identity) to inform the political decisions of US voters. Kylah has been fortunate to present her work on the participatory habits of Generation Z at the Southern Political Science Association’s Annual Meeting and looks forward to furthering her research while incorporating feminist lenses into her academic work. After graduating, Kylah plans to pursue a doctoral degree in political science and work as a college professor to teach the next generation of political scientists and researchers.
FAITH ADEDOKUN
Faith Adedokun is a psychology major with a minor in public policy. Her academic interests center on the intersection of education policy and political communication, with a particular emphasis on how policy issues are framed and interpreted by the public. Her previous research has examined political messaging surrounding education, exploring how gubernatorial candidates address topics such as teacher compensation and school funding across cost-of-living divides. Faith is especially committed to supporting aspiring legal professionals. As President of the Hawk Hill Law Club, she leads initiatives that connect pre-law students with alumni and legal professionals. Faith is also actively engaged in a range of leadership roles across campus. She serves as president of the Dean’s Leadership Program and the Villiger Speech and Debate Team, as well as vice president of the African-Caribbean Student Association and Honors Peer Mentoring Coordinator. She also works as a writing center tutor, helping students strengthen their academic writing skills. Faith plans to pursue a career at the intersection of law and public policy, with a focus on education reform and advocacy. She is committed to advancing research that informs equitable policy solutions while preparing for legal studies and contributing meaningfully to the field of political science.
YESLI AGUILAR
Yesli Aguilar is a rising senior at Texas A&M University, where she studies political science in the Bush School of Government and Public Service, along with a second major in sociology and a minor in Hispanic studies for community engagement. As a first-generation college student and the daughter of immigrants, her academic interests center on structural inequalities affecting immigrant communities in the United States. Her research focuses on the intersection of immigration, education policy, and political behavior, with particular attention to Latino communities. She is especially interested in how inclusive education policies, such as bilingual and newcomer programs, shape political participation, civic engagement, and partisan identification among immigrants and their children. As an undergraduate research assistant at Texas A&M University, she works on research regarding political solidarity and institutional trust in American politics. On campus, she serves on the executive board of the Multicultural Greek Council through Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc., and is an intern with the Brazos Interfaith Immigration Network. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in political science, focusing on Latino politics, political behavior, and public policy.
MOHAMED ALJAHMI
Mohamed Aljahmi is a rising senior and dean’s list scholar at Queens College, CUNY, where he is pursuing a double major in political science and sociology with minors in data analytics, legal studies, and honors in social sciences. His research interests center on computational social science and diaspora politics, with a particular focus on the political behavior of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) communities. Mohamed utilizes R machine learning and natural language processing to analyze racial identity and voting patterns, currently leveraging the Collaborative Multiracial Post-Election Survey (CMPS) for his senior honors thesis. Beyond his independent research, Mohamed served as a research assistant for Professor Peter Liberman, examining the erosion of checks and balances in dictatorships. On campus, he serves as a Senator in the Academic Senate and an embedded tutor. He has also contributed to historical research at the Museum of Chinese in America through the Bloomberg Arts Internship. Mohamed intends to pursue a PhD in political science to become a university professor and contribute meaningful quantitative scholarship to the study of minority political representation.
CAMILA ARMAS
Camila Armas is a rising senior at Howard University majoring in political science with a minor in Spanish. She is a part of the inaugural cohort of the Howard Humanities and Social Sciences Scholars Program. Previously, Camila participated in Vanderbilt’s Accountability, Behavior, and Conflict in Democratic Politics REU under Dr. Sharece Thrower studying the effects of undocumented immigrant populations on state government political party partisanship. She was also a Mellon Mays Social Justice Consortium Fellow and research intern under Dr. Marcus Board investigating how urban youth of color in Washington, DC civically engage in response to youth curfew laws. Currently, she is a Ronald W. Walters Leadership & Public Policy Center undergraduate research intern working under Dr. Elsie Scott, Dr. Gabby Gray, and Kettering Fellow Raven Ridgell, to create a toolkit for student civic engagement. On campus, Camila is an award-winning competitor for her school’s Model United Nations Team, a section writer for the Hilltop Student Newspaper, and a student organizer. After graduation, Camila plans to pursue a PhD in political science, focusing on sociopolitical development, American political development, political behavior, and REP. She wants to merge research, activism, and community work as an academic.
