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

JAY FERNANDO: Jay is a third-year majoring in Political Economy and Statistics. His intended PE concentration is Indo-Pacific Trade and Security. He is an undergraduate intern at the Institute for Labor Research and Employment, currently working on a project analyzing party coalition data in Indian elections! On campus, he is the Financial Director for BareStage Productions, an entirely student-run theatre company, and a cadet in the Air Force ROTC. He’s especially interested in studying the politics of language, and globalization’s effect on human development outcomes. Feel free to reach out with questions about dual degrees, core PE courses, or to chat about PE theory! Jay is available to meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9am – 2pm and 3pm – 5pm.

GRACE HU: Grace is a third-year student double majoring in Political Economy and Economics, with minors in Data Science and Public Policy. Her concentration for the PE major is Development and Governance. Growing up in Shanghai, China before coming to Berkeley, Grace is a proud first-generation college student. On campus, she is actively involved in Net Impact Berkeley, a social impact consulting club, where she has led projects such as developing a climate finance donor strategy for a global NGO and crafting a growth strategy for a carbon-capture climate tech startup. Grace is also deeply engaged in research, working on impact evaluation for development interventions through URAP and serving as a research assistant for the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. Beyond her research and consulting work, she has served as a reader for STAT 20, worked in the ASUC, and contributed to the organizing committee for the Berkeley China Summit. Grace is passionate about poverty alleviation, global development, and creating impactful change through research and strategy. She is eager to connect with fellow PE majors to discuss navigating college and personal life as a first-gen/international student/second-language speaker, as well as exploring research and business opportunities on campus. Grace is available to meet on Fridays, 9am – 10am.

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, 4pm – 5pm.

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, editor 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 Tuesdays, 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 Tuesdays, 3:30pm – 5:30pm.

JONNIE MILLS: Jonnie is a senior double-majoring in Political Economy and Spanish, with a concentration in International Trade. Having navigated the complexities of the major himself, he’s eager to help new and transfer students settle in. Jonnie currently works at the Goldman School of Public Policy and plans to move abroad after graduation to work and pursue additional higher education. He is available to meet on Mondays and Fridays, 12pm – 1pm, and on Wednesdays, 11am – 12:00pm.

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. She is passionate about nutrition and improving the food system in America. On campus, she has been involved with Kids in Nutrition. Off-campus, she has been engaged in an ongoing internship with Green2Gold, co-leading a project creating a global marketplace for green, sustainable, non-toxic products as a step in the transition towards a green economy. Outside of school, she enjoys running, cooking, and reading! Feel free to reach out with any questions about transferring, coursework for the major, internships, or any other questions about PE. Sydney is available to meet on Tuesdays, 1pm – 2pm.

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.