Ella O'Connor
2026 Pelosi Scholar
Class of 2028
Major: International Politics
Hometown: East Setauket, NY
Ella is interested in international human rights policy with a focus on conflict resolution, gender-based violence prevention and education equity. This semester, she has also found an admiration for state and local level politics through her experience as a Fall Fellow at NewDEAL, supporting their mission of advancing progressive policy solutions. Concurrently, she works for Georgetown’s Free Speech Project, examining contemporary civil liberties issues. She volunteers as a mentor with EducationUSA Ukraine's Successful Admission Mentor Program, guiding Ukrainian students through the U.S. college admissions process. In her free time, she acts as Senior Opinion Editor of The Hoya. She is also interested in French language and culture, having studied in a language immersion program in Tours, France this past summer.
Ella hopes to pursue a career in foreign policy development, ideally in the State Department Civil or Foreign Service. She looks forward to receiving sustained mentorship through the Pelosi Scholars Initiative and building meaningful connections as she navigates an evolving public service landscape.