
The PDI Research Team
Executive Board


Elayna Whiteman, Co-President
Elayna is a fourth-year student from Illinois majoring in Economics, Public Policy Studies, and Human Rights.
Adam Jensen, Co-President
Adam is a fourth-year student from California majoring in Public Policy Studies and CEGU (Environment, Geography, & Urbanization).


Vasuda Vaidyanathan, VP of Recruitment and Community Cohesion
Francesca Carney, VP of Recruitment and Community Cohesion
Vasuda is a fourth-year student from Texas majoring in Statistics.
Francesca is a fourth-year student from California majoring in Economics and Public Policy.


Arnav Harve, VP of Research
Vikram Srikonda, VP of Research
Arnav is a third-year student from Massachusetts majoring in Computer Science and Economics.
Vikram is a third-year student from Ohio majoring in Economics (on the data science track).


Sarah Murad, VP of Finance and Operations
Angela Joo, VP of Finance and Operations
Sarah is a third-year student from Virginia majoring in Economics.
Angela is a third-year student from the UK majoring in Business Economics and Political Science.


Gerard Blake, VP of Media and Outreach
Gerard is a second-year student from California majoring in Public Policy Studies with a minor in Biology.
Project Leads



Anushka Vasudev is a second-year student majoring in Economics. She is co-leading the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Climate Action project.
Julia Volpp is a second-year student majoring in Public Policy Studies. She is co-leading the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Climate Action project.
Madeline Bryant is a second-year student majoring in Public Policy Studies. She is leading the Libraries and Community Engagement project.



Lilah Bachrach is a second-year student majoring in Public Policy Studies and Business Economics. She is co-leading the Investigating the Socioeconomic Impact of Transit Initiatives in Chicago project.
Sophia Liu is a second-year student majoring in Public Policy Studies. She is co-leading the investigation of the Socioeconomic Impact of Transit Initiatives in Chicago project.
Raymond Ha is a third-year student majoring in Economics. He is leading the Effects of State-Based Direct Democracy Measures project.



Vedika Baradwaj is a second-year student majoring in Economics and Public Policy Studies. She is leading the Analysis of Illinois Pension Reform project.
2024-2025 Researcher Cohort
- Alejandra Sarmiento
- Allison Yu
- Charles (Chaz) Rutledge
- Desanka Malinovic
- Edgar San Jose
- Emily Price
- Hannah Riegel
- Isabel Kim
- Isaiah Moncrieffe
- ​Johan Salome
- June Lu
- Kate Snyder
- Kriti Krishnan
- Lavanya Gupta
- Letom Kpea
- Luiz Carlos Soares Teixeira
- Madeleine Schreiber
- Marco Parisse
- Milo Simchen
- Monica Lai
- Pari Shah
- Remko Wang Kuijs
- Rowan Felton
- Sadie Foer
- Seerat Bath
- Vedesh Kodnani
- Victor Qian
- Yura Mizutani
- Zoe Nelson
The Paul Douglas Institute
policy@pauldouglasinstitute.org