Executive Director

Saanvikha Saravanan

3rd Year

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Hometown: Suwanee, GA

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Policy Interest: I am interested in going into health policy in the future. I have been very involved in local Athens policy during my time at UGA. After graduating, I would like to work on policy issues to increase equity and access to healthcare, particularly dealing with insurance policies and rural areas.

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: I love the food in Athens! There are so many different restaurants, cuisines, and places to try. My favorite places so far have been Trappeze, Ted's Most, ZZ and Simone's.

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Controversial Opinion: Ketchup and Mac and Cheese is an elite combination.

Policy Team Coordinator

Anvika Menon

3rd Year

Major: History, International Affairs, & Religion

Hometown: Milton, GA

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Policy Interest: Outside of API, I am interested in education equity and addressing gender-based violence. I started the #RespectLikeThis campaign with the University Health Center to address sexual harassment and microaggressions on campus, and I look forward to continuing these endeavors over the next few years.

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: The diversity of people you meet! You get to interact with people from different walks of life that help you grow both personally and intellectually. There is always someone to hang out with and something to do, which makes Athens a special place!

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Controversial Opinion: Pineapple does NOT belong on pizza.

Policy Journal Coordinator

Jacob Funk-Sheppard

2nd Year

Major: Political Science & International Affairs

Hometown: Houston, Texas

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Policy Interest: Environmental conservation.

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: The small-town energy.

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Controversial Opinion: Football is the most challenging sport.

Budget Coordinator

Shania Nguyen-Tu

2nd Year

Major: Finance

Hometown: Augusta, GA

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Policy Interest: I’m interested in family policy!

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: I love the energy of Athens, especially during game day!

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Controversial Opinion: Milk before cereal.

Creative Designer & Sustainability Policy Team Co-Lead

Andy wyatt

2nd Year

Major: Political Science & Public Relations

Hometown: Sandy Springs, GA

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Policy Interest: I am interested in health policy, particularly involving the regulation of health insurance and the drug marketplace. As a member of API's Health Policy Team last year, I enjoyed increasing my depth in this area.

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: There's always something to do: sports games to watch, a vibrant music scene, and new restaurants to try. There is no good reason not to be busy in Athens!

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Controversial Opinion: Rain is the best weather.

Homelessness Policy Team Lead

Hannah Oh

4th Year

Major: Political Science

Hometown: Johns Creek, GA

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Policy Interest: I am interested in policy issues germane to the civil rights of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) communities, such as language access and data disaggregation.

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: People!

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Controversial Opinion: Brownies are better than cupcakes.

Education Policy Team Lead

Bridget Goodman

2nd Year

Major: Journalism & Comparative Literature

Hometown: Decatur, GA

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Policy Interest: This past summer, I interned with the ACLU of Georgia on their Voter Access Project as well as participated in a CURO research project looking at higher education policy. Outside of Roosevelt (but especially inside of Roosevelt!), I’m really interested in education policy (specifically at state and local levels because I think there can be a lot of inroads for incremental change there), and so I look forward to bringing what I’ve learned about navigating policy this summer to our API Education Policy Project this upcoming year!

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: I love all the uniquely Athens events we have! I love, love, love Porchfest, Wild Rumpus, and pretty much any opportunity to see an Athens band with a silly name.

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Controversial Opinion: High School Musical is not a good movie. It’s not even a so-bad-it’s-good movie. It’s just bad.

Sustainability Policy Team Co-Lead

Ashlyn Goode

2nd Year

Major: Political Science & Economics

Hometown: Bishop, GA

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Policy Interest: I joined API with no prior experience in policy, and I discovered a passion for it almost immediately.

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: The historic buildings and feel of downtown.

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Controversial Opinion: Ranch on pizza is good

Senior Advisor

Noor Abdallah

4th Year

Major: Criminal Justice, Journalism, & Sociology

Hometown: Columbus, GA

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Policy Interest: I did years of debate before joining API, but I never wrote policy before joining. I love to research the nuances of a topic area and problem-solving with policy.

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: Athens has so much to offer! I love finding niche shops around the city or playing frisbee at the IM fields.

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Controversial Opinion: UGA football is overrated.

Senior Advisor

Alysha Bold

4th Year

Major: Political Science & Economics 

Hometown: Marietta, Georgia

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Policy Interest: I helped run Dawgs for Warnock last year and am doing an internship at a government affairs firm this summer that specializes in federal education policy.

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: UGA football!

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Controversial Opinion: Beans are gross.

Senior Advisor

Matthew Li

4th Year

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Hometown: Buffalo Grove, Illinois

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Policy Interest: I am interested in healthcare inequity. Medicine is meant to heal all, yet clear disparities exist in the quality of healthcare and treatment options.

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Favorite Aspect of Athens: You can find good food in any corner of town.

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Controversial Opinion: Sparkling water doesn't taste good.