DIRECTOR

Felix has spent the past two years in the thick of American politics behind the wheel. He drove over 50,000 miles across Western and Southern Colorado during two close congressional campaigns, where he learned firsthand that issue specificity and authentic candidates matter to voters.

He took those lessons to Washington, where he produced WelcomeFest 2025, the largest annual gathering of centrist Democrats. Now he's channeling that experience as Director of Promise to America. He is leading a team of six fellows who are frustrated with the state of politics and inspired by Democratic leaders willing to lead with specificity and courage. This summer, the team is gathering signatures for the Promise to America, a document that unites elected officials, candidates, and ordinary Americans around a shared vision.

Felix is a rising sophomore at the University of Chicago, currently on leave.

FOUNDING FELLOW

Mac Healey is a rising senior at Harvard College majoring in Social Studies with a minor in Comparative Study of Religion. On campus, Mac has written for The Crimson as a member of the editorial board and spent three semesters with the Institute of Politics’ Fellows and Study Groups program. His senior thesis centers on models of religious rhetoric in Democratic presidential campaigns since 1960. Previously, Mac was a National Press Intern for Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, where he assisted with press and communications work for the Senate Democratic Caucus. He is excited to be a fellow with Welcome this summer.

FOUNDING FELLOW

Sarah Buchanan has broad policy experience across private, nonprofit, and government sectors. She started in appropriations lobbying, led nonprofit state and federal advocacy programs to improve patient access to care, and worked at the U.S. Department of Interior on offshore energy. In every role, she has been committed to strengthening constituent voices, developing evidence-based solutions, and building bipartisan consensus. To deepen her technical expertise, Sarah is pursuing an MS in Environmental Policy and Management at UC Davis.

FOUNDING FELLOW

Growing up in rural southeast Missouri, Molly developed an early appreciation for the kind of pragmatic, results-oriented politics that can actually win in red and purple districts. Most recently Molly worked with a nonprofit in St. Louis, partnering with bipartisan coalitions to pass local ethics reform and defend Missouri’s right to the ballot initiative against legislative attacks. Molly graduated from the University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy!) and hold a Master’s degree in Political Management from George Washington University.

FOUNDING FELLOW

Aarynn DeLeon is a student at University of California Merced.

FOUNDING FELLOW

Chloe Stevelman is a rising sophomore studying political science at UC Berkeley, where she serves as the Operations Director for the Cal Berkeley Democrats. She is originally from Santa Monica, California.

FOUNDING FELLOW

Yenjay Hu is currently a student at Yale University studying Political Science with a certificate in Statistics & Data Science. Beyond his domestic political interests, he has also studied international trade and economic policy. In past roles, he has worked to strengthen civic engagement in his home state of New Jersey through Vote16NJ and Democracy Summer. In politics, he has worked on multiple campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels.

Emily Acosta is a rising third‑year Political Science with an emphasis in American Politics and History double major with a minor in Global Arts at UC Merced. A first‑generation Salvadoran American from Los Angeles and Delhi, California, she’s an adventurous learner who loves hiking, exploring new places, and observing the world with curiosity. Emily is part of the University Honors Program’s inaugural cohort, serving as the Student Advisory Chair for the program. She also serves as a Chancellor’s Ambassador and works with the Center for Analytic Political Engagement as both a Program Assistant and CAPE Legislative Fellow. Her work spans event coordination, social media strategy, and research on migration, organized crime, and political behavior, all driven by a commitment to understanding people and the systems that shape their experiences.