Current Clark Scholars
Founded in 2013, the Clark Scholar Program provides promising undergraduate students the opportunity to collaborate, design, develop, and lead research.
Treasure Ibe
Alyssa Seufert
Fall 2024
Alyssa Seufert is a sophomore double majoring in International Relations and Global Studies and Plan II Honors at the University of Texas. Alyssa joined the Clark Center after taking Dr. Evans’ “Australia, U.S., and the Rise of China” signature course. She is currently producing a podcast with Dr. Evans called "Australia-Texas Connections," which will feature interviews on the economic, social, cultural, and political connections between the two regions. Alyssa's academic interests include Latin American politics, women in politics, and international conflict resolution. She is passionate about community service, and in the future hopes to pursue a career in international public service, allowing her to make a positive impact on a global scale through her work. In addition to her academic pursuits, Alyssa enjoys learning about history, traveling, reading, writing, and painting.
Avery Robertson
Avery Robertson
Fall 2024
Avery Robertson is a senior double majoring in geography and sustainability, with minors in government and philosophy of law. Avery participated in “The Politics of Protecting the Great Barrier Reef” Maymester Abroad with Dr. Evans in May 2023 and will now be working to refine and promote the course for future participants. Avery’s academic interests include environmental policy, sustainable solutions to environmental issues, and the disproportionate effects of climate change on minority populations. Outside of school, Avery enjoys crocheting, reading, and spending time with her cat named Boots.
Avery Robertson
Vijay Davis
Fall 2024
Vijay Davis is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is pursuing a degree in International Relations and Global Studies with a tentative focus on International Security, and is a dual major with the Plan II Honors program in the College of Liberal Arts. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Davis has spent extensive time overseas and in the United States, gaining a unique international perspective, and hopes to go into diplomatic work post-graduation. [In his time at UT Austin, Davis has worked to go beyond the classroom, attending January’s Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in Sonoma, California, and establishing connections between pre-law students and Austin-based refugee shelters as a board member of the E. Lee Walker Service Fellowship.] Currently, Davis is a Research Fellow at the Clark Center for Australia and New Zealand Studies, assisting with the “Australian-Texan Connections” podcast and preparing for further research projects into culture and politics.
Avery Robertson
Deborah Chu
Fall 2024
Debbie Chu is a sophomore majoring in Plan II and Government. She is a Jefferson Scholar and is currently pursuing a Korean minor and a Business and Public Policy minor. She is interested in pursuing a career in law and then politics. She loves learning about public policy regarding the healthcare, education, and foster care systems, as well as the intersection of politics and government with Christian and general religious thought. In her free time, she loves to find cute study spots in Austin, hike, have deep talks with people, and indulge in anything music-related.
Avery Robertson
Maheshwari Rajesh
Fall 2024
Maheshwari Rajesh is a third-year majoring in Plan II and Psychology, with a minor in Hindi and a certificate in Creative Writing. She took the Australia, US, and Rise of China Signature Course in Spring 2023 and now supports it through the Signature Course Undergraduate Program and through SHIFT. This past summer, she explored Queensland, Australia in Dr. Evans’ Politics of Protecting the Great Barrier Reef study abroad class, meeting multiple koalas, rock wallabies, and crocodiles. Maheshwari is passionate about mental health advocacy and anti-colonial narratives and stays curious as she tries new things. At UT Austin, she is involved in the Community Engagement Collective and Minority Women Pursuing Law. In her free time, you can catch her reading (and writing) fiction and fantasy, cooking new recipes, or playing video games.
Avery Robertson
Lauren Wilson
Fall 2024
Lauren Wilson is a junior government major pursuing a Bridging Disciplines Program certificate in environment and sustainability and a minor in business and public policy. This past May, Lauren participated in the “Politics of Protecting the Great Barrier Reef” Abroad program with Dr. Evans. This experience not only affirmed Lauren’s passion for environmental policy, but sparked an interest in specific policy mechanisms and advocacy groups involved in Australian environmental governance. Since her freshman year, Lauren has been employed as a Legislative Aide at the Texas House of Representatives. Through her job, she has the opportunity to attend legislative, informational briefings hosted by organizations such as Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, Texas Water Development Board, and more. Additionally, she is involved in several student organizations including Students Fighting Climate Change, Texas Pre-Law Honor Society, and the Student Government Sustainability Caucus, and enjoys volunteering with Keep Austin Beautiful and Live Green in Plano. After graduation, Lauren plans to attend law school, specializing in environmental law, in the hopes of becoming a powerful advocate for environmental policy.