David Hessen

About David Hessen

David Hessen is a Dean’s Scholar second-year graduate student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. David’s current education involved national security strategy, conflict management, Asia area studies, and international economics. David has long had a passion for international relations and it is his calling to use this passion for the benefit of the United States and the wider international community. To that end, David has taken classes in United States foreign policy, strategy and policy, great power competition in the information environment, international dispute settlement methods, conflict management, and the histories and contemporary politics of China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Eurasia, and Central Asia. He is currently interning at the US-Asia Institute as a program lead.While the field of international relations has been David’s focus, he also has experience in other aspects of government and business. Prior to his graduate education, David was a legislative assistant for Ogilvy Government Relations, a premier bipartisan government relations firm in Washington, DC. Before that, he interned in the U.S. House of Representatives for a Pennsylvania member. David graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a joint degree in Government & History in 2018. He studied Arabic and Mongolian in college and continues to practice both languages while trying to learn others. In his spare time, David likes to spend his free time hiking with friends, exploring Washington, DC, and trying to slowly whittle down his long list of books, movies, and TV shows to consume.

Experience

1. Deputy Project Manager

   Ascendant Program Services, LLC

   Jul 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US

Education

• The Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

  Master of Arts - MA

  2021 — 2023

• Franklin & Marshall College

  Bachelor of Arts - BA

  2014 — 2018

• School for International Training

  Study Abroad in Mongolia

  2017 — 2017

• The Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

  Certificate

  2016 — 2018