Meet With a PE Peer Advisor

Welcome to the Political Economy (PE) Peer Advising program! 

Peer advisors are a great resource for students looking for answers to  questions such as:

• What is Political Economy?
• Why did you choose to major in PE?
• What can I do with a major in PE?
• How do I connect with other PE students?
• How do I navigate the PE major as a transfer student?
• How do I get into an undergraduate research program?
• How do I secure an internship/Study Abroad opportunity?
• How do I join a student organization?

General questions/comments? Email: askpe@berkeley.edu

Meet our PE Peer Advisors

ANYA DANES: Anya is a sophomore majoring in Political Economy and intending Data Science, with a PE concentration in Development and the Environment. On campus, she is involved in Cal Band and Delta Delta Delta, as well as Political Computer Science, a club focused on the intersection of politics and technology, and Delta Phi Epsilon, a professional international relations fraternity. Through these organizations she has completed projects spanning Bay Area public transit, AI regulation, and ordered liberty. She has also previously worked as a research assistant at Berkeley Law. She spends her free time getting boba, exploring San Francisco, and spending time with friends. Feel free to reach out about doubling majoring with PE and getting involved in PE extracurriculars on campus! Anya is available to meet on Tuesdays 1pm to 2pm. 

LANCE DY: Lance is a senior double majoring in Political Economy and Economics with a minor in Public Policy. His concentration for the PE major is Development and Globalization. He has been actively involved on campus as a social impact strategy consultant with GRC Berkeley, an undergraduate researcher through URAP and the Institute of International Studies, a course reader/assistant in the Division of Undergraduate Education, and a Model United Nations delegate with UCBMUN. He previously interned at a market research firm and a multinational bank and aims to further his interests in international development, public finance, political reform, and corporate social responsibility. He looks forward to sharing his experiences and helping his fellow students take advantage of all that the PE major and Cal have to offer! Lance is available to meet on Fridays, 2pm – 3pm. 

OLIVIA KURTZ: Olivia is a junior majoring in Political Economy and minoring in Korean Language. Her Political Economy concentration is on the Political Economy of Asia. On campus, she is a student assistant for the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing and has been part of various student organizations such as Cal Band and Circle K International (volunteering). Off-campus, she has been a student reporter for the Korea JoongAng Daily and an intern at Dreamfora, a startup developing an AI-powered goal-setting app. She loves to spend her free time hiking, cooking, and learning new languages. She looks forward to meeting her peers and sharing her experiences studying abroad! Olivia is available to meet on Tuesdays from 3:45pm to 4:45pm. 

CAITLYN LIAO: Caitlyn is a sophomore majoring in Political Economy with a minor in Data Science.  Her concentration for the Political Economy major is Inequality with Econometrics. On campus, she is involved as an Undergraduate Researcher through URAP, writer for the Berkeley Political Review, and Outreach Director for the Student Policy Institute!  Off campus, she has pursued research and advocacy oriented internships, with a focus on education and political violence.  In her free time, she loves singing as a member of the a cappella group DeCadence, taking classes at Berkeley’s Art Studio, and dancing!  She is excited to meet people and answer questions about student life, getting involved, the major, or classes.  Caitlyn is available to meet on Wednesdays 11am – 12pm. 

RAELYN LIU: Raelyn is a senior double majoring in Political Economy and Legal Studies at UC Berkeley. Her concentration is Law and Economics, and she aspires to pursue a career in technology law. On campus, she is an undergraduate researcher at URAP. She co-founded an AI start-up and has focused on intellectual property law through various legal internships. In her free time, she enjoys watching films, gaming, and traveling. Feel free to reach out with any questions about research opportunities, internships, or pre-law pathways in the Political Economy major. Raelyn is available to meet on Wednesdays 4pm – 5pm and Thursdays 3pm – 4pm.

JONNIE MILLS: Jonnie is a senior majoring in Political Economy with a minor in Spanish. His concentration is International Trade. He is a passionate student who would love to help ease the transition of new students and transfer students into the major. The ins and outs can be confusing, only after more than a year did it finally become easy. Jonnie is currently employed at the Goldman School of Public Policy, and plans to move abroad after graduation to work and eventually complete more higher education. Jonnie is available to meet on Mondays 9:30am – 11:30am, Wednesdays 2:30pm – 3:30pm and Fridays 9:45am to 10:15am.  

SYDNEY REESE: Sydney is a senior majoring in Political Economy and minoring in Food Systems who transferred from LA Pierce Community College. Her concentration for the Political Economy major is Global Health and Development. On campus, she is involved with Kids in Nutrition and has been a member of Berkeley Women in Business. She is passionate about nutrition and improving the food system in America. Outside of school, she enjoys running, cooking, and reading! Feel free to reach out with any questions about transferring, coursework for the major, or any other questions about PE. Sydney is available to meet on Mondays 3:30pm – 5pm.

SOFIA SANTOS: Sofia is a senior majoring in Political Economy with a concentration in Development and the Environment. Her multicultural bilingual upbringing spans Nicaragua, where she lived until she was six, and Los Angeles, California, where she moved with her family. She is an active resident of the International House, where she is enriched and constantly learning from people of diverse backgrounds. As a proud transfer student from Santa Monica College, she values non-traditional paths in higher education and community-building through student mentorship. Prior to her undergraduate degree, Sofia spent a gap year through Global Citizen Year in Northern Ecuador. She volunteered at Mision Scalabriniana and assisted Venezuelan and Colombian immigrants. In 2023, she was a portfolio management intern at Center Creek Capital in Washington D.C., and collaborated with the private equity firm focused on  Single-Family Rentals to meet affordable housing. On campus, she is thrilled to engage in research, contributing to the Latinxs and the Environment Initiative, which champions increasing representation in environmental research. Her dedication to environmental causes is reflected in her two internships at Sustainability Centers before she arrived at Berkeley. She is eager to help you navigate your undergraduate experience and hopes to make it less daunting when selecting PE classes, applying for internships, and finding extracurriculars. Sofia is available to meet on Thursdays 4:30pm – 6:00pm and Fridays 10:30am – 11:30am.