Makelah Arzu-Porter, 2026 Summer Intern

Makelah is a Junior at the University of Kentucky majoring in Human Communications and minoring in International Studies and Law & Justice. She is participating in the Fund for American Studies Summer 2026 internship program based in Washington, D.C.

Makelah considers herself to be a very bold and ambitious young woman. From her freshman year through her junior year, she has persevered and developed strong academic and social skills. She has volunteered with kids and performed well in social media roles. By studying abroad in London, England, and attending a Model United Nations conference in Atlanta, Georgia, she has gained extensive experience in foreign affairs and international relations, considering herself a jack-of-all trades.

For the Fall 2026 semester, she has been selected for a paid fellowship to tutor and mentor students from all backgrounds. This experience will continue to strengthen her skills in socialization, problem-solving, and language development: essential traits for careers in foreign politics, international relations, and public policy. She hopes to one day become a foreign service officer and serve citizens across all nations.

Arthur Santana Queiroz, 2026 Summer Intern

Arthur Queiroz holds a B.A. in Political Science with a focus on International Relations and Diplomacy from Saint Mary’s College of California (SMC), where he graduated magna cum laude. His interest in international affairs stems from his bicultural upbringing, being raised in America by Brazilian immigrant parents who prioritized quality education and acquisition of world cultural knowledge through travel and lived experience.

During his undergraduate studies, Arthur served as the Speaker of the Senate for SMC Associated Students, Saint Mary’s College’s student government organization. He presented his undergraduate capstone research project, analyzing the abuse of diplomatic immunity by foreign service officers and their families in order to evade prosecution for human rights violations and other serious criminal offenses, at the 2025 SMC Student Leadership Conference. He also published an award-winning analysis on the creative and destructive powers of violence, focusing on Hannah Arendt’s and Franz Fanon’s differing definitions of the term through the lens of Chinua Achebe’s seminal work Things Fall Apart, in the 2026 edition of The Undergraduate Spectrum, SMC’s yearly academic journal devoted to showcasing exemplary work from the Collegiate Seminar Program.

Arthur began his role as an Africa Faith and Justice Network intern in the summer of 2026. Through his work, he is interested in learning more about advocacy-driven policymaking, broadening his understanding of global geopolitical dynamics, and sharpening his professional skill sets, while learning how best to create value for the institution.

Peaches L. Dargbeh, 2026 Summer Intern

Peaches L. Dargbeh is a junior at Lafayette College from Liberia, West Africa. Peaches is currently participating in The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) Summer Program in Washington, D.C. She is majoring in International Affairs with a minor in Sociology. Previously, she participated in the Washington Semester Program at American University, where she further explored public policy, leadership, and global affairs.

Peaches’s interest in international development, human rights, and women’s empowerment is rooted in her experiences growing up in Liberia and her commitment to expanding educational and economic opportunities for young women. As the founder and executive director of Aid-Her Liberia and the BooksBox Campaign projects in Liberia, she has led initiatives focused on girls’ entrepreneurship, literacy, leadership development, and access to educational resources. Her work centers on addressing barriers facing women and girls while promoting sustainable community development through education, advocacy, and economic empowerment.

As a SheCan Scholar and Dyer Fellow, Peaches is interested in learning more about policy advocacy, international development, U.S.-Africa relations, and the role of law in advancing human rights and social change. Through her academic studies, leadership experiences, and internships, she hopes to gain practical insight into policymaking and international cooperation. Her long-term goal is to pursue a career in law and international affairs, working to strengthen educational access, gender equity, and human rights while advancing meaningful partnerships between the United States and African nations.

Aiden O’Connell, 2026 Summer Intern

Aiden O’Connell is an international affairs major with a concentration in African conflict at Lafayette College. As someone with experience on the African continent, he combines hands-on field research with skills learned as a college student, including media creation, analytics, and writing. Aiden is currently participating in the American University Washington Semester Program, where he is furthering his understanding of the American political and legal systems. As a summer intern, he hopes to broaden his research skills and learn important advocacy skills.

