Government

While historically the Supreme Court has enjoyed stable levels of public support, recent attitudes indicate that may no longer be the case. I first seek to understand whether falling public approval is truly a concern and what scholars identify as sources of public support. Through my research, I tested the hypothesis that “the drastic and sustained decline in public approval of the Supreme Court is the result of institutional changes that have occurred since the 1980s, which have weakened the Court’s reservoir of diffuse support in the long term.” I supported my claim by identifying several institutional changes including the elimination of procedural rules by the legislature and establishment of new Court norms. In conclusion, I found that institutional support has been affected in the long term which may have catastrophic consequences for not only the judiciary, but the critical balance of power in our government.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Government Major, Mathematics Minor

Advisor: Dr. Christine Nemacheck

Audrey Capone, "Defamation Privacy, and the Dead: What America's Obsession with True Crime Means for Legal Reform"

This project will explore the ethical, political, and legal implications of extending a legal claim to reputation for the deceased, and will argue that common laws surrounding libel or defamation protections should extend to the dead. This will be set in the context of a social, visual, and audible media environment in which individuals are easily defamed or represented without adequate legal protection. Due to the current media environment and its emphasis on true crime genres, both living and dead individuals – particularly victims – have consistently been exploited without strong defense. This project will take existing legal theory and analysis of this phenomenon, along with existing arguments for various defamation, slander, and reputation-based protections, and consolidate them into a call for more protection against victim exploitation. Specifically, how to extend current procedure to adequately handle the current media landscape.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Government Major, Philosophy Minor

Advisor: Professor Jackson Sasser

Alexa Lewandowski, "The Disaggregated Local: Stratified Authorship in Transitional Justice"

Transitional justice lies within the broader field of post-conflict peacebuilding, referring to the legal, political, and community-based processes used to address legacies of mass violence. These methods are often described as “locally owned” when communities are consulted or invited to participate, but sustained peace continues to fail, prompting the question this research addresses: under what conditions does transitional justice produce locally legitimate and durable peace, and, crucially, for whom? This research argues one answer is genuine local authorship: the ability of affected populations to shape a process’s goals, design, implementation, and revision. Through a comparison of Uganda, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, and South Africa, the research applies a four-part framework for evaluating authorship: agenda-setting authority, inclusive participation, cultural and procedural integrity, and safeguards against elite and donor capture. The comparison reveals that authority is unevenly distributed both across and within cases. Uganda and Sri Lanka largely demonstrate failures of local authority, while Sierra Leone and South Africa combine the appearance of national-level legitimacy alongside geographic, ethnic, gendered, and political exclusions. Transitional justice should therefore not be judged simply as a national success or failure, but by asking which populations held meaningful authority and achieved benefits, and which were excluded.

Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations Major

Advisor: Dr. Rani Mullen

Maya Sakai-Chen, "Documenting Anti-Abortion Bills in Texas, Pre- And Post-Dobbs"

Texas law was the subject of Roe v. Wade and the state has since been the laboratory for new abortion restrictions. In 2021, Dobbs v. Jackson repealed Roe v. Wade and eliminated the constitutional right to abortion. This project will explore what the history of failed and successful abortion legislation in Texas tells society about how abortion has changed as a political issue. My research project creates a database documenting abortion bills in Texas from 2019-2025, including a description of each bill, what action was criminalized, the modes of punishment, and the target of punishment. My project analyses the changes in criminalization of abortion before and after Dobbs v. Jackson. Closely tracing the legislative history of abortion can give insight into what issues are important and how the focus of legislation has changed over time.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Public Policy Major

Advisor: Professor Claire McKinney

Session II

Landen Broocke, "Storytelling and Intercultural Competency in Bosnian Youth"

We researched the effectiveness of storytelling based activities on improving the Intercultural Communicative Competency skills (ICC) of Bosnian youth. The Bosnian public education system is divided by ethnic lines, and students rarely have the opportunity to learn in diverse groups. Our research was conducted in a summer school camp setting that promotes diversity and inclusion, and each age group was taught by one William & Mary student and one Master’s student from the University of Sarajevo. Through conducting baseline and endline surveys as well as observation of lessons, we collected data measuring the student’s progression of ICC skills. We anticipate that the oldest group will have the largest improvement of ICC skills, based on the previous year’s findings.

Student Major(s)/Minor: History and Government Major

Advisor: Dr. Paula Pickering

Cole Frei, "Indonesia as a Rising Middle Power in a Fragmented Global Order"

Indonesia’s international presence is characterized by ‘bebas dan aktif’ (free and active) policy-making, maintaining neutrality while participating actively in global affairs. In the modern context of US-China great-power competition, Indonesia has the opportunity to benefit from its growing global significance. Regional and international institutions should be utilized to promote unity within Southeast Asia and uplift the voices of non-great powers. Indonesia’s non-aligned posture, domestic populist policies, and US-imposed tariffs risk deterring large-scale foreign investment. As the country moves further away from a resource-based economy, it must establish itself as a regional economic player and decide which global markets to prioritize. Rising militarization, high-profile corruption cases, the erosion of democratic norms and rights, and widespread protests in response to President Prabowo’s populist policies impact Indonesia’s ability to mitigate international situations. This study analyzes Indonesia’s foreign relations, economic and trade policies, and domestic politics to assess Indonesia’s current international positioning.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Government and Classical Studies Major

