Title: Paige Maylath (SFS’25) Combines Research, Governance and Education

Paige Maylath (SFS’25), a senior at Georgetown, has carved a path defined by curiosity, rigor and a commitment to understanding the complexities of governance and human rights. She was also a finalist for the 2025 Rhodes Scholarship. As a science, technology and international affairs (STIA) major with a concentration in security in the School of Foreign Service, Maylath’s academic and professional experiences have taken her from classrooms in Washington, DC, to research assignments in Eastern Europe.

Pursuing Accountability in Democracies

Maylath’s academic journey has been shaped by her dedication to exploring how democracies hold themselves accountable, especially when it comes to human rights and security. Under the mentorship of SFS Professor Theresa Sabonis-Heif, her honors thesis, “Going Nuclear: The Determinants of Central and Eastern European State Responses to Nuclear Fuel Dependence on Russia,” investigates how political and institutional factors shape energy security policies in the region.

Her interest in these issues began during her first summer internship at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, where she researched the global market for armed drones. This project revealed an uncomfortable truth: democratic states often invoke “security” to justify actions that contradict their stated values.

“Like most Americans, I had believed that state violence, torture and persecution were the actions of autocrats and dictatorships,” she says. “It dawned on me that ‘security’ is the word democracies invoke when they do terrible things.”

This realization pushed Maylath to critically examine her previous assumptions and pursue a deeper understanding of the systemic factors that enable these actions in the 2023 SFS Krough Seminar with Professor Irfan Nooruddin.

Global Perspectives from Bulgaria

Last summer, Maylath worked with the Center for the Study of Democracy in Sofia, Bulgaria. There, she contributed to projects examining Russian influence in European energy markets and mapping corruption networks in the region. She conducted interviews with Bulgarian energy experts, analyzed policy frameworks and investigated loopholes in EU sanctions on Russian oil.

“It’s one thing to study governance challenges in the classroom,” Maylath says. “Being on the ground in Bulgaria gave me a new perspective on how deeply entrenched these issues can be.”

Teaching and Mentorship

In addition to her research, Maylath has demonstrated a passion for education and mentorship. As a teaching fellow for Georgetown’s Introduction to International Relations course through the National Education Equity Lab (NEEL), she taught Professor Elizabeth Grimm’s international relations course to high school students in Los Angeles. She created lesson plans, guided students through policy writing exercises and provided detailed feedback to help them grasp complex topics. This spring, she is leading a team of nine teaching fellows to offer the course to 250 students across the country.

For Maylath, teaching is not just about imparting knowledge—it’s about empowering others to think for themselves and bridge the gaps in access to education and opportunity. Of her experience with NEEL she says, “Before I began teaching, I thought of my research as being separate from my life before Georgetown. Working with students in high schools like the one I attended led me to consider the significance of context and community in my work.”

A Leader and Innovator

Maylath’s contributions extend beyond the classroom and research settings. As captain of Georgetown’s club lacrosse team, she has demonstrated leadership on and off the field, organizing practices and fostering a sense of camaraderie among her teammates. Her role as editor-in-chief of the Democracy & Society journal has also showcased her ability to manage complex projects, from soliciting and editing articles to coordinating with contributors and faculty advisors.

Looking Ahead

After graduation, Maylath plans to continue exploring the intersection of governance, accountability and international law. Whether through further studies or roles in policy and research, she aims to contribute to creating systems that strengthen democratic values and uphold human rights.

“My work has taught me to look past the illusions of what democracies claim to be and see them as they are,” Maylath says. “I want to spend my career empowering democratic institutions to live up to the values they stand for.”