Meet the Peer Advisors
The Peer Advisors are recent BSIW alumni who are still currently enrolled at Stanford. They meet with prospective students, host information sessions, and plan events for alumni on campus.
- Do you have questions about what BSIW has to offer?
- Are you nervous about the application process?
- Would you like to meet BSIW alumni who have similar interests to your own?
- Have you been accepted and still have questions?
If you have any of these or more unresolved questions or concerns, please be in touch with a Peer Advisor.
Kara Runsten
Kara is a junior majoring in Public Policy with a concentration in Environmental Policy. She participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program in Winter 2012, where she interned at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Policy. During her internship, Kara was involved in planning a large national symposium on fisheries and developing a research prioritization mechanism for the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council that may be applied agency-wide. She fondly remembers her time at BSIW, especially bonding over presidential debates, strolling around the monuments with her peers amidst the cherry blossoms, and spending a weekend experiencing southern hospitality in South Carolina. Kara also worked in DC during Summer 2011 as a Fisheries Intern at the environmental nonprofit Oceana. She plans to return to DC again this summer to continue her winter internship at NOAA Fisheries and hopes to obtain a job in resource management post-graduation. If you would like to speak with Kara, please feel free to email her.
Hilary Stone
Hilary is a junior majoring in Public Policy with a concentration in Technology Policy. Hilary participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program in Fall 2011, where she interned at the Federal Communications Commission in the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis. At OSP, Hilary worked on the FCC staff report for the AT&T and T-Mobile merger and prepared research for the International Broadband Report. During her quarter at SIW, Hilary loved the cultural trips to Arena Stage, New York City, and Mount Vernon, Chef Tate’s cooking, and exploring the Washington area with her fellow Stanford students. Hilary hopes to return to Washington this summer to explore more technology policy issues. After Stanford, Hilary plans to attend law school. If you would like to speak with Hilary, please email her.
Will Borthwick
Will is a junior majoring in Economics with a Secondary Major in Public Policy. Will participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program in Fall 2011, where he interned in Banking Supervision & Regulation at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. At the Fed, Will worked with the Credit Market, Liquidity, & Risk Policy group implementing Dodd-Frank legislation on credit risk retention. He also worked on Basel III capital requirements, monthly liquidity reports for large and regional banks, and revising an existing guidance on community bank stress testing. His favorite memories of SIW include evening monument tours, the trip to New York City, and attending the Federal Reserve’s holiday party. If you would like to speak with Will, please email him.
Samir Junnarkar
Samir Junnarkar is a junior majoring in Economics, with a focus on monetary and fiscal policy. Samir participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program in Fall 2011, where he interned at the US Department of the Treasury. Through his internship, he was involved with several economic stimulus programs. Samir worked on housing programs with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as well as energy grant programs. His favorite memories of BSIW include jogging around the National Mall past the museums and memorials at night, watching Tosca at the Kennedy Center, and enjoying time with the incredible students and professors at BSIW. If you would like to speak with Samir, please email him.
Nitya Rajeshuni
Nitya is a junior majoring in Biology. Nitya participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program in Winter 2012, where she interned at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the Office of Global Research. During her internship, Nitya worked on a variety of topics related specifically to international infectious disease epidemics, including preparation for the 25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program and for a 2012 Tropical Diseases Conferences in Istanbul, Turkey, drafting a concept proposal for an upcoming human immunology grants mechanism, and planning a project focused on the role of distance e-learning in global areas lacking infectious disease training. At Stanford, in addition to shadowing and researching in the medical school, Nitya has worked extensively with the Stanford Educational Studies Program (also known as Stanford Splash!) serving as Director and has also taught hip-hop and tutored in reading in East Palo Alto. She is also co-captaining the Indian Classical dance team Stanford Noopur and recently co-founded Stanford’s first all-female South Asian a capella group, which is currently in the development process. Nitya’s favorite parts of Stanford in Washington were the opportunity to immerse herself in current public health and health policy issues, the incredible mentors and peers she met, the wonderful co-workers she engaged with, and the cultural experience of living in Washington D.C. Nitya would like to attend medical school in the near future. If you would like to speak with Nitya, please email her.
Ryan Mayfield
Ryan is a senior majoring in Political Science, with a focus on international security issues. He participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program in Spring 2012, where he interned at the U.S. Department of Transportation in the Office of International Transportation and Trade, within the Office of Aviation and International Affairs. During his time in Washington, D.C., Ryan wrote the first three agreements ever signed between the U.S. Department of Transportation and its partner ministries in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and served as a principle editor on the Department's International Strategic Policy. His favorite memories from SIW come from exploring the monuments at night, when their impact is magnified by spotlights. Ryan hopes to return to the capital sometime soon to continue working on international security policy. If you would like to speak with Ryan, please feel free to email him.
Devanshi Patel
Devanshi is a junior majoring in International Relations, with a minor in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. Devanshi participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington program in Fall 2012, where she interned at the US Department of State in the Office of the Secretary of State, under the Senior Adviser for Innovation. At the State Department, Devanshi worked on the 21st Century Statecraft initiative, leveraging modern technological tools for diplomacy. She wrote reports on internet and technology policies in North Africa and the Middle East and explored the ways in which governments could better practice transparency. During her quarter at SIW, Devanshi enjoyed the cultural trip to Charlottesville and Williamsburg, seeing “Fly!” at Ford’s Theater, and getting to know her State Department colleagues and SIW professors. If you would like to speak with Devanshi, please email her.
Ian Chan
Ian is a junior majoring in Economics and International Relations with a primary concentration in Economic Development and a secondary concentration on East Asia. Ian participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program in Fall 2012, where he interned at the World Bank's Chief Economist Office in the Development Impact Evaluation Initiative division (DIME). At DIME, Ian worked on several impact evaluation reports regarding malaria booster programs in Zambia, financial literacy programs in Brazil, and created a presentation on implementation science. During his quarter at SIW, Ian loved the cultural trips to Williamsburg, the play War Horse, doing reading for classes he cared about, and exploring different Washington opportunities with her fellow SIWers. Ian hopes to bring what he has learned from Washington eventually back home to Hong Kong and China in the hopes of bringing more equitable economic development and democratic governance. After Stanford, Ian plans to work in management consulting. If you would like to speak with Ian, please email him.
Lauren Felice
Lauren is a junior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Economics; she is particularly interested in fiscal and economic policy. Lauren participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program in the Fall of 2012, and interned for the Senate Finance Committee. In her internship, she worked primarily with tax policy staff preparing and researching for the fiscal cliff negotiations. During BSIW, she loved exploring the countryside of Virginia, watching the presidential debates, standing on top of the Capitol dome, seeing Don Giovanni, and walking the city with friends. Her favorite place in D.C. is the Jefferson Memorial. If you would like to speak with Lauren, please email her.
James Honsa
James is a junior majoring in Political Science with a concentration in international relations. James participated in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program in Fall 2012, where he interned at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the National Security and International Affairs division. At OSTP, James worked on preparing policy analysis related to nuclear nonproliferation, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure protection. He also worked on promoting innovation in U.S. technology policy, interfacing with programs such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Presidential Innovation Fellows. His favorite memories of SIW include celebrating outside of the White House on election night, having nightly dinners with professors before class, and getting to know other college students who study in DC. If you would like to speak with James, please email him.