Advisor: Dr. Rani Mullen

Talia Holzman, "Storytelling and Intercultural Competency in Bosnian Youth"

Student Major(s)/Minor: Government Major, Philosophy Minor

Advisor: Dr. Paula Pickering

Daisy Maxwell, "Indonesia as a Rising Middle Power in a Fragmented Global Order"

Student Major(s)/Minor: Government and English Major

Advisor: Dr. Rani Mullen

Jackson Rippon, "Rebuilding Transatlantic Trust: Changes in Counterrorism Intelligence"

This project examines the events leading up to and succeeding Edward Snowden's information leaks of CIA documents regarding surveillance for counterterrorism purposes. It analyzes practices by the United States and European Union before the leaks, what the leaks targeted, and how certain programs and policies adjusted following international pressure. The two case studies used in this project are the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP) and the Passenger Name Record (PNR), both of which are advertised as having national security and counterterrorism as their primary justifications. Numerous original legal texts, case notes, testimonies, and academic papers were read and analyzed for this project. The results indicate that the leaks targeted the legal and moral boundaries that both American and European bodies had extended, including the length of time an institution can retain data and what types of data can be maintained. They further reveal how European bodies took much more serious action than American institutions to bring surveillance capabilities under control to address privacy concerns. It reveals how governments balance, or fail to balance, the rights of individuals and national security concerns when focusing on national security may infringe on human rights protections.

Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations Major

Advisor: Professor Mark Matthews

Josiah Santiago, "Indonesia as a Rising Middle Power in a Fragmented Global Order"

Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations Major

Advisor: Dr. Rani Mullen

Video Presentations

Jakayla Brown, "Framing Foster Care: A Comparative Analysis of The Fosters and I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story"

This study investigates the representation of the foster care system in the true story film I Am Somebody’s Child and the television series The Fosters, and the effect of these representations on the perception of the life of foster care youth. Although previous studies were conducted on programs and policies for youth aging out of foster care, this study delves into the cultural narratives that are shaping public understanding. The film and television media have a significant influence on beliefs, empathy, and stigma, which often become the public’s primary source of information about foster care. Using a comparative media analysis, the study will identify differences in storytelling, character development, and thematic framing between fictional and true-story portrayals. In highlighting how the media influences public opinion, understanding of systemic accountability, and public support for child welfare services, the study provides media practitioners and policymakers with insights into the social impact of foster care content.

Student's major(s)/Minor: Sociology Major

Advisor: Dr. Jackson Sasser

James Dolas, "Sword, or Plowshare? An Analysis of US and UK Nuclear Intelligence, 1955-1985"

Nuclear proliferation has always been an important area of focus for Western intelligence. Examining reports and analyses written by America and Britain between 1955 and 1985, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was a key clue from its initial signing in 1970 onwards. Ratification of the treaty signaled to American and British intelligence a lack of interest in obtaining nuclear weapons, and failure to ratify was seen as a clue of proliferation intent. Though America and Britain often agreed in their assessments, American reports were usually more detailed and sometimes more confident than their British counterparts. These facts can help contextualize current discussions of and provide insight into ways of thinking about nuclear proliferation.

Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations (Joint Degree Program) Major

Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Kaplow

Quinn Drennan, "Nuclear Fusion as an Emerging Technology"

Nuclear fusion has been the technology of the future for over half a century. However, recent breakthroughs and private sector investments signal that it might truly be around the corner. A global race to achieve fusion energy first is underway, and the technology is rapidly spreading around the globe. As such, it is relevant to consider the security implications of fusion and the ways in which it might lead to new countries acquiring nuclear weapons or existing nuclear states upgrading their arsenals. To create a risk profile for fusion, we conducted a systematic review of scholarly articles, government documents, and international treaties, as well as performing independent analysis. Findings revealed that the greatest proliferation risks stemming from fusion are its capacity to produce fissile materials, an increase in nuclear knowledge and technology as a byproduct of its development, and its ability to model nuclear explosions. Although this study is a preliminary analysis, the results suggest that further research into the proliferation implications of fusion is necessary to gain a better understanding of tomorrow’s nuclear landscape.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Government and Economics Major

Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Kaplow

Madeleine Fernandez, "Air on the Side of Caution: Legal Implications of Rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding"

The rescindment of the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding, which served as the founding determination for vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation, implicates decades of judicial and bureaucratic precedent, scientific findings, and EPA consistency. Thus, it is reasonable to identify challenges that will be brought in response and potential implications for the future of the EPA’s regulation of GHGs. To focus on emerging legal responses, one must first explore the history supporting the first Endangerment Finding and the information sparking its rescission 17 years later. Rescinding a finding as critical as the Endangerment Finding will call five major aspects of climate law into question: federal pre-emption, administrative statutory specifications, scientific basis of legislation, industry reliability, and the major questions doctrine. Impending lawsuits will shift towards public nuisance claims, determine the legality of the EPA’s motive and steps towards rescinding, produce judicial rulings of the role of science in court directives, and clarify the statutory balance of authority over the American economy.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Biology and Environment & Sustainability (Policy track) Major