Riley DeSarbo, 2026 Summer Intern

Riley DeSarbo is a rising senior at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he majors in international relations with minors in Africana studies and geography. Riley is passionate about U.S.- Africa relations and security topics in Sub-Saharan Africa. Riley’s research interests gravitate towards West Africa and the Sahel. In 2025, Riley had the opportunity to research extremist violence and security developments in the region as a research intern at the International Center for Terrorism Studies. This July, Riley will build on this research through the Cambridge Security Initiative as a Sir Richard Dearlove Scholarship recipient. Riley has enjoyed representing Ethiopia and Kenya at model United Nations conferences, learning the importance of multi-lateral cooperation and international organizations. Riley is excited to be a part of AFJN this summer, hoping to deepen his understanding of African affairs and the research and advocacy that drives them. He is grateful to approach these topics through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

Oluwakemi Adedoyin, AFJN Summer Intern

Kemi is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She majored in Political Science with a concentration in Intenrational Affairs and a minor in French. She will begin her master’s program in International Development Studies at The George Washington University in the fall

In her junior year, she studied abroad in a five week program in London, England with one of her department’s professors. There she discussed the parliamentary system and had the opportunity to meet with welsh, Irish, and Conservative MPs.

Kemi’s interest in African – American politics was strengthened through class research about woman’s rights and a docu-series Half the Sky. During her summer 2024 internship for the Africa Faith and Justice Network, Kemi is most interested in learning about the anti- trafficking work being done in the women’s empowerment focus campaign.

Deborah Adekunle-Odeleye, 2025 Fall Intern

Deborah Adekunle-Odeleye is a Master of Public Administration candidate at the Austin Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. A member of the Pi Alpha Alpha honor society, she graduated cum laude from Otterbein University with a degree in History and a minor in Political History.

Deborah is deeply committed to public service and creating opportunities for underserved communities, with a special focus on children. This passion is demonstrated through her volunteer work creating inclusive youth spaces and her professional experience at Oliver Scholars, where she gained skills in program operations and management.

She is focused on gaining more skills to help her community and currently interns with the Africa Faith and Justice Network. Her career goal is to become a professor or a government bureaucrat dedicated to improving children’s welfare and expanding pathways to upward mobility through public policy.

Margaret Asho, 2026 Spring Intern

Margaret Asho is a junior at Indiana University Bloomington, participating in the Hamilton Lugar School Global Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. She is majoring in International Law and Institutions with a minor in Political Science.

Margaret Asho’s interest in international relations, with a focus on Africa, is rooted in her academic research and conference work, which examines mining and resource governance, humanitarian aid, and the political economy of development across the continent. Her scholarship has explored topics including U.S.–China technological competition and cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, humanitarian aid optimization in South Sudan, and language policy in post-conflict states.

As an Africa Faith and Justice Network intern, Margaret is interested in learning more about advocacy-driven policymaking, faith-based approaches to social justice, and the role of U.S.–Africa relations in advancing sustainable development. Through AFJN, she hopes to gain practical insight into policy advocacy and coalition-building, aligning with her long-term goal of working in international law and development to strengthen diplomatic and policy engagement between the United States and African nations, thereby supporting the well-being of African nations and their people.

Mokua Makori, 2025, 2026 Research Fellow

Mokua holds a B.S. in Sociology with a minor in Africana Studies. During her undergraduate studies, she was a Benjamin Gilman scholar, where she studied abroad at the University of Ghana. She also interned at a local nonprofit where she co-led a mentorship program enhancing leadership skills to primary-aged girls in the Okponglo region (an under-resourced community in Accra).

She recently graduated with an M.A. in Cross-Cultural Global Studies, with her master’s capstone focusing on large-scale land acquisitions affecting customary land tenure in Ghana. Additionally, she authored a research report on health and human rights in the Atewa region of Ghana. She is passionate about community-centered work, particularly within the African context, and how that can be used to further justice.

Mokua began her role as Research Fellow in the summer of 2025. She hopes to gain more experience advancing human rights through advocacy and policy within sub-Saharan Africa.