Research Team

Born in Indiana in 1999 from a young age Carson Watkins took an interest in History/Politics in
school. Carson obtained his Bachelor of Science in Political Science and History with a minor in
Legal Studies at Huntington University In 2022. Carson is looking forward to bringing his writing to the United States Youth Forum

Jessica is a graduate of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor in Statistics. She is passionate about mental health, research, and neuropsychology. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Jessica enjoys doing arts and crafts, trying new foods, and walking her dogs. She hopes to inspire her generation and generations after to continue making positive change in the world.

Mallory is currently a Master of Public Health student at the University of Georgia. She also graduated in 2022 with her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Georgia. She is interested in epidemiology and global health and she is applying to law schools to eventually pursue health policy and law. In her free time, she likes hanging out with dogs, walks with friends, and traveling.

Grace is currently a senior at Syracuse University pursuing a bachelor's degree in Political Science. She is also an NCAA Division 1 cross country and track athlete. Grace is passionate about improving access to affordable healthcare and combatting the climate crisis. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and cycling.

Kaitlin Nguyen is a recent graduate at the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a current Legal Assistant planning to attend law school in 2023. She hopes to pursue a career in the human rights and environmental sectors. Her interests include reading, cooking, volunteering, petting dogs, and exploring cities. She encourages youth and everyone of all ages to learn about the myriad of ways to participate in various political and community channels.

Sophia Peterson joined USYF as a rising senior at Swarthmore College studying Political Sociology. Basically, she studies how the government impacts people in their day to day lives and how people engage with politics. She is particularly passionate about community engagement, labor and gender issues, and how these areas intersect. In her free time, she enjoys reading of all sorts, admiring art, and imagining the future.