Class of 2015

Azeezat Adeleke, class of 2017, is a political science major. Her interests are diverse, including urban policy, transportation policy, and the role of the political press. On campus she serves as a board member of the Yale College Democrats, an editor for The Politic, and co-president of West Wing Weekly, a group devoted to celebrating the cultural and political legacy of The West Wing. In the past she has interned for Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and served as a page in the Maryland Senate. In her spare time Azeezat enjoys riding high speed trains and watching documentaries.

Libby Dimenstein, class of 2017, is from Worcester, Massachusetts and majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. She is interested in economic policy and the criminal justice system, specifically the effects of race and socioeconomic status on criminal procedure. Libby spent last summer interning at Georgetown Law’s Criminal Justice Clinic, investigating cases for public defenders. In her free time, she enjoys playing clarinet in the Yale Concert Band and is a member of Yale Club Swimming.

Adrian Hale grew up in Rochester, NY. After graduating high school Adrian enlisted into the United States Marine Corps where he served active duty for five years. During Adrian’s time in the Marines he made two combat deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and participated in the Rim of the Pacific, (the world’s largest naval warfare exercise.) Adrian is a political science in the class of 2016. As an ISPS Director’s fellow Adrian wishes expand his understanding of the effects that American Politics have on contemporary American life.

Austin Jaspers, class of 2016, is a double major in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and political science. During the 2014-15 academic year, he took leave from Yale to serve as the assistant to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell. Austin hails from Trumbull College and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, where he attended Moses Brown School. Austin is also a Dahl Research Scholar at ISPS.

Andre Manuel, class of 2016, is majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. He is particularly interested in urban policy, economic development, and anti-poverty programs. At Yale, he has served as Co-President of the Roosevelt Institute, an undergraduate public policy think tank, and is active within the Yale Political Union and Yale ACLU. In addition, he has organized for a New York City mayoral campaign, and researched with an urban development and design think tank.

Simone Seiver is pursuing dual Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in political science. She is interested in journalism, public policy, and criminal law. She is the post-production editor for an American Public Media podcast called Life of the Law. She previously externed for a federal judge. On campus, she competes with Yale’s Mock Trial Team, and on the weekends, she tutors inmates at a Connecticut prison as they pursue their GEDs. Simone is also a Dahl Research Scholar at ISPS.

“Poverty Should Not Be the Cause of Imprisonment in Connecticut,” June 3, 2016 
“Why Three Counties That Loved the Death Penalty Have Almost Stopped Pursuing It: A closer look at get-tough DAs,” August 12, 2015
“Cops Shooting at Cars: A Really Bad Idea,” June 12, 2015
“Life After Nebraska’s Death Penalty,” May 28, 2015
“A Millennial’s Guide to ‘Broken Windows,’” May 21, 2015

Jacob Wolf-Sorokin, class of 2016, is majoring in Ethics, Politics and Economics. Jacob focuses his academic work on the political and economic drivers of environmental policy in general. In specific, he’s interested in the question of how humans can allocate natural resources in a way that sustains earth’s growing population without continuing to cause irreversible environmental harms. Jacob works to develop opportunities for young people to engage in progressive politics as the Executive Director of Students for a New American Politics PAC. He is on the staff of the Yale Sustainable Food Project and previously interned at a NGO in Nepal focused on rural development. A dedicated outdoorsman, Jacob leads hiking trips for Yale Outdoors and Yale’s Freshman Outdoor Orientation Trips program.

Zach Young, class of 2017, is majoring in Ethics, Politics & Economics. He is interested in issues of economic policy, intellectual diversity and federalism. Previously, Zach interned for New Haven Mayor Toni Harp and U.S. Senator Rob Portman. As President of the William F. Buckley, Jr. Program, Zach organizes symposia designed to expand political discourse. He also competes interscholastically for the Yale debate team and was elected Class Delegate to the Association of Yale Alumni (AYA). Zack is also a Dahl Research Scholar at ISPS.

Cindy Zheng, class of 2016, is studying Economics with an interest in health economics. She currently researches health policy issues related to the Affordable Care Act and maternal health in the Yale Department of Economics. She has previously conducted research at the Urban Institute in the Tax Policy Center and in a neurobiology laboratory at the Yale School of Medicine. As an IRS-certified tax preparer, Cindy volunteers her time through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to help New Haven community members file their tax returns.