Group 3

Hello, My name is Emilie Hankla. I am a native of Atlanta, Georgia but attend Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. I am also a dual citizen of France and the United States. At Kenyon, I study political science and religion. In the fall semester of my junior year, I studied abroad in Tunisia. There, I researched democratic backsliding in the MENA region and interned at an NGO that supports female parliamentarians.

On campus, I am an Associate at Kenyon’s Center for the Study of American Democracy and an Intern at Kenyon’s Office of Advancement. I have interned at Georgia Tech’s Development Office, the Office of Congresswoman Nikema Williams, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

I look forward to participating in the 2025 Athens Democracy Forum!

¡Hola! My name is Micaela Puente, I’m proudly Ecuadorian and currently in my third year at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, where I major in Political Science and minor in Economics. I focus on public policy, political economy, and democratic institutions.

As a student, I’ve developed a strong interest in how democracies adapt to contemporary challenges like polarization, inequality, and misinformation; issues that remain pressing in Ecuador. I am currently part of a research project that explores institutional reforms to improve democratic performance. The project is organized into seven thematic areas, each analyzed in a comparative perspective across 20 Latin American countries. The goal is to produce publishable academic articles, which will later be compiled into a collective book on political reform in Ecuador.

My commitment to democratic values extends beyond the classroom. As a member of my university’s Honor Society, a group of academically distinguished students committed to social engagement, I lead workshops that support first-year students from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds. We focused on improving reading comprehension and promoting interest in literature. This experience deepened my interest in inclusive education and democratic participation for underrepresented communities. I hope to further explore this issue at the 2025 Athens Democracy Forum.

I embrace the exciting opportunity to connect with peers and experts who share a passion for democracy and civic engagement. I hope to share perspectives from my country, gain new insights, and return home with ideas to strengthen democratic life in Ecuador.

Hello!  My name is Maya Favors, and I am from the United States of America. I’m a rising senior originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, studying Political Science and Spanish at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. I’m on the pre-law track with a specific interest in pursuing immigration law.  My specific passions lie in legal advocacy, Constitutional law, and diverse perspectives. I spent a semester abroad in Valparaíso, Chile, examining the impacts of the Chilean dictatorship on the democratic and economic structure. With that experience, I’m excited to expand my knowledge, continually learning the different aspects of democracies across the world, comparing their advantages and challenges. 

I am thrilled to participate in the 2025 Athens Democracy Forum, connecting with delegates across the globe and hearing their unique perspectives. I’m excited to deepen my understanding of my own complex government, while also comparing it to the thriving democracies from whom we have much to learn. In the midst of such an incredibly divisive age in the political realm, I’m thankful for the opportunity to question my own perspective, learn from international leaders, and broaden my cultural awareness. 

Hello! My name is Ayano Toi, and I am from Tokyo, Japan, though I lived in Connecticut, U.S. for several years during my childhood. I’m currently a fourth-year undergraduate student at International Christian University in Tokyo, majoring in Peace Studies with a minor in Media, Communication, and Culture.

Over my junior and senior years, I studied abroad for a year in Sweden, where I deepened my understanding of peace and development. The studies mostly focused on conflict analysis, peace building, and development from various perspectives, such as international relations, economy and environment. This learning experience opened my eyes to both the importance and the complexity of democratic processes in peace building. 

In Japan, I’ve been actively involved in local peace education initiatives for youth in my hometown, which has strengthened my belief in the power of dialogue and participation. As someone deeply interested in how people interpret and make sense of the world, I’m eager to exchange perspectives on democracy and the societal challenges we face today.

I am very honored and look forward to participating in the 2025 Athens Democracy Forum!