Aadhya Shivakumar

About Aadhya Shivakumar

Decisions are made by those who show up.” My relationship with politics started when I signed up to be a part of my school’s Model UN Press Corps in the ninth grade. Just two days of reporting on events at this chaotic high school version of an intergovernmental organization opened my eyes to a world where I could be directly engaged with current events. Not only that, but I also began to realize my desire to be a part of making change. When I started college, it was almost a no-brainer that I would major in something related to politics. I realized what a perfect intersection of my interests Psychology and Political Science were – the combination would allow me to study politics, and also better understand why politicians and the voting public think and behave the way they do. For the last few years, I’ve written a lot about politics and current events that I feel strongly about, things that have upset me or excited me, frustrated me or given me hope. Through it all, I have remained optimistic about the human capacity to do good. That is what drives me – the knowledge that there are always people who will show up to fight the good fight. As the above quote from “The West Wing” suggests, I want to show up and be a part of making those decisions. I strongly believe that politics can be an instrument of good, and I will put in the work to use that instrument to the best of my ability. This sense of hope and desire to make a difference has motivated me to volunteer and fundraise for various NGOs for years, work for several candidates in state and local races, and promote civic engagement in college in these crucial election years. In the coming semester, I look forward to using my writing and analytical skills in public opinion research, to gain a deeper understanding of people’s voting behavior and political attitudes.

Experience

1. Account Manager

   617mediagroup

   Nov 2023 — Present · New York, NY, US

Education

• The J. B. Petit High School for Girls

  Indian Certificate of Secondary Education

  2004 — 2016

• Hill Spring International School

  International Baccalaureate

  2016 — 2018

• Tufts University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Political Science, Psychology

  2018 — 2022

• Columbia | SIPA

  Master of Public Administration - MPA, Concentration in Technology Policy

  2025 — 2027