Research

Andrew Douglas

Originally from Oklahoma City, Andrew attended the University of Oklahoma as a National Merit Scholar.  He graduated in 2009 with a B.A. in political science and a minor in history.  As an undergraduate, Andrew participated in the OU Cousins international exchange program, studied abroad in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and was on the Dean’s Honor Roll. Andrew earned an M.A. in international studies from the University of Oklahoma in 2012.  His master’s thesis, Balance of Power Theory and Mexican Drug Cartels, examined political interactions between Mexican drug cartels in the context of the neorealist theory of international relations.

Robert Fekete

Robert "Robi" Fekete is a recent graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.A in Political Science and a B.A in Geography: Geospatial and Environmental Analysis. During his senior year he completed an independent undergraduate research class and his paper was entitled How to re-energize the American political involvement by bringing the Constitution into the 21st century. Would reforms to the electoral process lead to an increase in political involvement by the public? He presented his research at the 10^th annual Virginia Tech Research Conference. During the 2012 election cycle he was a campaign intern with Virginia's 11^th Congressional Candidate Chris Perkins. In addition to his time at Virginia Tech, he graduated from the International School of Brussels in 2007.

Matt Sommerfeld

Matt Sommerfeld just completed his second year of graduate school at George Mason University, where he is working on his PhD in Political Science, with concentrations in American and Comparative Politics. His research interests include electoral systems, comparative healthcare systems, budgetary politics, and institutional behavior. Recently, Matt has focused on electoral reform movements in countries such as New Zealand and United Kingdom, taking into account the lessons that can be learned as reform advocates attempt to emulate their success. Originally from Fargo, ND, Matt graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) in 2007 with a degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Political Science. During his undergraduate studies, Matt interned in the US Senate for Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) in 2006, working primarily in the press office. After he graduated from MSUM, Matt served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in Ukraine until December 2010. As a PCV, Matt taught English and initiated various projects, including a youth baseball league and journalism center. Upon returning from Ukraine, Matt maintained his commitment to volunteer work by coordinating the Community Service Program at Sidwell Friend's Summer Programs in Washington, DC.

Advocacy

Preston Davis

Originally from Sarasota, Florida, Preston Davis is a rising junior at Centre College in Kentucky. He is majoring in Government with a minor in Religion. At Centre he is a member of Student Government, Centre College Democrats and Young Americans for Liberty. In the past he has registered voters for national elections and participated in gubernatorial campaigns and 100% voter registration efforts at Centre. He plans to subject himself to the rigors of law school and eventually practice criminal defense law. Ultimately, he aspires to Congressional politics. Preston is passionate about identifying, analyzing and overcoming the challenges that governments face. To that end he spent the summer of 2012 examining governmental policies towards religion in Turkey: a Muslim-majority country with a vibrant, secular political system. This summer, he is excited to work with FairVote to assist and strengthen local organizations as they raise voter participation across the United States. 

Madeline Goode

Madeline Goode is a 21 year-old African American native to the DC Metropolitan area. She is an upcoming senior at the University of Maryland College Park campus, with a major in Government and Politics. She enjoys playing intermural soccer and volleyball and tennis on the campus courts. She is interested in the way government pervades every aspect of life and can take on any of her interests. Madeline specifically became interested in electoral reform when learning about voter identification laws and disenfranchisement. She aspires to pursue law or graduate school upon graduating in 2014. At FairVote, she is working on FairVote Action and building up the organization as a center for advocacy. Also, she is working to encourage universities nationwide to implement FairVote reforms in their campus governments to promote young people thinking about and working with different electoral methods.

Amel Yagoub

Amel Yagoub is an undergraduate at NYU Abu Dhabi, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Arabic and History. She has spent the past two years in the UAE, including a month long course abroad exploring Southern Spain and Morocco. At NYU Abu Dhabi, she is involved in psychology research on political speeches and student government, in addition to helping found the Pre-Law Student Association and being on the board of the Islamic Student Union.  Her interests lie in international relations with an emphasis on electoral reform and minority rights advocacy. At Fairvote, Amel works on the Representation 2020 project, assisting in the compilation of the State of Women's Representation Report.

Communications

Tarika Sankar

Tarika Sankar is a rising sophomore at the University of Maryland, College Park where she is currently studying Anthropology. At Maryland, she is on the staff of the Honors College journal The Winding Banister Review and secretary of the Anthropology Student Association. She earned the International Baccalaureate Diploma from Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland where she helped create the global charitable organization Crafts4Change and managed its social media and communications. During her summers, Tarika also volunteers at a public health clinic in Southeast Washington, D.C. At FairVote, Tarika assists in communications efforts across projects and developing social media strategies to optimize FairVote's online presence.

Legal

Danielle Moise

Danielle Moise is a rising 2L at The George Washington University Law School where she is currently the Assistant Director of Public Interest/Pro Bono for the student government. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2011 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Italian Language. She hopes to pursue a career in civil rights law after graduating law school. At FairVote, Danielle will be providing legal analysis for FairVote's reforms, including cumulative voting, ranked choice voting, and voter access issues. She will also be providing legal support for FairVote's Promote Our Vote project.