Chase Small
Chair
he / him
cpsmall@stanford.edu
Chase Small (’23) is the chair of Stanford in Government. He was previously co-director of StanfordVotes and Vice Chair of Civic Engagement. Chase grew up in Seattle, India, and New York. He is majoring in International Relations and took time off from school during the pandemic to conduct research on misinformation at the Stanford Internet Observatory. Outside of SIG, Chase enjoys surfing, hiking, and playing the saxophone. Chase is looking forward to supporting SIG’s community as we return in person by fostering an inclusive space that allows people from all backgrounds and interests to explore government and public service.
Chair
Operations
Lena Han
Vice Chair, Operations
she / her
lahan@stanford.edu
Lena Han (she/her), ’22, is the Vice Chair of Operations and is excited to focus on community-building and inclusion in SIG after spending three years on the fellowships and stipends team! Lena is majoring in economics and co-terming in public policy – she is passionate about policy, media, and the arts. She has spent past summers writing about government data and policy at USAFacts, working with tech clients at a strategy consulting firm, and researching NYC street art and graffiti through a Stanford Humanities Research Fellowship grant. Outside of SIG, Lena loves playing chamber music and frequenting farmers markets.
Bill Wermuth
Co-Director of Community Development
he / him
bwermuth@stanford.edu
Hi everyone! My name is Bill Wermuth, and I am a rising junior studying economics and public policy. I enjoy the little things in life like getting the last slice of pizza, timing a Netflix episode perfectly to end within the hour, and binging KarensGoneWild. Within SIG, I look forward to prioritizing community engagement as Stanford in Government assembles back onto campus for the first time in over a year and a half. I am excited to welcome two new classes and get as many students as possible actively joining the SIG family.
Fatima Lopez
Co-Director of Community Development
she / her / ella
fglopez@stanford.edu
Hey there! My name is Fatima Lopez (She/Her/Ella), I am a rising sophomore (23′->24′) and immensely excited to serve as the Co-Director of Community Development. I was born into an undocumented household in Richmond, California, where I did not have access to the information or spaces to become politically aware/ active. On my gap year I have dedicated myself to community organizing, with this experience, I strive to create an environment where all feel welcomed and empowered regardless of their prior experiences or identity. If you ever have questions, ideas, concerns, or general thoughts about SIG please don’t hesitate to reach out. This is your community, and your insight is fundamental to create a safe and empowering SIG for everyone. ❤️
Rachel Ochoa
Director of Diversity and Outreach
she / her
racochoa@stanford.edu
Rachel Ochoa, ‘22, is Director of Diversity and Outreach. Rachel is majoring in International Relations and currently writing her honors thesis on American cybersecurity policy. Rachel is passionate about Latin American economic policy, venture capital, and Sweetgreen. Her summers have been spent doing research on Latin America’s femicide and technology bias in Silicon Valley. She looks forward to supporting conversations about the intersection of policy and diversity!
Jackie Henley
Financial Officer
she / her
jhenley3@stanford.edu
Jackie Henley, ’23, is this year’s Financial Officer. She is majoring in Political Science and is planning to minor in Arabic. She joined SIG during her sophomore year, during the pandemic, and was a member of the Community Service team! This past summer, Jackie worked on a project surrounding the abolition of nuclear weapons at CISAC. In her free time, she rides horses for Stanford’s equestrian team, plays tennis, and listens to true crime podcasts. Jackie is so excited to serve on SIG board this year and to help such a special community at Stanford continue to thrive.
Andrew Conkey
Director of Analytics
he / him
aconkey@stanford.edu
Andrew is a junior studying economics from NYC. He joined SIG as a freshman, on the fellowships and stipends committee, and spent his sophomore year serving as SIG’s director of faculty and institutional relations. He is passionate about international development and education policy, and spent this past summer working at the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a foreign aid agency of the federal government. He has also worked as a research assistant in the Graduate School of Education and for a retired Brookings Institution senior fellow, and has served on committees governing university admissions and COVID-19 response. In his free time, he enjoys reading, fantasy football, and playing spikeball, among other things. He is looking forward to a great year for SIG as students return to campus.
