Fellows
Photo Credit (top image): Caroline McFarland / Unsplash
2026 Fellows
The MIC Center is now accepting applications from Ph.D. students around the country for the 2026 COMPASS Summer Fellowship Program. Interested students should provide a letter indicating how a summer fellowship would connect to/enhance their research and/or teaching and what kind of placement would be most useful in this regard. Fellows should also indicate three possible organizations where a fellowship would align with their research interests in the application letter.
Application letters and CVs are due no later than Friday, January 16, 2026 and should be sent to briar.smith@asc.upenn.edu.
Learn more about the application requirements here.
Past Fellows
Anjali DasSarma, University of Pennsylvania, Free Press
DongWook Jeong, Pennsylvania State University, Benton Institute for Broadband and Society
Dien Luong, University of Michigan, U.S. Agency for Global Media
Alphoncina Lyamuya, University of Southern California, World Benchmarking Alliance
Afrooz Mosallaei, Rutgers University, Free Press
Roxana Muenster, Cornell University, Brookings Institute
Vanessa Nyarko, University of Minnesota, Public Knowledge
Stephen Yang, University of Southern California, Center for Democracy and Technology
Ahmed Alrawi, Pennsylvania State University, Benton Foundation
Talia Berniker, Cornell University, Federal Communications Commission
Timilehin Durotoye, Pennsylvania State University, Open Markets
Emilie Grybos, University of Pennsylvania, Center for Democracy and Technology
Kyooeun Jang, University of Southern California, Brookings Institution
Anirban Mukhopadhyay, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States Agency for Global Media
Jeanna Sybert, University of Pennsylvania, Free Press
Benjamin P. Tetteh, Syracuse University, United States Agency for Global Media
Lucas Wright, Cornell University, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Soyun Ahn, University of Southern California, Brookings Institution
Sydney Forde, The Pennsylvania State University Common Cause
Assil Frayha, University of Pennsylvania, Center for the Study of Responsive Law
Juan Ortiz Freuler, University of Southern California, Open Markets Institute
Joshua Jordan, Louisiana State University, The Democracy Collaborative
Louisa Lincoln, University of Pennsylvania, American Journalism Project
Rae Moors, University of Michigan, Ranking Digital Rights
Adetobi Moses, University of Pennsylvania, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Communication Programs
Arijit Paladhi, Indiana University, Free Press
Alejandro Alvarado Rojas, University of Southern California, Open Technology Fund
Erika Solis, The Pennsylvania State University, Ranking Digital Rights
- Sanjay Jolly, University of Pennsylvania, Public Knowledge
- Antoine Haywood, University of Pennsylvania, Alliance For Community Media
- Florence Madenga, University of Pennsylvania, United States Agency for Global Media
- Ryan Wang, Pennsylvania State University, National Digital Inclusion Alliance
- Chioma Woko, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs
- Maria Skouras, University of Texas at Austin, Advisory Council for Public Diplomacy
- Christoph Mergerson, Rutgers University, Brookings Institution
- Chloé Nurik, University of Pennsylvania, Federal Communications Commission
- Azeb Madebo, University of Southern California, Ranking Digital Rights
- Danyel Ferrari, Rutgers University, The U.S. National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites
- Lauren Bridges, University of Pennsylvania, Open Markets Institute
- Yang Bai, Pennsylvania State University, National Digital Inclusion Alliance
- Thomas Billard, University of Southern California, National Center for Transgender Equality
- Richelle Crotty, University of Texas – Austin, Free Press
- Nathaniel Ming Curran, University of Southern California, Korean Economic Institute of America
- Eric Forbush, University of Pennsylvania, Brookings Institution
- Anna Loup, University of Southern California, Center for Democracy and Technology
- Paul Popiel, University of Pennsylvania, Free Press
- Emily Saidel, University of Michigan, National Association of Broadcasters
- Jana Wilbricht, University of Michigan, National Digital Inclusion Alliance
