Peer Advisors

Undergraduate Peer Advisors are Public Policy seniors who have committed to providing guidance, support, and encouragement to prospective and current majors over the course of the academic year. In addition to their extensive experience in the Public Policy Program, many have also been involved in Overseas Studies Programs, Stanford in Washington, on-campus organizations, and policy-related internships. Peer Advisors offer multiple coffee hours throughout the quarter and are happy to answer questions by email or even meet up 1-on-1 if you can't make it to a scheduled event. Please see below for their contact information.

Autumn 2024 Coffee Hours (subject to change):

  • Tuesday, October 8th from 3-5pm @ Coupa Green Library with Junah

  • Wednesday, October 16th from 9:30-11:30am @ Coupa Green Library with Caroline

  • Thursday, October 24th from 11:00am-1:00pm @ Coupa Green Library with Gaurvi

  • Friday, November 1st from 1:00-3:00pm @ Coupa Green Library with Isha

  • Thursday, November 7th from 10:00am-Noon @ Coupa Green Library with Murtaza

  • Thursday, November 14th from Noon-2:00pm @ CoHo with Adriana

Murtaza Hussain

 murtazah [at] stanford.edu (murtazah[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Cohort: 2025

Concentration: Sustainability, Environment, and Energy Policy

Hello! My name is Murtaza Hussain, and I am a senior majoring in Public Policy with a concentration in Sustainability, Environment, and Energy Policy. I was born and raised in South Florida but recently moved to Houston, Texas. Prior to college, I devoted majority of my time supporting my family’s small business and working for my local Congressman in Boca Raton, FL, and Washington, DC. These past two summers, I worked for Glade Brook Capital Partners as a growth equity intern, and most recently, I worked at Goldman Sachs for their Global Natural Resources business. I have always been passionate about public policy and its intersection with the energy space. I truly believe the Public Policy Program is a hidden gem at Stanford, as I have gained so many valuable friendships, close mentors and relationships with professors, and insightful learning experiences with both core and concentration courses. As someone who bounced around different majors before choosing Public Policy, I am happy to speak with you on class recommendations, choosing your concentration, research and internship opportunities, and anything else you may be curious about!

 

Junah Jang

junah [at] stanford.edu (junah[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Cohort: 2025

Concentration: Social Policy (Self-Designed)

Junah (she/her) grew up playing make believe in Columbia, Missouri. A senior studying Public Policy and minoring in Data Science, she is broadly interested in labor, development, alternative economies, and gender in the Asia-Pacific. She can speak to the experiences of: participating in full- and part-time research, balancing art and academics, and interning (whether for a small NGO, a research lab, or a large think tank!). On campus, she works for Professor Soledad Prillaman, staffs Toussaint Louverture House, and is developing an interdisciplinary honors thesis under the Stanford Arts Institute in which she hopes to do both policy work and theater-making on the topic of game theory. Through the Public Policy major, Junah has met awesome folks committed to public service — come speak to her with any questions about the major and/or Stanford at large!

Isha Kalia

%20iskalia [at] stanford.edu (iskalia[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Cohort: 2025

Concentration: Sustainability, Environment, & Energy Policy

Isha Kalia (she/her) is a senior majoring in Public Policy, minoring in Data Science, and pursuing her coterminal degree in Sustainability Science and Practice. Isha has experience working in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. This past summer, she interned at Deloitte Consulting as a Strategy Scholar where she worked on improving the patient experience at a large healthcare provider. In previous summers, she has interned at the United States Department of the Interior and non-profit USAFacts. On campus, Isha serves as the President of Stanford Women in Politics, is a campus tour guide, and is a member of the co-ed pre-professional fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. She loves the interdisciplinary aspect of the Public Policy major, which allows her to take classes that span her many passions, such as sustainability, political science, and economics. Talk to her about anything!

Gaurvi Singhvi

%20gsinghvi [at] stanford.edu (gsinghvi[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Cohort: 2025

Concentration: Development & Growth Policy

Gaurvi Singhvi [she/her] is a senior majoring in Public Policy with a concentration in Development and Growth Policy. She is also pursuing a secondary major in International Relations, specializing in International Security and World Economy. She is deeply passionate about international development and seeks to better understand how political systems, governance structures, and policy frameworks can foster inclusive growth in developing countries. Her professional experiences include working with international organizations, government agencies, and think tanks. During fall quarter of her junior year, Gaurvi participated in the Stanford in Washington program, where she worked on gender-specific initiatives at the World Bank. She also participated in the Journeys of Inquiry trip to Colombia, where she investigated post-conflict recovery and migration in Latin America. This year, Gaurvi is excited to serve as the Director of University Partnerships for Stanford in Government, having received the Haas Center Cardinal Quarter Fellowship. She loves the Public Policy Program for its interdisciplinary approach and the ability to blend academic rigor with practical applications that address real-world challenges. In her free time, Gaurvi enjoys watching political thrillers, film photography, and swimming in the ocean!

Adriana Torres

%20atorresc [at] stanford.edu (atorresc[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Cohort: 2025

Concentration: Urban & Regional Policy

Adriana is a senior from the Eastern Coachella Valley in Southern California, majoring in Public Policy and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. She is also pursuing a coterminal master’s in Public Policy with a concentration in Urban Policy. Her passion for building sustainable and resilient communities has driven her interests in affordable housing, accessible transportation, and community-led environmental justice. Adriana has worked with organizations such as California Housing Partnership, Kounkuey Design Initiative, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Al Otro Lado, and Freedom for Immigrants. Currently, she serves as a Research Assistant at the Changing Cities Research Lab under Professor Jackelyn Hwang. On campus, Adriana has also been involved in Stanford Women in Politics, Cardinal Policy Group, and Habla. She is eager to share the warmth and knowledge the department has given her with new students, extending Public Policy as a space where everyone can discover their passions and contribute to a better world

Caroline Zdanowski

%20cgz2003 [at] stanford.edu (cgz2003[at]stanford[dot]edu)

Cohort: 2025

Concentration: Design of Public Institutions

Caroline Zdanowski (she/her) is a senior—and coterminal master's student—in the Public Policy program. Her concentration is the Design of Public Institutions for the BA and Urban Policy for the MA. She is passionate about housing policy, green energy, and immigration. Caroline served as President of Stanford Women in Politics and is now a senior advisor. She has worked as a Research Assistant to Professor Didi Kuo, focusing on political party dynamics, and will be a Teaching Assistant in Professor Joe Nation’s “California Politics and Policy” course in Winter 2025. Her professional experience includes work at the National Immigration Forum and in State Senator Catherine Blakespear’s district office. Currently, she is a Graduate Public Service Fellow at the Haas Center, where she focuses on Housing Equity and Affordability. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, practicing yoga, and painting. Caroline values the close-knit, active Public Policy community and the program’s hands-on approach to real-world issues.

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