Communications
Rachel Kim
Vice Chair, Communications
she / her
rachelsy@stanford.edu
Rachel Kim (‘22->23) is the Vice Chair of Communications. She joined SIG as a freshman, and she has served as co-Director of Public Policy Forum and Director of Recruitment. Rachel studies Public Policy and Human Rights, and is particularly interested in health justice. She has worked for the OC Public Defender’s Office, the Stanford Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Law and Policy Project, and for the Department of Health and Human Services. Rachel has lived in Hong Kong, Vancouver, southern California, and Seoul, where she spent her gap year over the past year. You can find Rachel as an RA in Otero (the Public Service and Civic Engagement house), dancing salsa with Los Salseros de Stanford, and running/hiking local trails.
Sophia Vahanvaty
Director of Alumni Relations
she / her / hers
svahan@stanford.edu
Sophia Vahanvaty (’24) is super excited to be the Director of Alumni Relations this year! She was born and raised in the Bay Area but has spent the last couple of years living in the Middle East and Latin America. At Stanford, she’s a prospective International Relations major interested in comparative governance and international development in the Middle East and Latin America. She’s really looking forward to connecting current students with alum mentors and also cultivating a strong sense of community among alums.
Frances Schroeder
Director of Marketing
she / her
fschroe@stanford.edu
Frances Schroeder, ’22, is SIG’s Director of Marketing. She previously served as SIG’s Director of Graphic Design after joining SIG in her freshman year. Frances is majoring in Symbolic Systems, an interdisciplinary major combining Computer Science, Psychology, Philosophy, and Linguistics, and she is minoring in International Relations with a focus on International Security. Resulting from experiences such as Hacking 4 Defense and interning for the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, Frances is interested in the intersection of tech and policy, specifically cyber policy and security.
Sam Catania
Director of Technology
he / him
samcat@stanford.edu
Sam Catania ’24 is the 2021-22 Director of Technology of Stanford in Government. In addition to his involvement in SIG, Sam is the Chief Technology Officer and a staff writer at The Stanford Daily and co-founder of the technology services non-profit, Endless Group. Sam grew up in the Philadelphia region and enjoyed participating in democracy by attending school board meetings and reporting on local government affairs while in high school. When not taking pictures or editing videos, Sam spends as much time as possible outdoors hiking, biking, or skiing.
Programming
Jackson Richter
Vice Chair, Programming
he / him
jsr2022@stanford.edu
Jackson is SIG’s Vice Chair of Programming. He is a senior studying Public Policy with a minor in Data Science, as well as a Public Policy coterm student. This is his fourth year as a member of SIG, having spent his first three as a member of the Special Events Committee. He also serves as the President of the Stanford Political Union. Jackson’s policy passion manifests itself most strongly in the areas of health care, education, and criminal justice. Jackson was born and raised in New York City, and you can often find him raving about the Knicks or complaining about California’s so-called pizza.
Christopher Maximos
Co-Director of Policy Lunches & Dinners
he / him
cmaximos@stanford.edu
Christopher Maximos is a junior majoring in political science and minoring in symbolic systems. Christopher joined SIG during his freshman year as a member of the Public Policy Forum and served as the PPF co-director last year. Outside of SIG, Christopher serves as the Editor-in-Chief for both Rewired Magazine & the Cutting EDge, Stanford’s undergraduate education research journal, a resident assistant for the Public Service & Civic Engagement dorm, and a research assistant for the Screenomics Lab. He looks forward to another great year of conversations and community with SIG!
Isabelle Coloma
Co-Director of Policy Lunches & Dinners
she / her
icoloma2@stanford.edu
Hi! I am a sophomore, passionate about education policy, historical memory, and language! During my freshman year, I joined the Public Policy Forum committee and found SIG to be a highly collaborative and innovative space to pursue issues, ranging from civic culture to tech policy. Now as a Co-Director of Policy Dinners, I hope to continue facilitating and participating in these engaging policy conversations, specifically with respect to democratic development and international perspectives. I look forward to this year’s new events, conversations and people!
Sarina Deb
Co-Director of Special Events
she / her
sdeb7@stanford.edu
Sarina Deb ’23 is the Co-Director of the Special Events Committee. She is studying political science, psychology, and human rights at Stanford, and has worked for the Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, The King Center for Global Development, and Stanford Law School. Sarina is passionate about policy and law and has pursued these interests through interning for Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA-14), and nonprofits focused on gender justice and ending mass incarceration. Outside of SIG, Sarina directs The Equity Project for The Stanford Daily and enjoys hiking and water sports.