- Joseph Yoo, University of Texas – Austin, New America/Ranking Digital Rights
- Hyeri Jung, University of Texas – Austin, USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy
- Hyun Tae (Calvin) Kim, University of Southern California, Sister Cities International
- Jillian Kwong, University of Southern California, National Institutes of Health
- Rachel E. Moran, University of Southern California, Campaign Legal Center
- Revati Prasad, University of Pennsylvania, New America Foundation & Ranking Digital Rights
- Matt Reichel, Rutgers University, Free Press
- Sonia Jawaid Shaikh, University of Southern California, World Bank
- Alex Williams, University of Pennsylvania, Pew Research Center
- Opeyemi Akanbi, University of Pennsylvania, New America Foundation
- Alexis D. Schrubbe, University of Texas – Austin, Common Cause
- Douglas Allen, University of Pennsylvania, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation
- Cat Duffy, University of Southern California, Department of Health and Human Services
- Katherine Elder, University of Southern California, National Institute of Health
- Michelle Forelle, University of Southern California, Common Cause
- Brandon Golob, University of Southern California, Institute for Public Representation – Georgetown Law
- Nicole Hentrich, University of Michigan, National Center for Lesbian Rights
- Nathalie Marechal, University of Southern California, New America Foundation
- Aalok Mehta, University of Southern California, Public Knowledge
- Angeline Sangalang, University of Southern California, Department of Health and Human Services
- Xin Wang, University of Southern California, World Bank
- Alex Williams, University of Pennsylvania, Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism
- Deepti Chittamuru, University of Pennsylvania, World Bank
- Nikita Hamilton, University of Southern California, Common Cause
- Tim Libert, University of Pennsylvania, New America Foundation
- Aalok Mehta, University of Southern California, Free Press
- Kitior Ngu, University of Michigan, New America Foundation
- Benjamin Pearson, University of Michigan, Internews
- Laura Silver, Penn Annenberg placed at State Department
- Katie Allen, University of Pennsylvania, Internews
- Katherine Holland, University of California – Santa Barbara, Consumers Union
- Dam Hee Kim, University of Michigan, Federal Communications Commission
- Aalok Mehta, University of Southern California, New America Foundation
- Brice Nixon, University of Colorado – Boulder, Media and Democracy Coalition
- Jaclyn Selby, University of Southern California, Center for Democracy and Technology
- Jason Smith, George Mason University, New America Foundation
- Sarah Stonbely, New York University, New America Foundation
- Russ Newman, University of Southern California, Federal Communications Commission
- Seyram Avle, University of Michigan, Internews and the Aspen Institute
- George Nardis, University of Michigan, Alliance for Community Media
- Ann-Katrin Arnold, University of Pennsylvania, World Bank
- Matt Blanchard, University of Pennsylvania, Federal Communications Commission
- Brett Bumgarner, University of Pennsylvania, Representative Maurice Hinchey‘s office (D-NY)
- Russ Newman, University of Southern California, New America Foundation
- Elliot Panek, University of Michigan, Media and Democracy Coalition
- Olesya Venger, University of Pennsylvania, Center for Digital Democracy
- William Youmans, University of Michigan, Senator Bernie Sanders’ Office (I-VT)
- Hope Cummings, University of Michigan, Representative Maurice Hinchey‘s office (D-NY)
- Antonio Lambino, University of Pennsylvania, World Bank
- Sascha Meinrath, University of Illinois, Telecommunications Fellow (long term fellowship)
- Russ Newman, University of Southern California, Senator Dick Durbin’s office (D-IL)
- Mario Rodriguez, University of Pennsylvania, Senator Bernie Sanders’ Office (I-VT)
- Brian Dolber, University of Illinois, Representative Diane Watson’s office (D-CA)
- Kamilla Kovacs, University of Illinois, Representative Maurice Hinchey’s office (D-NY)
- Victor Pickard, University of Illinois, Representative Diane Watson’s office (D-CA)
- Ben Scott, University of Illinois, Representative Bernie Sanders‘ Office (I-VT)