Past West Scholars

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Mary Michael

2023-2024

Mary Michael is a senior majoring in Sustainability Studies with a minor in Law, Justice, and Society and a certificate in Public Policy. She joined the Clark Center after participating in Dr. Evan’s study abroad program “The Politics of Protecting the Great Barrier Reef.” Before joining the Clark Center she worked at the Texas Capitol as a legislative aide and served as the Waller Creek Intern for Landscape Services at UT. She has been an active member of the student organizations Beevo Beekeeping Society, Students Fighting Climate Change, The Project, and Phi Delta Phi pre-law society. Mary is passionate about environmental policy, conservation, and sustainable urban planning.

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Shannon Henry

2023-2024

Shannon Henry is a junior triple-majoring in Sociology, Geography, and Sustainability Studies. She joined the Clark Center in the fall of 2023 after participating in Dr. Evans’ “The Politics of Protecting the Great Barrier Reef” study abroad course in Australia. After the course, she stayed and explored the entire east coast of Australia for another month. During this time abroad, she became fascinated with the country, its people, and its history. Outside of the Clark Center, she is an active member of the Beevo Beekeeping Society and works at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on grassland ecology research. In her free time, she loves listening to live music, watching movies, or doing something crafty.

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Paras Patel

Spring 2023

Paras Patel is a sophomore double majoring in Government and Economics with a Bridging Disciplines Program (BDP) certificate in Public Policy. In addition to international relations and global economic policy, he has a passion for learning new languages such as German and Arabic. He joined the Clark Center after taking a seminar course with Dr. Rhonda Evans in the Spring of 2022. Outside of the Clark Center, Paras is a head print editor for the Texas Undergraduate Law Journal (TULJ), where he has managed a print team responsible for editing legal analysis papers submitted from universities around the nation. After graduation, Paras hopes to work in foreign service or attend law school.

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Sierra Rowe

Spring 2023

Sierra is a graduate student at The LBJ School of Public Affairs. Her involvement with the Clark Center began while she was pursuing a BA in Government at UT. Initially working as a Research Intern, Sierra was named a Clark Scholar for the 2017-18 academic year. As a Clark Scholar, she built datasets to evaluate the extent to which decisions of the New Zealand Supreme Court receive media coverage. After graduating in 2018, Sierra moved to Shanghai where she worked as an ESL teacher until the COVID-19 pandemic sent her back to Texas, whereupon she rejoined the Clark Center as a Research Assistant. Sierra manages several projects concerning the Australian Human Rights Commission, and the New Zealand Supreme Court. In addition to her work at the Clark Center, Sierra also does policy research for the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University and policy consulting for Austin Energy.

Molly McCluskey

Fall 2022

Molly McCluskey is a third year in the College of Liberal Arts and the Red McCombs School of Business. She is pursuing degrees in International Relations and Global Studies, International Business, and Spanish. She joined the Clark Center during the Fall 2021 semester as a research intern, and accompanied Dr. Evans on the first study abroad program of The Politics of Protecting the Great Barrier Reef. Besides her work at the Clark Center, Molly is an active member of TEDxUTAustin and Texas Spirits on campus She previously was a student fellow at the Center of the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs where she authored a 30 page independent research paper on the effects Texas EPA Superfund sites have on local civic engagement. Molly is passionate about the intersections of environmental justice, international policy, and ESG strategy. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, being outdoors, and local live music in Austin.

Gavin Loyd

Fall 2022

Gavin Loyd is a junior double majoring in Government and International Relations with a minor in Arabic. He joined the Clark Center in Spring 2022 after taking a class with Dr. Evans. In addition to his time with the Clark Center, Gavin is a Research Intern with Innovations for Peace and Development and an officer in the UT International Affairs Society. After finishing his undergraduate program, he intends to pursue a graduate degree in data science for public policy.

Lauren Cortez

2021-2022

Lauren Cortez became a West Scholar as a senior in the Liberal Arts Honors program pursuing a degree in Government and minor in History. She joined the Clark Center as a Research Intern in the summer of 2021 after taking Dr. Evans’ class on Australian Society and Politics. Since her first semester as a Longhorn, she has been an active member and officer in Texas Sweethearts, a spirit group dedicated to serving the UT and Austin community. In addition, she has been a college representative for BreadwinnHER, an all-female networking organization, a volunteer at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and a member of Texas Phi Delta Phi Pre-Law Society. Lauren has also had three different law related internships that have nurtured her passion for law and politics. After graduation, she plans to attend law school and pursue her dream of becoming an attorney. In her free time, Lauren enjoys listening to true crime podcasts, watching old movies, and traveling.

Sriharika Kollipara

2021-2022

Sriharika Kollipara is a senior majoring in Government and International Relations and Global Studies. She is also part of the Arabic Flagship Program and the Jefferson Scholars Program as well as the Social Chair for the International Relations and Global Studies Council. Before becoming a West Scholar, she completed her honors thesis on the incorporation of international human rights norms in the constitutions of Bahrain and Tunisia. Passionate about the arts, Sriharika is also a member of the Concert Chorale at the Butler School of Music.