Mac Simpson
Co-Director of Special Events
he / him
msimp@stanford.edu
Mac Simpson, ’23, is the Co-Director of the Special Events committee, and previously served as the Co-Director of Policy Dinners where he worked on running two speakers series classes with the IR/Polisci departments. Mac is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Human Biology. This past summer he worked at the World Justice Project, specifically on their Rule of Law Index. In his free time, Mac enjoys playing tennis, cooking, traveling, and hanging out with friends.
Ian Sills
Director of Public Policy Forum (PPF)
he / him
iansills@stanford.edu
Ian Christian Galvez Sills, ‘23, is the Co-Director of Public Policy Forums. Ian is studying economics and has long held interests in politics, international relations, and language study. Growing up in Northern California, Ian loves the natural environment and enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and visiting the beach. Prior to Stanford, Ian advocated on behalf of California public school students, presenting education policy proposals to the California State Legislature and California Department of Education. At Stanford, Ian has researched the financial implications of climate change on U.S. mortgage portfolios as well as macroeconomic financial history. When not occupied with his roles as a university tour guide or residential assistant, Ian also spends copious amounts of time crafting and enjoying political memes, a pastime that reflects his position in Stanford in Government. Although this is Ian’s first official role in Stanford in Government, he already cherishes his fellow members and foresees a very enriching year ahead.
Fellowships & Stipends
Zac Stoor
Vice Chair, Fellowships & Stipends
he / him
zacstoor@stanford.edu
Hi there! I am a senior and this year’s Vice Chair of Fellowships and Stipends. I’ve been a part of SIG throughout my whole time at Stanford and have previously served as Director of Fellowships and Stipends Logistics and Co-Director of Stipends and as a F&S committee member during my frosh year. I study political science, European studies, and modern languages. I grew up in a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan called Crystal Falls. For policy, I am interested in international organizations, European affairs, and rural issues in the US. Outside of politics, I am passionate about language learning, travel, and anything in nature!
Emily Park
Director of International Fellowships
she / her
wypark@stanford.edu
Emily Park, ’24, is the Director of International Fellowships. She was involved with Fellowships & Stipends since freshman year and is excited for her second year on the team! Emily is planning to major in International Relations and minor in Human Rights. The past summer, she interned with the Ella Baker Center and conducted research on the legality of nuclear weapons with Professor Sagan.
Marli Bosler
Director of National Fellowships
she / her
mbosler@stanford.edu
Marli Bosler (’24) is a sophomore from Seattle, Washington. A member of SIG during her virtual first year of college, she looks forward to uniting with new and old members this year surrounding a common passion for political advocacy. As a member of Fellowships and Stipends she looks forward to connecting Stanford students with opportunities to gain experience, develop their interests and build community across the country. Outside of SIG, Marli covers student activism for The Stanford Daily and works as an oral communication tutor.
Brandon Ma
Director of State/Local Fellowships
he / him
brndnma@stanford.edu
Brandon Ma, ’23, is the Director of State and Local Fellowships. After two years of experience in the Fellowships and Stipends committee, he is excited to continue expanding Stanford’s public service opportunities, and hopefully connecting with committee members again in-person! He is majoring in Political Science and Economics, and has previously worked in the Santa Clara County Office of Reentry Services and venture capital firms. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing fighting games, and talking with others about issues they’re passionate about.
Bilen Essayas
Director of Stipends
she / her
bilene@stanford.edu
Hey guys! My name is Bilen and I’m a junior majoring in Economics. This will be my third year on the Fellowships & Stipends committee and second year serving as Director of Stipends. I’m excited to work with the F&S team and help make public service more accessible to all communities on campus. This past summer, I worked at a private equity firm, and I have past experience working in health policy.
Nadia Jo
Director of Outreach for Fellowships and Stipends
she / her
nejo@stanford.edu
Nadia Jo ’23 is a junior studying Political Science and Creative Writing. She has been in Stanford in Government since 2019. Nadia is also an editor in The Stanford Daily and a Resident Assistant. She is interested in the intersection of politics and law, as she has previously interned at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. You can find Nadia playing cello, singing, writing album reviews, or writing movie reviews (expected to watch 200+ movies in 2021!) in her free time.
