Adam is a Politics major at New York University with a focus on policy advocacy related to city government and institutional reform. His academic and leadership efforts center on advancing equitable public policy and strengthening democratic participation at the local level.

Anaïs Abuzar is an Indo-French sophomore at New York University studying International Relations on a pre-law track. She plans to pursue advanced studies in international law and is particularly interested in diplomacy, with a focus on advancing peace, security, and global justice through multilateral cooperation.

Anaïs brings experience from several activism-focused internships, where she has contributed to research, advocacy, and youth-led initiatives addressing international and social justice issues. She has a strong regional interest in South Asian politics and is especially focused on the legal and diplomatic dimensions of peace, security, and nuclear disarmament.

Bayan Quneibi is an International Politics student at Georgetown University in Qatar, with a certificate in Media and Politics from Northwestern University. Her work focuses on U.S. foreign policy, human rights and minority rights, and the intersection of media, narrative, and international security. She is a published author on issues including Gaza, secularism in France, and evolving models of justice, and has conducted field research on refugee integration in Europe. Bayan contributes to policy discussions, public dialogue platforms, and international research initiatives, with a growing focus on diplomacy, nuclear non-proliferation, and multilateral security frameworks.

Elaine is a second-year student at Columbia University studying Political Science and Economics, with a minor in Philosophy. She has dedicated her life’s work towards diplomacy and public service, serving as a United Nations Delegate for the UN Major Group for Children and Youth and the co-chair of her city’s youth council leading to free public transit for high school students. Elaine applies her scientific acumen from growing up in Waterloo, the birthplace of BlackBerry, to her policy work by reorienting perspectives on innovation toward peace as opposed to conflict. This is where her interest in Reverse the Trend’s work lies, advocating for security through collaborative and peaceful diplomacy. Building on her interest in tech policy, she was a strategist under Cecilia Kang, the White House Technology Correspondent for the New York Times, engaging in first-hand how technology policy is formed by collaborating directly with White House AI, trade, and political staff. Her work experience includes political consulting, law firms, policy research, think tanks, and municipal, state, and federal governments.

Elise Kelso is a student at New York University pursuing a B.A. in International Relations and Environmental Studies, with a focus on global security and policy. She is particularly interested in the intersection of environmental challenges and international conflict. Elise writes for NYU’s IR Insider, covering political developments in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her experience from working on a Maryland state senate campaign and engaging in environmental leadership through organizations like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Sierra Club sparked her interest in these fields. She is passionate about advancing thoughtful, policy-driven approaches to global peace and security.

Hadia Choudhary is an NYU student focused on public policy, data science, and social impact. She is the founder of a youth-led 501(c)(4) advocating to end the Uyghur genocide. She serves  as the treasurer of The Social Justice Art Project at NYU. She is also a poet and has performed across the country and traveled with the NYU Honors Program to Florence and Abu Dhabi. Over the past couple of years, she has had several internships and has worked with a mental health app, a tech-based startup, and engaged in research-based work. She is also deeply connected to the professional and academic network at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Hana Elzayat is a sophomore at NYU studying Economics and Global Liberal Studies with a concentration in Law and Ethics. Originally from Cairo, Egypt, and raised in the United States, she brings a personal and academic interest in global governance, international law, and the political dynamics that shape state-to-state cooperation. She has worked as a research assistant at NYU’s Institute for Policy Integrity, interned with the International Rescue Committee, and participated in the NYU Young Ambassadors for Peace program, shaping her interest in international law and conflict resolution. At this conference, she is particularly interested in how nuclear disarmament can be approached in a way that is both realistic and equitable, balancing national security concerns with broader global responsibility.

Heewon Choi is a senior at New York University majoring in Political Science and Global Liberal Studies, with a concentration in Politics, Rights, and Development. She is academically focused on global governance frameworks related to human rights, peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and international humanitarian law. Her interest in international nuclear policy was further shaped by her internship at the National Assembly of South Korea, where she worked with the IAEA and gained insight into international approaches to nuclear issues and the role of the United Nations in global security governance. As she prepares to begin her Master’s degree in International Relations at Columbia, with a focus on International Security and Diplomacy, she looks forward to participating in the NPT conference as a youth delegate to gain deeper insight into multilateral disarmament processes and to engage in discussions on the future of nuclear governance from a new generation’s perspective

Ivan Mikulencak is a junior studying International Relations at NYU. With a passion for languages, he speaks both French and Russian and is particularly interested in diplomacy, multilateral institutions, and the role of international organizations in addressing global crises. He has worked with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, where he assisted in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, gaining firsthand experience with the operational challenges of international relief efforts. His broader experience includes policy research and public sector work in New York, where he works as a communications intern for the New York State Assembly

