2025-2026 Undergraduate Research Fellows

Lina Adarrab is a senior at the Elliott School, majoring in International Affairs with an International Economics concentration and a minor in Korean Language and Literature. Raised in Casablanca, Morocco, Lina grew up in a multicultural environment that shaped her passion for languages and cultures, with a special interest in East Asia. She is fluent in French, Arabic, and English and is currently learning Korean at GW. In Fall 2024, she studied abroad at Korea University as a Gilman Scholar, where she improved her understanding of East Asian politics (Korea, China, and Japan), Korean political economy, and U.S.-ROK relations. Her time in Seoul inspired her to develop her research skills while exploring how gender and multiculturalism are shaping South Korean society today. In her future career, Lina aspires to work in public service. Outside her studies, Lina enjoys traveling, reading, and watching K-Dramas.

Allana Holiday is a sophomore at Spelman College, majoring in International Studies, with a double minor in Food Studies and Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. Allana was born in Germany and has lived in four different countries. Her background of constantly moving and adapting to new environments developed her love of culture and international affairs. She lived in South Korea as a child and got to return to Seoul in the summer of 2025 to study Korea-U.S. Relations through CIEE. Her anthropological work in food studies has inspired her interest in studying the use of food diplomacy. Allana’s academic focus lies in migration policy, human rights, and foreign affairs. She serves as a Social Justice Associate for the prestigious Social Justice Fellows Program at Spelman College, advocating for refugees and migrants, and a Lowery Institute Scholar Activist working on their first International Human Rights Capstone project. After graduating, Allana plans to attend law school to become an international human rights lawyer.

Sarah Lokenauth is a junior Economics major at Spelman College and a distinguished scholar with a strong commitment to community development through economic research. She currently serves as a research assistant in the Economics VLab under the mentorship of Dr. Angelino Viceisza, where her work focuses on exploring economic strategies that promote sustainable growth and opportunity within marginalized communities. Sarah also holds an internship with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, where she analyzes ways to support homeowners in building financial stability and long-term success. Her academic interests extend beyond traditional economics, encompassing the influence of social attitudes and institutional structures on community outcomes, as well as strategies for meaningful systemic change. In the spring of 2025, Sarah participated in an international academic delegation to Manila, Philippines, as a member of the Spelman Model United Nations Team, further deepening her global perspective on economic and social policy. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Sarah is an avid reader who values storytelling as a powerful means of understanding the world. She is driven by a passion to become a researcher and advocate, aiming to collaborate with nonprofits and non-governmental organizations around the world to empower underserved communities and foster inclusive development.

Abriana Northington-Winston is a junior at Spelman College majoring in English. Her passion lies in exploring the intersections of culture, identity, and media, with a particular focus on Korean society and its global influence. This interest deepened during her study abroad experience in Seoul, where she examined how visual and digital media shape public perception, self-image, and cultural narratives. Through the GWIKS Undergraduate Research Fellowship, she plans to investigate how Korean media reflects and responds to evolving social norms, paying particular attention to themes of gender, representation, and authenticity. She is committed to producing research that bridges academic inquiry with accessible storytelling, aiming to spark dialogue across cultures. In the future, she hopes to pursue graduate studies and a career in media and cultural analysis, creating spaces where creative expression and critical research inform one another.

Edwin Rim is a rising senior at George Washington University majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Security Politics and a minor in Korean. The son of Korean immigrants, he was born in Los Angeles and grew up surrounded by a vibrant Korean community before moving to Las Vegas, where that cultural connection was less present. Seeking to reconnect with his heritage, he studied abroad last spring at Seoul National University as a U.S. Department of State Gilman Scholar. While abroad, he immersed himself in Korean culture and history and took a seminar on North Korea that deepened his understanding of its ideology, politics, and security challenges. These experiences have shaped his academic path and strengthened his commitment to pursuing a career in foreign policy with a focus on the Korean Peninsula and broader Indo-Pacific security.

Megan Elizabeth Seeley, or M.E. for short, is a senior at The George Washington University, majoring in Asian Studies in the Elliott School of International Affairs with a minor in Korean Language and Literature. From an early age, she has taken an interest in learning about other cultures and has most recently focused on learning about Korean culture. At GW, besides language, she has taken numerous classes on Korean film, literature, history, politics, etc. All of which eventually culminated in her visit with GWIKS to South Korea in the summer of 2024. This trip reaffirmed her want to study South Korea and spurred her desire to return to Korea. Most recently, M.E. participated in a summer abroad program at Yonsei University where she improved her Korean skills and got more first-hand experience with Korean life. In addition to Korean Studies, as a woman and feminist, she has taken a personal interesting in wellbeing of women across the global, including in Korea.

Yichen Shen, who also goes by Julia, is a junior at the Elliott School of International Affairs, majoring in International Affairs with a regional concentration in Asia and a double major in Korean Language and Literature. Born in Hangzhou, China, Julia had developed an interest in South Korean political dynamics in 2015 when former president Park Geun-hye visited China to attend the anniversary parade commemorating the victory in the anti-fascist war. Witnessing her impeachment, Julia had spent nearly six years closely following South Korean political news. After being accepted to GW, Julia had taken several courses related to Korean language, politics, and history. Following the martial law incident on December 3, 2024, Julia hopes to conduct a deeper research on the history of South Korean presidents declaring martial law and use the 1996 court case that punished former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo to predict the future of former president Yoon Seok-yeol.