Meet Our Fellows

Connor graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government with a Master of Public Administration in 2026. As a Governor’s Science and Technology Fellow at the Governor’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity, Connor supports the Commonwealth’s work on artificial intelligence and innovation. Before the fellowship, he worked in data reporting and analytics for the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation and Technology. He also served as a Policy Fellow with the African American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. As a Pennsylvania native, Connor believes in the power of civic engagement and policy that works for all people. He hopes to use his research to help build a stronger and faster Pennsylvania. In his free time, Connor enjoys club dodgeball, walking around Philly, and stand-up comedy.

Sarah received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a minor in Geography from the Water Resources Engineering program at Penn State University. While in graduate school, her research focused on applying interdisciplinary mixed methods, such as geospatial analysis, multivariate and machine learning statistics, and stakeholder interviews, to analyze food-energy-water systems adapting to climate change and infrastructure and management impacts to water security. Sarah earned an undergraduate  in Chemical Engineering. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a process engineer in the biomedical and polymer industries, and volunteered for the Engineers Without Borders and Engineering Projects in Community Service programs, and served as an Environmental Conservation Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay. Sarah is currently working with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department as a Governor’s Science and Technology Fellow, where she is conducting critical data analysis for the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Protection and university partners.

Connor received his M.A. in Environmental Policy Design from Lehigh University with a focus in sustainable development and geographic information systems (GIS). He earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. Connor is currently working for the Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Environmental Justice as a Governor’s Science and Technology Fellow where he will be improving the scope and functionality of the PennEnviroScreen environmental justice mapping tool. Connor will also be exploring ways to help document the lived experience of citizens in environmental justice areas and the legacy of pollution within the Commonwealth.

Ajeet received his M.S. degree in Computational Science and Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh . He currently with the Department of Labor & Industry as a Governor's Science and Technology Fellow. His work involves analyzing the workforce development programs of the agency, mapping service-to-career pathways, and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) trainings and certifications where applicable.

Jennifer is a Pennsylvania native who grew up in Newburg, Cumberland County. She attended Shippensburg University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Biochemistry. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in Emerging Infectious Diseases from Uniformed Services University, where her research focused on tick-borne diseases. Following her doctoral studies, Jennifer worked as a postdoctoral fellow in infectious disease research, focusing on the use of next-generation sequencing for pathogen detection and the study of host responses associated with severe disease outcomes. She is currently a Governor’s Science and Technology Fellow with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, where her work focuses on expanding the use of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics for the detection and control of tick-borne diseases in Pennsylvania.

Gavin received a Ph.D. in Psychology from Lehigh University. A mixed-methods researcher specializing in health behavior, decision-making, and intervention design, Gavin’s work bridges experimental research and applied product development to advance behavior change at both the individual and population levels. For example, drawing on social and health psychology theories, Gavin has developed app-based interventions to reduce the negative consequences of alcohol use among college students. Gavin currently serves t as a Governor’s Science and Technology Fellow with the Department of Human Services (DHS). In this role, Gavin studies the impact of H.R. 1 on Medicaid and SNAP enrollment and develops evidence-based strategies to reduce the barriers Pennsylvanians face in obtaining the benefits for which they qualify.

Matthew works with the Department of General Services, where he supports the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies into government operations. He earned a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Systems Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. His experience includes developing AI systems, researching human-AI collaboration, and exploring how emerging technologies can improve processes and decision-making. In his current role, Matthew works across procurement and real estate to identify opportunities for AI-enabled process improvement while supporting AI literacy among Commonwealth employees. He is particularly interested in the intersection of AI, governance, and public interest technology.

Pilar holds a Master of Science in Big Data Analytics from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in Spanish-Language Journalism from California State University Northridge. Her professional background spans supporting media and  entertainment, e-commerce, and non-profit organizations through data analysis, technology support, and data governance work. Her academic research has focused on using data to better understand health, economic, and social disparities affecting underserved communities. Pilar’s work is driven by an interest in using data and technology to improve processes, inform decisions, and support the communities they serve. She is a member of the NobleReach Scholars 2026 Cohort and serves as a Governor’s Science and Technology Fellow with the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance at the Department of Labor & Industry.

Daisy earned her Master of Science degree in Social Policy and Data Analytics from the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor of Law degree in International Political Economy from Peking University. 

