Undergraduate Researchers
Below are the short bios of our Fall 2023 undergraduate ROCCA’teers!
Assistant Directors
Trent Bohan (he/him/his) is a senior graduating in May 2024. He is majoring in Political Science and Human & Organizational Development. He is a part of Professor’s Schram’s project assisting with grant writing and additionally he works as one of the assistant director of the lab. Outside of ROCCA, Trent enjoys running and backpacking.
Aaditi Lele is a junior studying Political Science and Climate Studies, with a minor in South Asian Studies. Within ROCCA, she is a part of Dr. Larson’s Refugees Team, and serves as one of the Assistant Directors of the lab. Outside of ROCCA, Aaditi also serves as the Editorial Director of the Vanderbilt Hustler student newspaper and President of Women in Government!
Outreach Team
Duaa Faquih (she/her/hers) is a junior studying Political Science, Psychology, and minoring in Human and Organizational Development. Within the ROCCA lab, she is a part of the Outreach and Reducing Prejudice towards Refugees teams, and outside of the lab, she is involved in the Muslim Students Association and the Vanderbilt Hustler.
Olivia Haas (she/her/hers) is a senior double majoring in Political Science and History. In the ROCCA Lab, she is the Director of Outreach and a member of Professor Ritter’s Bureaucratic Repression team. Outside of the lab, she is the Vice President of the Vanderbilt Programming Board and loves to play sand volleyball and board games.
Zacarias Negron (he/him/his) is a Chancellor’s Scholar in the Class of 2025 at Vanderbilt University, where he is majoring in Political Science (International Track) and Law, History, & Society. He is minoring in Russian Studies and Islamic Studies with a particular focus on the Caucasus and Central Asian regions. He is a member of the Vanderbilt University Debate Team, competing in collegiate and British Parliamentary and Case Competition debates, both foreign and domestic. He serves on the Legacies of Violence Team and Outreach Team at the ROCCA Lab.
Max Adams (he/him/his) is a senior at Vanderbilt majoring in Political Science and minoring in Business. In the ROCCA Lab, Max is working on behalf of the Outsourcing Repression team with Dr. Ritter, as well as the Nuclear Politics team with Dr. Gheorghe. Outside of the ROCCA Lab, Max is a member of the Ingram Scholars Program on campus and really enjoys beekeeping in his spare time. After Max graduates in 2024, he is hoping to pursue a career in law.
Danni Chacon (she/her/hers) is a junior double majoring in Political Science and Latin American Studies and minoring in Data Science. In the ROCCA lab, Danni is working on behalf of the Bolivians Deaths team with Prof. Bjork-James as well as the Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees team with Prof. Larson. Outside of the lab, she is an avid writer and editor for the Vanderbilt Political Review and is a passionate VUceptor where she serves as a mentor to first-year students. On the weekends, she enjoys running, hiking, and exploring Nashville.
Claire Cho (she/her/hers) is a senior majoring in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Business. She is part of Professor Larson’s Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees project and Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace team. Outside of ROCCA, she is part of Active Minds and enjoys longboarding around campus.
Utku Ersahin (he/him/his) is a sophomore double majoring in Political Science and Law, History, and Society. He is a member of Professor Larson’s Reducing Prejudice Toward Refugees team and Professor Talibova’s Human Rights in Turkey team. Outside of ROCCA, Utku is the president of Vanderbilt Gamecraft, a board game club.
Charlie Herrman (he/him) is a Junior at Vanderbilt majoring in Political Science and History. For ROCCA Lab, Charlie is working on the Coercive Agents and State Repression team with Jennifer Barnes as well as the Ultimate Consequences team with Professor Carwil Bjork-James. Outside of the ROCCA Lab, Charlie has been active in Nashville’s 2023 mayoral election and tutors young students in English and History. Charlie plans on pursuing law school after his graduation in 2025.
TJ Hsueh (he/him/his) is a Junior double majoring in Economics and Public Policy Studies with a minor in Business. This is his second semester in the ROCCA lab. He will be working on the China-US-Taiwan Relations Project with Professor Benson and Military Interventions Project with Professor Gannon. Outside of the lab, TJ participates in private equity research with the Owen Graduate School of management and is the president of the Taiwanese American Student Association here at Vanderbilt.
Joseph Kang (he/him/his) is a senior majoring in Political Science and Law, History, & Society with a minor in Economics. He is working with Professor Coe’s team on Economic Origins of War and Peace and with PhD candidate ChaeEun Cho’s Building Coalitions for Economic Sanctions team. He previously worked on assisting interviews with North Korean refugees. Outside of the Lab, he is involved in Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations and the Vanderbilt Prison Project.