Isa Lauchengco is a Master’s student in International Relations at NYU, concentrating in International Law. Originally from the Philippines, Isa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Politics and Philosophy from NYU, with plans of going to law school! During her undergraduate years, she was Head Delegate of NYU’s MUN Travel Team. Her academic interests include legal theory, international justice and security, and the intersection of entertainment and politics. Isa previously interned with the United Nations, ACLU, and the Brennan Center for Justice. Outside of school, she enjoys photography, updating her Beli account, and reading philosophy books that make her brain hurt.

Isabel Ponce is a student studying Economics with a minor in Russian Language at New York University. Her academic interests sit at the intersection of economic systems and geopolitical dynamics, with a particular focus on the economic role in international relations. Her study of Russian language and culture has deepened her understanding of a pivotal player in nuclear nonproliferation. Through her time abroad in Kyrgyzstan, she has developed a commitment to cross-cultural communication and collaboration. She aspires to a career in international development or diplomacy, where economic insight and intercultural understanding drive meaningful change.

Isabella Planas is an undergraduate at NYU studying Economics and International Relations. Originally from Peru, her commitment to global affairs is rooted in years of community engagement, including founding and leading initiatives supporting communities and hospitals. These experiences shaped her belief that effective policy must reflect lived realities. With a multicultural perspective, she approaches diplomacy and international cooperation with a focus on equity, inclusion, and meaningful impact. Isabella is particularly interested in bridging global policy with local needs to drive sustainable human-centered change. She aspires to be part of a new generation of leaders shaping more just and inclusive global systems.

Jampa Lhanyitsang is an undergraduate student at Columbia University studying Human Rights and Political Science. Being Tibetan-American, Jampa has been involved in both local and global activism, ranging from immigration and housing issues in Boston to international geopolitical tensions in Asia, specifically Tibetan human rights. Through her experience in leadership roles at Students for a Free Tibet and lobbying with Congress members in Washington DC, Jampa has been drawn to advancing human rights through grassroots organizing. In the future, she aspires to be a lawyer working to uplift and empower marginalized communities on an international scal

Lilliana is a Space Security Research Fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and Research Scholar in Space and Planetary Law at New York University. She graduated from the European Space Agency’s Summer Course on Space Law and Policy in 2024 and authored four publications on space law. She serves as Research Co-Lead for the Space Generation Advisory Council, leading an international research team examining legal gaps in space data security governance and information sharing, advancing the development of sustainable and safe space policies. She has represented SGAC at major international forums such as UNIDIR Outer Space Security Confernece, the International Astronautical Congress, UNCOPUOS, and the International Law Association. Lilliana openly supports the “no first use” doctrine and nuclear disarmament both generally and in the outer space context.

Lily Sternlieb is an undergraduate at Wellesley College majoring in International Relations. She focuses on nuclear security, arms control, and the intersection of law and global governance, with additional research experience at MIT. Her work includes archival research on the relationship between academic institutions and weapons development, as well as legal and policy research at the U.S. Court of International Trade. She is particularly interested in deterrence, great-power competition, and the role of institutions in shaping security policy.

Machi Sakurai is a freshman at New York University, currently in the Global Liberal Studies program with a concentration in Psychology, with an anticipated transfer to the Tisch School of the Arts for the Drama program and double major in Psychology. As a Japanese student with years long experience with participation in numerous Model United Nation events, Machi has a profound interest into the causes and impacts of nuclear weapons, as his grandmother survived the Hiroshima bombing. He is committed to fostering discussion regarding nuclear energy and exploring how modern arts or performing arts can be used to communicate these ideas. Machi has experience in public speaking, policy research, and theatrical storytelling. These contribute to his interests in nuclear disarmament, historical memory, and the power of performance to bear witness to human experience. He aspires to be a voice for those silenced by conflict, honoring his grandmother’s stories and memories, through both advocacy and the arts.

Max Caiola is a sophomore at New York University studying Politics, with minors in Public Policy & Management and Law & Society. He is particularly interested in international law, the role international organizations play in humanitarian aid, and the dynamics of interaction among foreign powers. Last year, he worked with the GO Project, where he supported educational programming for underserved students, helping to create a structured and engaging learning environment while mentoring young participants. He also interned at the New York State Assembly, where he contributed to efforts addressing tenant rights and assisted with constituent services and policy-related research.