YASMIN BENITEZ
Yasmin Benitez is a rising senior at Tufts University majoring in political science with a minor in economics. A Gates and Questbridge Scholar, her academic interests center on educational and tech policy, with a particular interest in how policy solutions can more effectively address the needs of marginalized communities. Her goals include pursuing graduate study after completing her undergraduate degree and working at a national think tank. Yasmin has held positions in the Massachusetts state government as a legislative intern for the Women’s Caucus and currently as an intern for the Office of State Senator Liz Miranda. On campus, she is an AI Policy Fellow with the Tufts AI Safety Student Association, a contributing writer for the Tufts Daily, and a board member for the Tufts Questbridge chapter. Yasmin hopes to take her experiences and interests and build a career at the intersection of public service and shaping federal policy.
KYLIE DAVIS
Kylie Davis is a rising senior at the University of Oklahoma majoring in international security studies. Her academic work focuses on great power competition and regional security, with particular attention to Latin America. She has conducted research on China’s growing influence in the Panama Canal Zone, offering policy implications for the United States, and has examined how US military actions off the Venezuelan coast are perceived across the region. In spring 2026, she served as a research assistant under Dr. Moritz Graefrath, contributing to a book project analyzing the strategic effectiveness of preventive war through both theoretical and historical perspectives. Her broader interests center on developing international relations theories that can be applied to real-world policy decisions. Kylie aims to expand her research on Latin America’s role in US grand strategy as great power competition intensifies. After graduating, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in international relations, followed by a PhD. Ultimately, she hopes to become a professor and mentor future scholars in the field.
MICHAEL (MJ) FERGUSON
Michael (MJ) Ferguson is a rising senior at the University of Arkansas (UARK) pursuing a bachelor of arts in political science, African and African American studies, and international and global studies. As a member of the Fulbright Arts & Sciences Honors Program, Ferguson has received the Silas Hunt Scholarship and the 2026 NWA Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Council Academic Scholarship. As research manager for the UART Lab at UARK, he is co-authoring a manuscript on race-based traumatic stress and political behavior and engagement in southern, rural Black populations. He has contributed to collaborative research at the University of Michigan’s SROP investigating how race shapes public perceptions of policing. Ferguson has presented his research at the University of Michigan SROP Symposium and the Eldersveld Emerging Scholars Conference. Ferguson is developing a senior thesis examining how social media algorithms amplify racialized disinformation centered on Black politics. Beyond research, he has served as vice president of inclusion and programming for the University’s Volunteer Action Center, directing the University’s 2026 Envisioning Justice Conference. Ferguson plans to pursue a PhD in political science, focusing on American politics, race and ethnic politics, and political behavior, with aspirations to become a professor in the discipline.
KAITLYNNE FRANKLIN
Kaitlynne Franklin is a first-generation Southern Illinois University Carbondale political science student with plans to pursue a PhD in American politics, specializing in race and ethnic politics. She has remained dedicated to being involved on campus, serving as a senator in the Undergraduate Student Government and board member of the Black Affairs Council, moving to the executive board serving as the Coordinator of Finances. She also served as the secretary for College Democrats. She worked as a resident assistant, eventually moving up to senior resident assistant. Kaitlynne has also remained on the dean’s list during her time at SIU. She interned for six months with the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus, working as both a communications specialist and a legislative assistant during the Illinois General Assembly session. In the summer of 2025, Kaitlynne was a part of Washington University’s Training Experience in Political Science (WUSTEPS) where she gained experience on graduate school courses and being a research assistant. Within her research, she intends to focus on researching the disparate impact of policies on African Americans and would like to become a professor, looking forward to spreading knowledge and creating connections.
ALEXIS KEYS
Alexis Keys is a rising senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in government and politics and minoring in public leadership. She is a Rawlings Undergraduate Leadership Fellow, a legislative intern at the Maryland General Assembly, and a spring 2026 inducted member of Kappa Omega Alpha. She has spent the past academic year as an undergraduate research assistant in Associate Professor Dr. Periloux Peay’s Transformative American Politics (TrAP) Lab at the University of Maryland. She has incorporated field research methods into projects examining incrementalism in congressional records and stress responses to politically threatening policies, with particular attention to the locational roots of African American communities. Alexis is interested in researching public opinion, political polling, and how data can drive economic and social mobility for underrepresented communities in the Washington metropolitan area. After graduating, she plans to pursue a doctoral degree in political science with a concentration in applied political analytics, preparing for a professional career in data analysis and policy program evaluation.
JAYRIEL KIZER
Jayriel Kizer is a rising senior and first-generation college student at Eastern Illinois University, majoring in political science with a pre-law minor. She has earned a place on the dean’s list for over three semesters. On campus, Jayriel serves as an elected student senator for the Student Government Association, working on student-focused initiatives. She was selected to attend the National Conference on Student Government Associations. She also participates in the Student Action Team, connecting with local lawmakers to advocate for educational and financial support for students. Jayriel’s academic interests are developing, with a focus on African American politics, political theory, and public policy, particularly on how government decisions impact underrepresented communities. Inspired by her lived experiences and coursework, she hopes to explore issues of systemic inequality and representation. While she is still considering her future path, Jayriel is interested in pursuing graduate studies in political science or law, with the hope of contributing to more equitable outcomes for marginalized groups.