Ryan Kang (he/him/his) is a junior studying Economics and Data Science. He is working on Dr. Benson’s Arms Trade and Civil Conflict project and Dr. Larson’s Refugees project. Outside of ROCCA, Ryan is a research assistant at the graduate department of economics.
Lexi Kay (she/her/hers) is a junior majoring in Human and Organizational Development and Political Science. She is currently a member of Professor Ritter’s Bureaucratic Repression team and Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace team. Outside of ROCCA, she is a member of the Vanderbilt Dance Team and loves playing the new NYT Daily Mini crossword each morning.
Kai Keltner (he/him/his) is a sophomore (Class of 2026) majoring in Public Policy and Applied Mathematics, with a minor in either Computer Science or Data Science. At ROCCA, Kai works with Dr. Coe on the Economic Origins of War project and Dr. Benson on the Arms Trade and Civil Conflict project; he previously worked with Dr. Gheorghe’s Nuclear Facilities project. Outside of ROCCA, Kai is involved in the Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra, Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations, and the Political Violence Lab at the University of California.
Shreya Konkimalla (she/her/hers) is a junior studying Political Science and Economics with a minor in Data Science. Currently, she is working on Professor Larson’s Reducing Prejudice Towards Refugees project and Haonan Dong’s Uncertainty about Military Power project. Outside of ROCCA, Shreya is involved in the South Asian Cultural Exchange and AKPsi.
Junhao Luo (he/him/his) is a junior majoring in Economics with minors in Business and Data Science. He works on Professor Benson’s China, US, Taiwan Relations team and Professor Gannon’s National Security Strategies team. Outside ROCCA, he is a dedicated tennis player and has a passion for aerial photography.
Faisal Khreis (he/him/his) is a sophomore majoring in Political Science and Law, History, and Society. Within the ROCCA lab, he is involved with Professor Gannon’s Military Capabilities project, and with Doctor Ritter’s Bureaucratic Repression project. Outside of the ROCCA lab, Faisal is involved with the Model UN team, a nonprofit tutoring organization, Vanderbilt’s Student Government, and research with the History Department.
Connor Johnson (he/him/his) is a Junior at Vanderbilt University studying political science with minors in Arabic and data science. Within ROCCA, he is involved with the Military Interventions and Bureaucratic Repression labs. Outside of his academic pursuits, Connor is an executive officer for the Alexander Hamilton Society and the Vanderbilt Service Council. He is looking forward to exploring research methods and gaining new technical skills through this opportunity.
Rebecca Kim (she/hers) is a junior studying Economics with minors in Business, Data Science, and Chinese. She is currently involved in Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War & Peace project as well as Professor Benson’s China, US, & Taiwan relations project. Outside of ROCCA, she is involved in VSG’s Student Services Fee Committee and TAAAP.
Aaron Lee (he/him/his) is current junior in the class of 2025 studying economics and data science. Currently, he is working on the Arms Trade and Civil Conflict project and Refugees project. Outside of the lab, Aaron is involved with the Vanderbilt Student Government on the Elections Commission and enjoys camping, cooking, and swimming.
Mariia Marchuk (she/her/hers) is a junior in the College of Arts and Science studying Public Policy, Economics, and Data Science. Within ROCCA, Mariia is a part of Arms Trade and Civil Conflict and Legacies of Violence projects. Outside of the lab, Mariia is involved in the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Vanderbilt Student Government, and I-FAM student group.
Alex Mormorunni (he/him/his) is a junior studying Political Science major with a focus on research methods. He is currently a member of Professor Benson’s China, US, Taiwan Relations and Professor Ritter’s Outsourcing Repression projects. Outside of the ROCCA Lab, Alex loves to run and watch baseball. He is a Senior Editor for the Vanderbilt Political Review.
Imaad Muwahid (he/him/his) is a sophomore double majoring in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Data Science. He is currently working with Dr. Jennifer Larson on the Reducing Prejudice Towards Refugees team and Dr. Andres Gannon on the Military Capabilities team. Outside of ROCCA, he competes at inter-collegiate tournaments as a member of Vanderbilt’s Debate Team and enjoys listening to podcasts, watching sports, and trying out new restaurants.
Marco Navarro (he/him/his) is a junior studying Political Science and Economics. He is part of Professor Ritter’s Bureaucratic Repression team. Outside of ROCCA, Marco conducts research for the LAPOP lab and is involved in Vanderbilt Student Government and AugNación. In his free time, he likes to cook dishes from his home country, Peru, and play soccer.
Katherine Oung (they/them) is a junior majoring in Political Science and Computer Science. They are on Professor Larson’s Reducing Prejudice Against Refugees research team and Professor Talibova’s Legacies of Violence research team. Outside of ROCCA, they are the Data Editor of the Vanderbilt Hustler.