Melanie Isabel Castillo-Gavilanes is a freshman at New York University, pursuing a B.A. in Psychology and International Relations with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Of Ecuadorian heritage, she was born and raised in Geneva, a city at the heart of international diplomacy, before moving to the United States at 16 to continue her education. As Director of Advocacy in her residence hall and Politics Chair of the NYU Ecuadorian Student Association, she is already actively engaged in building community and amplifying voices on campus. Melanie is committed to nuclear disarmament as a foundational step toward protecting the world's children, recognizing that the threat of nuclear weapons undermines the stable, safe environments that young people need to thrive. She believes that lasting peace is built not only through policy, but through investing in the mental health and well-being of the next generation. Her multicultural upbringing and interdisciplinary studies fuel her conviction that a brighter future begins with giving children the foundations, emotional, social, and political—to grow up in a world free from the shadow of mass destruction.

Mia Barth is an undergraduate student at New York University pursuing a B.A. in International Relations with a European regional specialization and a minor in Economics, maintaining a 3.9 GPA. Half Egyptian and half American, she brings a multicultural perspective to her work in diplomacy and global affairs. Fluent in multiple languages, Mia has experience in public service, global policy research, and legal work through roles with Save the Children, a New York State Assembly campaign, and a Washington, D.C. based law firm. A student leader and aspiring lawyer, she is committed to advancing nuclear nonproliferation, international cooperation, and youth engagement in policymaking.

Nguyen Ngoc Ha Anh is a Vietnamese youth advocate focused on ethnic minority rights, gender equity, and global policy. She is currently pursuing a B.A. in International Relations and Economics at New York University. She has authored and published two peer-reviewed research papers on H'mong women and girls, examining barriers to sexuality education and postpartum health outcomes, and is an independent researcher on H'mong ethnic identity and costume patterns. Her advocacy spans both the grassroots and global levels. As President of Pom Paj Liab back in Vietnam, she led annual charity teaching trips to rural Vietnam serving marginalized children, organized a cultural exhibition in Hanoi, and donated books to underserved schools in Hoa Binh. As a Policy Research Associate at Vietnam's Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, she contributed to national development strategies for ethnic minorities. On the international stage, Ha Anh serves on the United Nations Vietnam Youth Advisory Board, representing youth in UN consultations and contributing to Vietnam's SDG roadmap. She currently advocates for disarmament and as a Youth Advocate at Reverse The Trend, and serves as youth delegate at the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum at the United Nations.

Rory Kurzenberger is an undergraduate student at New York University studying International Relations and History. Her area of focus is conflict resolution, though she is also very passionate about humanitarian affairs. Rory has been writing for NYU’s International Relations news publication, IR Insider , for two years, covering both Sub-Saharan African and Eastern-Central European affairs. She strives to build a well-rounded understanding of foreign politics and current affairs, approaching conflict resolution from both a logistical perspective as well as one of historical and cultural understanding.

Salma Bayoumy is a senior at Georgetown University in Qatar, studying International Politics and minoring in French and Francophone Studies. Originally from Egypt, her interest in global affairs is shaped by experiences including serving as a delegate at the United Nations Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP), participating in an experiential learning program in The Hague on international law and justice, and volunteering with vulnerable communities in Afghanistan and Washington, DC. These experiences have shaped her belief that advocacy and policy must be grounded in both legal frameworks and lived realities. With a global perspective, she approaches international law and diplomacy with a focus on justice, accountability, and inclusion. She aspires to become a lawyer who challenges systemic injustices and contributes to more equitable global systems.

Stephanie McManus is a student of Political Science specializing in International Relations and Political Theory at Columbia University. Nuclear deterrence is personally relevant to her, being from Livermore, California, home to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a major nuclear weapons research facility. Her academic research examines how historical legacies and power structures influence global security. Her extensive experience in campus leadership, advocacy, volunteering, and government outreach has instilled in her the commitment to progress via collaborative policy development. Stephanie aspires to pursue a career in foreign policy and international law, advancing empirically grounded strategies for long-term disarmament and conflict prevention.

Zohal Raouf is a freshman at NYU, studying Global Liberal Studies with a concentration in Politics, Rights, and Development and double major in Sociology. As an Afghan-American with international experiences, Zohal has a multifaceted understanding of the causes and impacts of corruption, instability, and insecurity on human rights. She is committed to reevaluating international frameworks to ensure their effectiveness in global communities. Zohal has experience in policy research, civic engagement, and public speaking. This contributes to her interests in international law, human rights, and advocacy. She aspires to be an international lawyer determined to increase international cooperation, security, and justices here.