EXECUTIVE BOARD
Bontu Ankit
Patro
Co-PRESIDENT
My name is B.Ankit Patro and I am senior studying economics and mathematics and international relations. Hailing from Bhubaneswar, India, I have seen how right policies can propel a country's growth within a short period of time. As with other Asian economies, India grew from an economy of just 600 billion dollars to more 2 trillion in less than 20 years. This formed the basis for joining the Politica. I love hearing different opinions and I may not agree with them but seeing different things from different lenses really helps to deconstruct the world.
Ruhika
Ponda
Co-PRESIDENT
Ruhika is a senior majoring in English with a minor in Core. Her bustling hometown New York City shaped her interest in politics and journalism as she grew up surrounded by political advocacy. She is particularly interested in the fair and equal administration of justice and she plans to attend law school after graduation. As the former editor and publication director for The Politica, Ruhika had the opportunity to read and edit pieces that broadened her perspectives and made her a more informed citizen. As Co-President, she looks forward to helping facilitate open discourse and learning more about the evolving world of global politics.
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Sam is a senior studying Political Science and International Relations. Being raised in a homogenous small town with few politically engaged individuals has made Sam appreciate the diverse life experiences and learning opportunities afforded by Boston University and Politica. Dialogue of this nature not only makes people better, it is also crucial for the healthy functioning of democracy. Sam believes being a part of respectful productive discourse is the purpose of college and provides lessons that are applicable in both personal and political life.
Samuel Gildea
Head of Roundtable
Tommie is a Senior in CAS studying political science, philosophy, and public policy analysis. She also serves as the Student Government Senate Chair and VP of BU Barbell. In her spare time she’s a competitive powerlifter who just represented BU at Collegiate Nationals.
Tommie lee
Publication Director/Editor
Fiona is a junior studying Philosophy & Political Science with a minor in Computer Science. Hailing from Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, her interest in political discourse stems from a lack of an inclusive space for political discussions in her local community, inspiring her to join The Politica to ensure that students within the BU community are given the space to engage with others to make creative solutions and ideas together. As Director of Roundtable, she is dedicated in encouraging diverse, productive discussions surrounding various political issues and ideas, hoping to promote intellectual growth among students.
Fiona Winarto
Director of Roundtable
Saad Ahmed
Head of Podcast/Secretary
Saad is a senior studying Philisophy with a minor in cinema and media studies. Long having a past of involvement in student politics in their hometown of Karachi, Pakistan. He originally joined BU with an intent to dual major in Philosophy and Politics. He dropped the Politics component of his degree because he found himself more drawn towards wanting to engage with the Philosophical underpinnings of Contemporary material politics. Saad believes discussing complex ideas with both like-minded and diversly opined individuals is a privilege as it allows you to uncover the core metaphysical principles that make up why we believe what we do.
Mira Donaldson is a graduate student at Boston University, specializing in multimedia
storytelling. A recent graduate of Spelman College with a degree in Political Science, Mira has refined her skills across esteemed platforms such as Georgia Public Broadcasting, The Maroon Tiger, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the HBCU Media Collective in collaboration with The Wall Street Journal. Her work spans breaking news, finance journalism, and in-depth reporting, showcasing her commitment to accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and impactful storytelling.
Mira Donaldson
Head of Podcast
Ely Hochfelder
Treasurer
A lifelong geography nerd, Ely Hochfelder (they/them), is a sophomore studying International Relations. Originally from Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Ely’s lifelong experience as a Bay Stater has exposed them to the myriad of cultures found in the United States, as well as the ongoing injustices and hardships these cultures face. By joining Politica as Treasurer, Ely hopes to continue advocating for spherical critical thinking, contextual analysis, and equity in a world of misinformation. Additionally, Ely is particularly interested in LGBT community building in terms of global south and sociolinguistics.
I am a senior in COM studying advertising with two minors in public policy analysis and entrepreneurship & innovation. I serve as the director of social media and marketing for the politica. I am from upstate NY and hope to go into strategic communication and policy analysis.