The Strauss Center is very pleased to announce the acceptance of eleven undergraduate students to its 2026-27 class of Brumley Next Generation Undergraduate Scholars. Involving undergraduates in international affairs and civic engagement early in their career is a vital part of the Strauss Center’s mission to empower the next generation of leaders to develop solutions to the most pressing policy challenges we face today. We are incredibly excited to welcome this dynamic cohort of students into the Brumley Program from across the Forty Acres and know they will bring unique perspectives to the multidisciplinary programs at the Strauss Center.

About the Program

The Brumley Next Generation Scholars Program is designed to provide a clinic in policymaking for undergraduate students and consists of two core components. First, Brumley Scholars participate in a 3-credit research and policymaking course in Fall 2026, taught by Strauss Center Distinguished Scholars Dr. Stephanie Holmsten and Dr. Michael Mosser. This course allows Scholars to develop essential skills in policy research, analysis, and writing. Scholars will take the lessons learned in the fall semester and refine these ideas in the spring, briefing their work to policymakers in Washington, D.C. over the winter break and generating external policy deliverables to share with broader audiences.

Meet the 2026-27 Cohort

Adithi Rallapalli is a senior, majoring in Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Plan II Honors, and Economics Honors, with minors in Russian and History. Adithi’s research is focused on European responses to the emerging strategic technology competition between the U.S. and China, with particular emphasis on the intersection of biotechnology and national security.

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Collin Dufrene is a senior, majoring in Plan II Honors, International Relations & Global Studies, and Government, with minors in National Security & International Business and French Studies. A former Archer Fellow, J.J. Pickle researcher, Texas Intelligence Academy fellow, and Texas Civic Ambassador, Collin looks forward to tackling new, complex problems as a Brumley Scholar and student in the Texas Cybersecurity Clinic.

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Deborah Chu is a senior, majoring in Government and Plan II Honors, with a minor in Business & Public Policy and a certificate in Core Texts & Ideas. A graduate of the Texas Cybersecurity Clinic, Deborah has worked in multiple cybersecurity and technology policy roles across the private sector and in state and local government. She is the Founder and Executive Director of CyberServe USA, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing digital safety education to vulnerable populations.

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Ethni Mena-Ajakpovi is a senior, majoring in International Relations & Global Studies with a minor in Italian. Having spent her formative years in Lagos, Nigeria, Ethni is interested in African policy and economic development in West Africa. Specifically, she hopes to leverage relations between her two nationalities – the U.S. and Nigeria – to pursue anti-corruption, anti-conflict initiatives, and economic expansion in African countries.

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Eva White is a senior, majoring in International Relations & Global Studies, Government, and Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies. She is also minoring in Russian and History, with a certificate in Security Studies. As a Brumley Scholar, Eva hopes to explore great power competition in international civil nuclear investment and the relationship between energy security and democratic development. After graduation, Eva plans to pursue a career in the federal government.

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Jules Salinas is a junior, majoring in International Relations & Global Studies, Government, and Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies. He is a Liberal Arts Honors Distinguished Scholar and is pursuing minors in History and Security Studies. As a Brumley Scholar, Jules’ research interests are in physical security and the protection of U.S. assets and diplomatic operations overseas.

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Luke Ramcharita is a senior, majoring in Government with minors in National Security & International Business, Business & Public Policy, and History. He has extensive public sector experience in the Texas Legislature and U.S. House of Representatives. As a Brumley Scholar, Luke plans to delve into his interest in industrial policies surrounding manufacturing of dual use technologies and critical mineral extraction to study how the U.S. can partner with countries in Latin America to nearshore its critical mineral supply chains.

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Priyanka Bhutani is a senior, majoring in International Relations & Global Studies and Government, with minors in History and International Business and a certificate in Security Studies. Her interests center on the nexus of intelligence analysis and policymaking, particularly in energy geopolitics and state-backed foreign policy.

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Rayna Keshavjee is a senior, majoring in International Business, with minors in Supply Chain Management and Communication Studies, along with a certificate in Ethics and Leadership in Law, Politics, and Government. Following graduation, Rayna plans to attend law school and pursue a career in international law and diplomacy. She hopes to work at the intersection of diplomacy and technology, helping shape cross-border frameworks for cyber resilience, data security, and international stability.

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Tommy Wan is a senior, majoring in Civil Engineering, Government, and Plan II Honors. His research examines infrastructure vulnerabilities, from permafrost-dependent drinking water systems in Western Alaska to cascading failures during the Kerrville floods to industrial air quality risks in Beaumont-Port Arthur. Tommy’s policy experience spans the Texas Senate, the U.S. Congress as an Archer Fellow, and the Houston City Council, where he contributed to legislation on AI-enabled financial exploitation and supported disaster response efforts. As founder of AliefVotes, Tommy leads youth civic engagement and community resilience programs across Southwest Houston.

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Vijay Davis is a senior, majoring in International Relations & Global Studies and Plan II Honors and minoring in Philosophy. Having grown up in multiple countries, Vijay is fascinated by the world around him and the complex challenges it faces. His areas of interest include national security and trade relations, with a special focus on the unique relationship between the United States and Australia. 

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The Brumley NextGen Scholars and Fellows programs would not be possible without the generous and ongoing support of Jon and Rebecca Brumley of Fort Worth, Texas.