ANDREW RATCLIFF
Andrew Ratcliff is an undergraduate scholar at Morehouse College, originally from Washington, DC, where he majors in political science with a minor in economics. At Morehouse, Mr. Ratcliff has demonstrated consistent academic excellence, earning honor roll distinction for five consecutive semesters while maintaining a 3.58 GPA. He is actively engaged in undergraduate research, serving as a research assistant in the HJ Research Lab, directed by Dr. Hye Ryeon Jang, since fall 2025. In this role, he contributes to projects through data collection and trade network analysis. Additionally, Mr. Ratcliff participates in the Quantitative Histories Lab, a collaborative research initiative between Morehouse College and Howard University led by Dr. Hye Ryeon Jang and Dr. Nathan Alexander. Through this work, he has developed a strong foundation in computational geography and interdisciplinary research. Following the completion of his bachelor’s degree, Mr. Ratcliff plans to pursue a PhD in political science. His research interests center on contentious politics, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic politics, and he aspires to contribute meaningful scholarship that examines the intersection of political behavior, institutions, and social inequality.
MICHELE TOGBE
Michele Togbe is a rising senior at Brown University, concentrating in international and public affairs. She most recently served as a Royce Fellow, conducting mixed-methods research on rural healthcare access in Southwest Virginia, with a focus on cross-state care and structural inequities. She previously served as the Student Member of the Fairfax County Public Schools School Board, where she contributed to the district’s 2023–2030 Strategic Plan, advancing equitable access to early childhood education. On campus, she serves as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair for the Department Undergraduate Group in the Watson School of International and Public Affairs, where she works to strengthen inclusive programming and student engagement. Michele’s academic interests center on comparative politics and political economy, with a focus on migration governance, state capacity, and institutional design in the Global South. She is particularly interested in how political institutions shape responses to displacement and inequality. Her goals include pursuing a career in international policy and diplomacy and graduate study in political science.
ANA VAZQUEZ
Ana Vazquez is a rising senior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in political science with a concentration in political advocacy, and a minor in public affairs. Ana has consistently been a dean’s list honoree throughout their college tenure. Fueled by an endless thirst for knowledge, Ana has found their passion in using an intersectional framework to examine the tensions surrounding race and ethnicity, and LGBTQIA+ identities in public policy. Coming from a family of healthcare professionals, Ana aims to use their political science background to create public policy addressing accessibility barriers in the healthcare system for marginalized communities. Upon graduation, Ana plans to attend graduate school to further their political science education and develop research focused on the relationships between race and ethnicity, LGBTQIA+ identity, and the healthcare system.
ASHTON WASHINGTON
Ashton Washington is a junior majoring in political science at Towson University. Not only has she maintained a spot on the dean’s list throughout her collegiate career, she has also been awarded the Provost and Smart A. Ekpo Scholarships. Ashton plans on being a research assistant her senior year, collecting data on voting access in counties around the country. Last summer, Ashton participated in The Washington Center’s Academic Internship Program. She had the opportunity to lobby on Capitol Hill for a series of bills that encourage a more diverse and equitable government. During this experience, she also worked with graduate students researching gender inequality in leadership and ambassadorial roles in Swedish, Spanish, Dutch, French, and Italian foreign policy agencies. She recently presented a research paper at the 2026 National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS), sharing her findings about Black Americans’ trust in government. Ashton’s research interests include African American politics, American politics, public opinion research, comparative politics, and political economy. She is focused on using statistical methods, survey design, and qualitative interviews to diversify findings about Black women’s political behavior. After graduation, Ashton hopes to pursue graduate studies intersecting political science and data analytics. ■
APSA Diversity Student Recruitment Program (DSRP): Enrollment Open for 2026-2027
The APSA Diversity Student Recruitment Program connects students who show interest in doctoral study with political science departments that are interested in recruiting graduate students. Departmental enrollment for the 2026- 2027 academic year is now open. Departments will receive access to the student database, their PhD program linked on the APSA website, and priority registration for the Virtual Graduate School Information Fair at the APSA Annual Meeting.
Additionally, if you’re currently working with students who will be applying to political science PhD programs this fall, we encourage them to enroll in the DSRP.
Advisors are welcome to submit students to the program or students can choose to self-enroll. Enrolling in the database will assist students in receiving recruitment information from our DSRP recruiting departments.
Please email diversityprograms@apsanet.org with any questions.
