About Us
Mission Statement
The Phoenix Policy Institute is a student-led non-partisan organization that produces evidence-based policy research at all levels of government. We seek to provide professional learning experiences for Elon undergraduates of all disciplines and to foster engagement in the policy process among undergraduates.
Staff
Ayla Gonzalez
Ayla Gonzalez is a sophomore from Austin, Texas double majoring in Public Policy and Political Science. She is an Odyssey Scholar and a first generation college student. Her involvements include serving as the Inclusive Excellence Senator in the Student Government Association. She works as a Tour Guide and Diversity Ambassador in University Admissions as well as an Eco Rep in the Office of Sustainability. Her policy interest includes social welfare, environmental impacts, immigration reform, and gender equity.
Alexa Jimeno
Alexa Jimeno is a junior from Annapolis, Maryland, majoring in Public Policy and Strategic Communications. She serves as the President of the Elon Mock Trial team and is a member of the Liberal Arts Forum. After graduation, she plans to attend law school
Isaac Chandler
My name is Isaac Chandler and I’m excited to be writing for the Phoenix Policy Institute this semester! I am Sophomore at Elon and double major in Public Policy and Human Service Studies with a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. I have been passionate about policy research, especially when concerning environmental policy, since I started at Elon, and I hope to transfer the skills I learn here into future research projects. I am also excited to be working with the other editors this year, as I look forward to reading the work that others submit
to the Institute
Savannah Ginda
Savannah Ginda is a senior at Elon University, pursuing a double major in Public Policy and Sociology. In addition to the Phoenix Policy Institution, she is an editor of the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Editorial Review Board as well being the Manager of Restorative Justice on the Sigma Sigma Sigma Executive Board. After graduation, Savannah plans to attend law school to receive her J.D..
Lily Andresen-Simmons
Lily Andresen-Simmons is a senior from Hendersonville, NC, double-majoring in
Anthropology and Policy Studies as a Legal Professions Scholar. Outside of class, they are work as a tour guide for Elon Admissions and an Apartment Manager for Residence Life. Lily is also a member of WSOE, the campus radio station, and Students for Peace and Justice. Their interests are rooted in community engagement, equity-based policy, welfare reform, wealth building and management for historically marginalized groups, housing access, and neighborhood renewal. After graduation, Lily hopes to serve in the Peace Corps before pursuing a career in nonprofit, community-based policy development.
Ryan McCaskill-Schock
Ryan McCaskill-Schock is a Junior at Elon University from Fair Haven, New Jersey. He is studying Political Science with a minor in Public Policy. His policy interests include state and local policy with a special interest in intergovernmental relations. Ryan is a member of Club Baseball at Elon and has served as both a Social and Apparel Chair on their executive board. After graduating Elon, Ryan intends on pursuing a law degree and eventually running for public office.
Lila Miller
Lila Miller is a Senior from San Diego, California. At Elon, she is pursuing a public policy major as well as minoring in criminal justice and sociology. Lila currently works for the learning center as a peer success coach and is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. Her policy interests are focused on immigration and criminal justice. She is also involved with the sociology honors society Alpha Kappa Delta.
Simone Lewis Abdeen
Simone is an Honors Fellow and Odyssey Scholar at Elon University studying Accounting, Supply Chain Management, and Public Policy. Her work currently focuses on building systems that treat food insecurity as an issue of justice and not charity. She is especially interested in how policy can translate research into lasting change
Audrey Nott
Audrey Nott is a senior double majoring in Public Policy and Environmental & Sustainability Studies. Outside of her work with the Phoenix Policy Institute, Audrey is an Elon College Fellow currently researching how emergency management officials plan for and respond to environmental disasters, particularly as they relate to vulnerable or marginalized communities. Additionally, she works part time with the City of Burlington in the Administration Department, the Emergency Management Office, and the Safety Office. Audrey’s policy interests include climate resiliency, emergency management, and public health and safety. After graduation, she will be attending a Masters of Public Administration program.
Terrence Pittman
Terrence Pittman is a freshman from Rocky Mount, NC and is double majoring in Political Science and Public Policy. He is an Accelerated 3+2.5 Dual Degree Law Scholar as well as a Presidential Scholar. Terrence is involved in Elon Votes! Club, Elon Mock Trial, and Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity. Additionally, he pours back into the Elon community serving as a Student Coordinator for LIFE@Elon, which serves senior citizens in the surrounding areas. Terrence’s policy interests lie within education policy, political affairs policy, and healthcare policy. Following graduation, he plans to attend law school and practice litigation or work in governmental affairs from the Hill.
Katie Wolter
Katie (Julia) Wolter is a sophomore from Hillsborough, NC. She is pursuing a major in Public Policy with a minor in Criminal Justice. Outside of the Phoenix Policy Institute, she is on the Elon Women’s Lacrosse team. After graduating, Katie intends to first get her masters degree in Public Policy and then attend Law School.
Winter Oaster
Winter Oaster is a sophomore from Gettysburg, PA. She is double majoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, with minors in Economics and Public Policy. Outside of the Phoenix Policy Institute, she is on the Elon Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field team. After graduation, Winter plans to pursue a career in political marketing.
Previous Staff Members
Class of ’23:
Tamara Evans
Amaya Gaines
Larissa Moelber
Class of ’24:
Aleezah Adams
Parker Brownell
Brandon Emons
Curran Gilster
Ethan Haqq
Tori Kelleher
Danny Nickel
James O’Neill
Aaron Simansky
Savannah Willette
Quin Student
Katherine McCormick
Mitchell Basham
Emma Bach
Class of ’25
Ryan Elad
Samantha Hinton
Camryn Houston
Kate McElroy
Avery Sloan
Niara Legette
MJ Volpe
Class of ’26
Anya Bratic
Molly Frank
Sean Golubitsky
Daisy Martinez-Jimenez