Advisor: Dr. Jackson Sasser

Grace Mischou, "Convergent Evolution: How Decades of U.S.-China Strategic Competition in Emerging Technologies Are Shaping Investment in the Race for Quantum Leadership"

Compute increasingly gates U.S.–China strategic competition for fourth‑industrial‑revolution advantages, driving investment in quantum technology. In 2026, the U.S. announced its first major quantum policy since 2018: the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act. This research conducts document coding and historical analysis to provide a longitudinal perspective on U.S. emerging‑technology policymaking, that remains underdeveloped in existing literature. Major trends are evaluated through case studies of U.S.–U.S.S.R. and U.S.–Japan semiconductor‑competition policy, drawing implications for isolating markets versus strengthening domestic industry within an integrated system. Strategic competition and quantum maturation are driving a convergence in U.S. and Chinese investment policy. Additionally, government investment increasingly mirrors the role of financial institutions. As industry adapts to geopolitical constraints and governments prioritize private‑sector constraints, such as ROI, conflation of priorities marks a departure from U.S. precedent, bearing potential benefits and risks for quantum competition.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Government and Finance Major

Advisor: Dr. Eun Jo

Vera Pande, "Troy A. Cullen Emerging Technology Fellowship — Emerging Technology & International Security: Nuclear Fusion Proliferation Risks Primer and Comparative Analysis of Global Fusion Programs"

This project examines how nuclear fusion technologies may affect proliferation risks and international security. It asks: How should a state’s fusion program development inform an assessment of proliferation risks? The research proceeded in two stages. First, a research primer synthesized scholarship on material risks—including plutonium production, tritium diversion, and fusion-fission hybrids—and non-material risks involving dual-use technologies, tacit knowledge, inertial-confinement fusion, and gaps in safeguards. It also identified commercialization, private investment, governance, and strategic competition as priorities for further research. Second, a comparative analysis used the United States as a baseline to examine China, India, and Brazil across fusion capabilities, nuclear infrastructure, weapons status, safeguards obligations, and civil-military relationships. Initial findings suggest that fusion development alone is an insufficient indicator of proliferation risk; its significance depends on whether new capabilities create usable nuclear options. Future research will primarily refine and expand the comparative analysis, synthesizing cross-case findings and incorporating additional cases, while developing complementary research products that may include a global dataset, thematic analyses, or policy-focused work on fusion governance, strategic competition, and proliferation risk.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Biology and Government Major, Computational & Applied Mathematics & Statistics, Chemistry, and Artificial Intelligence Minor

Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Kaplow

Demetri Tymchynyuk - more information coming soon!

Abstract coming soon!

Student Major(s)/Minor: International Relations Major, Geospatial Analysis Minor

Advisor: Dr. Daniel Maliniak

Lily Wershbale, "Nuclear Fusion: Proliferation Risks and Safeguards"

As nuclear fusion technologies transition from a scientific aspiration to a commercial reality, they introduce distinct proliferation threats that challenge existing governance frameworks. Material risks include the potential production or diversion of weapons-relevant materials, such as tritium and plutonium. Non-material risks arise from the dissemination of dual-use technologies, sensitive expertise, and military applications associated with fusion research. Growing private-sector investment and intensifying international competition further complicate these concerns, raising questions about whether current export controls, safeguards, and nonproliferation regimes are equipped to govern the technology at a commercial scale. With support from the Margaret S. Glauber Faculty-Student Research Fellows and Scholarship Fund, the Troy A. Cullen Emerging Technology Fellows Program drafted a research primer examining the current landscape of nuclear fusion and its implications for national security. The primer features a risk assessment of the leading approaches to nuclear fusion, addresses the insufficiency of international safeguards, and outlines entry points for further research.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Philosophy Major, Data Science Minor

Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Kaplow

Anne Hensley Young, "Regular Order is Called For: Media Evolution and Senate Behavior" - video coming soon!

In recent decades, Senate confirmation hearings for United States Supreme Court Justices have become platforms for politically charged debates and the airing of personal grievances, instead of the questioning of a nominee to evaluate whether they are qualified to serve on the Court. This behavior has become more apparent alongside the rise of televised confirmation hearings. But the evolution of Senate confirmation hearings has been changing since they were first opened to the public in 1916. This project seeks to evaluate how Senators’ speaking behavior has changed alongside the rise of modern media. The product will be a play written to outline the distinct stages of Senate interaction with the American media. This play will communicate to audiences and readers how Senate behavior has become more performative in the past century, and how media has allowed information to become more accessible to the American public, but not necessarily more accurate.

Student Major(s)/Minor: Government and Theatre Major

Advisor: Dr. Laurie Wolf, Theatre and Dr. Larry Evans, Government

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