Her academic and professional work focuses on using data to drive public policy research and decision-making. As a Research Fellow at the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, she contributed to projects addressing housing equity and neighborhood disparities. 

Currently, as a William and Hannah Penn Fellow, Daisy is working with the Pennsylvania Department of General Services on the Surplus Property Modernization project.

Andrew graduated from the University of Delaware, where he earned his Master of Public Administration degree. 

Currently, he serves as the William and Hannah Penn Fellow at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), working in the policy office and focusing on PFAS and other environmental health projects. 

Prior to joining DEP, Andrew worked with the Grant Assistance Program in Delaware, a state-funded initiative that provides free technical grant assistance to local governments for infrastructure initiatives and other competitive and formula grant opportunities.

Diana holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Rutgers University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania. 

She previously served as a Policy Advisor for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, where she led high-impact initiatives design to catalyze inclusive economic growth, strengthen local economies, and develop innovative financing strategies. 

Her professional experience also includes work at Drexel University’s Nowak Metro Finance Lab, where she contributed to national strategies on urban finance and place-based investments. Diana teaches community development at Temple University’s School of Art and Architecture and planning for climate resilience at Appalachian State University, bridging theory and practice to advance transformative policy. 

As a William and Hannah Penn Fellow at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Diana is working in the Office of Policy on the Commonwealth’s housing action plan.

Yevgeni is serving as the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s William and Hannah Penn Fellow in the Office of Policy, where he contributes to updating current regulations addressing Pennsylvania’s 271 licensed ambulatory surgical facilities and to the development of evidence-based health policies and strategies to advance health equity across the Commonwealth. 

Prior to his service with the Department, Yevgeni served as the Supervisor of the Community Wellness Engagement Unit at the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS), where he led outreach teams, managed program initiatives, built partnerships with community stakeholders, collaborated with various city departments, and analyzed program outcomes to address behavioral health needs and disparities across the city. 

Yevgeni earned his Master of Public Health degree from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychological and Social Sciences from Pennsylvania State University. 

Brooklyn holds a Master's degree from Relay Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Franklin & Marshall College. 

She most recently held an executive level non-profit leadership role where she spearheaded cultural change initiatives within the organization. With a background in educational leadership and a passion for public service, she takes interest in the intersections of social systems, policy, and community need. 

Brooklyn is proudly serving as the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’s (DMVA) first William and Hannah Penn Fellow.

As a key member of the DMVA Keystone Culture team, she will help research and create a positive and sustainable organizational culture by way of the 5-pillar, “One Team, One Mission” Keystone Culture Program change initiative. She will also explore and secure funding opportunities which support key department goals and objectives and develop an induction program to support the DMVA.

Elizabeth graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where she received her undergraduate degree in Visual Studies and Criminology and a Master of Science in Criminology. 

During her graduate studies, Elizabeth’s research involved community violence prevention, restorative justice, and a thesis project examining online crimes against children. 

After completing her M.S. degree, she worked at Loysville Youth Development Center as a Juvenile Justice Specialist and Psychological Services Specialist, supervising and providing treatment to adjudicated youth. 

Elizabeth is currently serving as a William and Hannah Penn Fellow with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) where she is supporting research and policy within the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. 

Emily holds a Master’s degree in food and agriculture law and policy (MFALP) from Vermont Law School. 

With over a decade of experience in diversity education, food systems equity and resilience, and public policy, Emily joins the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) as the 2025 William and Hannah Penn Fellow. 

Growing up in the Midwest as the granddaughter of a farmer, Emily’s policy interests align with being a champion for sustainable agriculture, food access and security, and for marginalized farmers and producers. 

During her two-year term with PDA, she will be supporting the executive policy team, Bureau of Food Assistance, and the Pennsylvania Food Policy Council, including the development of the Pennsylvania Food Action Plan.

Morgan is a William and Hannah Penn Fellow with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, where her work involves advancing the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by tax professionals to better serve Pennsylvanians. 

She previously served as an AI Policy Analyst at the White House Office of Management and Budget, where she contributed to the federal government’s first policies on AI governance and risk management and led efforts to expand transparency around federal agency AI use. 

As a Pennsylvania native, Morgan is excited to bring her federal experience back home to the Commonwealth and is passionate about building trust between people, government, and technology.

Morgan holds a Master’s degree in Data Science for Public Policy from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science from Messiah University.