
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.
2025-2026 Researcher Cohort
- Aparna Viswanathan
- Bernardo Guidi
- Caedmon Sethupathy
- Carleigh Hughes
- Chris Koehler
- Charles Rutledge
- Claire Cheng
- Dahlia Elroos
- David A Ortiz Mena Acosta
- Desanka Malinovic
- Emily Kim
- Ezra Ellenbogen
- Gabrielle Yurin
- Graham Hansen
- Hana Elbadry
- Hannah Stoll
- Isabel Alia Arias
- Isabella Ciriello
- Jack Riley
- Jack Ryan
- Jacqueline Huang
- Juan Sebastian Pilacuan
- Judah Gordon
- Juliana Cruz
- Jurain Zhu
- Kacey Archer
- Kristina Veskovic
- Marco Parisse
- Maria Belopolsky
- Maria Navarro
- Mathew Ye
- Matthew Wen
- Monica Lai
- Morgan Walker
- Nola Brooks
- Parjanya Tiwari
- Rebecca Sonn-Lees
- Rowan Felton
- Sofia Guimaraes
- Subhronil Mukherjee
- William Marks
- Yura Mizutani
- Zora Brown
The Paul Douglas Institute
policy@pauldouglasinstitute.org