Enrique Flores
Director of Faculty & Institutional Relations
he / him
jeflores@stanford.edu
Enrique Flores is the director of faculty/institutional relations. He is from Keizer, Oregon and is a sophomore planning to major in political science with a focus on international relations and justice and law. During his freshman year, Enrique was a member of the SIG Stipends and Fellowship committee where he helped to award the Ghana Center for Democratic Development. This past summer, Enrique worked for the Political Psychology Research Group on campus. He looks forward to facilitating events between club members and faculty during the upcoming school year!
Civic Engagement
Jose Gandara
Vice Chair, Civic Engagement
he / him
gandara@stanford.edu
Jose is a sophomore majoring in Public Policy with a concentration in Urban and Regional Policy. In his first year at Stanford, Jose enjoyed diving deep into his studies and working as a committee member for SIG’s General Events committee. During his recent leave of absence, he took the opportunity to intern for a nonprofit that builds and maintains affordable housing in the Bay Area, and also worked as a research assistant to learn more about the impact of race on American politics through the lens of policing and democracy. After directing the Community Service committee in its inaugural year within SIG, Jose is now Vice Chair of Civic Engagement and is excited to see his peers in SIG thrive as advocates for healthy civic life. In his free time, he loves hiking and backpacking, going on road trips, and finding good trees to hang his hammock.
Emily Handsel
Co-Director of StanfordVotes
she / her
ehandsel@stanford.edu
Emily is a sophomore studying Political Science and Data Science. Last year, she ran the StanfordVotes social media and is so excited to be returning this year as StanfordVotes director. She is from Tampa, Florida and has experience working in grassroots organizing and political campaigns.
Cameron Lange
Co-Director of StanfordVotes
she / her
cslange@stanford.edu
Cameron Lange (she/her) is a sophomore from Los Angeles planning to study Political Science and Philosophy with the ultimate goal of devoting her life to electoral reform projects. After adoring her freshman year within the SIG Civic Engagement Branch, she is ecstatic to serve as Co-Director of StanfordVotes. This year, she hopes to make StanfordVotes an active advocate for pro-voter policy and ballot accessibility measures while continuing to register students to vote and mobilizing the campus community to participate in special elections. You can reach Cameron at cslange@stanford.edu to chat about phonebanking, the best spots for iced coffee, and indie music.
Emily Nichols
Co-Director of Student Involvement
she / her
enichol5@stanford.edu
My name is Emily Nichols (she/her) is a rising junior at Stanford University studying Science, Technology, and Society and African American Studies. Throughout my time at Stanford, I have been very passionate about public service, performing arts, and advocacy, and finding ways that I can use those avenues to empower my community. Currently, I serve as Senate Chair for the ASSU Undergraduate Senate and President of the Black Student Union. Additionally, I serve as Leadership Development Committee Chair for the Black Community Services Center, Director of the Public Service Careers Initiative, and Co-Founder/Director of the Black Panther Party Undergraduate Reading Group. In my spare time, I enjoy working as a Staff Writer for the Stanford Daily, creating YouTube and TikTok videos, and writing film/ tv show scripts!
Alex Chau
Co-Director of Student Involvement
she / her
alexchau@stanford.edu
No bio available at this time.
Evian Jiang
Director of Community Service
she / her
evianj@stanford.edu
Evian Jiang (’24) is the Director of Community Service. She is likely studying Public Policy with a concentration in either International Security or Law, and minoring in Human Rights and Data Science. Having been a committee member of the Community Service team her freshman year, she is more than excited to work with new committee members to coordinate service initiatives, connecting those interested in helping our community to nonprofits with a need for assistance. She has interned at various representatives’ offices and volunteered with a voting rights organization and a student activist organization. In her free time, Evian enjoys playing tennis, going on hikes, and drinking coffee with friends!
Sean Casey
Director of Democracy Day
he / him
spcasey@stanford.edu
Sean is SIG’s representative on the Democracy Day Coordinating Committee. He previously served as a Co-Director of StanfordVotes and is majoring in Economics and Political Science. In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer and trying to cook.