Connor Pierce is a senior pursuing a degree in Engineering Science with minors in World Politics and Engineering Management. He is continuing research on refugees with Professor Larson.
Mihir Ram (he/him/his) is a junior at Vanderbilt majoring in Mathematics and Political Science and minoring in Data Science. At ROCCA, he is part of Professor Bjork-James’s The Significance of Deaths in Bolivian Political Conflict Team, as well as Professor Larson’s Reducing Prejudice toward Refugees Team. Outside of ROCCA, he enjoys playing tennis and is an avid supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles and 76ers.
Emilie Reitinger (she/her/hers) is a junior at Vanderbilt double majoring in Psychology and Law, History, & Society with a minor in World Politics. She is a part of Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace team and Professor Talibova’s Legacies of Violence team. Outside of ROCCA, she is involved with the club fencing team.
Matt Swenson (he/him/his) is a sophomore at Vanderbilt double-majoring in Human Organizational Development and Political Science. In the ROCCA Lab, Matt is working on Dr. Ritter’s Bureaucratic Repression team as well as the Economic Origins of War and Peace team with Dr. Coe. Outside of the ROCCA Lab, Matt is a member of the Chancellor’s Scholars Program and VSG’s sustainability committee. After graduating in 2024, Matt is hoping to go into consulting.
Sechan Tak (he/him/his) is a junior majoring in political science and economics with minors in computer science and data science. He is a researcher on Human Rights in Turkey with Dr. Roya Talibova and Military Capabilities with Dr. J Andrés Gannon. Outside of ROCCA, Sechan is involved in VSG and Amnesty International at Vanderbilt, and he enjoys playing video games in his free time.
Joseph Udina (he/him/his) is a junior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business. He is currently assigned to Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Conflict project and Professor Schram’s Miscellany project. Outside of the ROCCA Lab, Joseph is the Social Chair of Vanderbilt’s Undergraduate Moot Court Team, a Managing Editor for the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal, a Resident Advisor in West House, and a member of Vanderbilt’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club.
Shravya Vasireddy (she/her/hers) is a senior studying Political Science with minors in French and Gender & Sexuality Studies. In the ROCCA lab, she is working on Professor Gannon’s Military Interventions and Professor Talibova’s Legacies of Violence projects. Outside of the lab, she is the Secretary General for VUMUN 19 and a member of the Model UN team. In her free time, she enjoys watching sitcoms and chatting over coffee with friends.
Carson Viggiano (she/her/hers) is a junior double majoring in International Political Conflict and the Spanish/Portuguese dual program. She is part of PhD candidate Jennifer Barnes’ Coercive Agents and State Repression project, and Professor Bjork-James’ Ultimate Consequences: Lethal Political Conflict in Bolivia project. Outside of ROCCA, Carson is a translator for the LAPOP lab and enjoys taking art classes through the Sarratt Studio.
Anthea Walker (she/her/hers) is a senior majoring in Public Policy Studies, with minors in Data Science and Spanish. This semester, she is working on Professor Ritter’s Bureaucratic Repression and Jennifer Barnes’ Coercive Agents teams. Outside of the Lab, she is co-president of both the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and the Vanderbilt Hellenic Student Association.
Nikki Weitzenhoffer (she/her/hers) is a junior at Vanderbilt majoring in art history with a minor in history. In the ROCCA Lab, Nikki is working on behalf of Professor Coe on the Economic Origins of War and Peace team as well as for Professor Gannon on the National Security Strategies team. She is also a staff writer for the Hustler, a staff editor for the Vanderbilt Historical Review, and a volunteer for Volunteers for Health. Nikki hopes to pursue a career in art law following graduation in 2025.
Rina Xu (she/her/hers) is a sophomore majoring in Economics and Public Policy Studies with a minor in Data Science. In the ROCCA Lab, she is working with Dr. Benson on a project regarding China-US-Taiwan Relations and with Professor Talibova on the Legacies of Violence. After Rina graduates in 2026, she hopes to apply to law school and practice in the field of international business law.
Jenny Yang (she/her/hers) is a sophomore studying Economics with minors in Business and Asian Studies. She is a part of Professor Coe’s Economic Origins of War and Peace team and Professor Benson’s China, US, Taiwan Relations team. Outside of ROCCA, Jenny enjoys trying new food, learning about different cultures, and spending quality time with loved ones.
Hanmu Zhang (she/her/hers) is a senior who is going to graduate in May 2024. She is majoring in HOD, economics, and applied math. She is part of Professor Benson’s alliance team and also works with ChaeEun on her project about economic sanctions.