2023 TANIP Cohort — US-Asia Institute

2023 Thai American National Internship Program

**Natchapol (Oakley) Israngkura Na Ayudhya**

**Program Placement:**
Optica

Natchapol Israngkura Na Ayudhya, or Oakley, is a rising junior at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he is pursuing a dual degree in Finance, Investment Management, and Chartered Financial Analyst and Cybersecurity Management and Analytics. He also serves as the Secretary of the Thai Student Association, which allows him to connect with other Thai students on campus and promote Thai culture to the broader university community. After graduating, Oakley has a few potential career paths in mind. He is interested in pursuing opportunities in Finance, Cybersecurity, or International Trade. Oakley is also fluent in English and proficient in Thai. During his free time, Oakley likes to listen to music and play basketball and football.

**Alyssa Leawprasert**

**Program Placement:**
Rep. Scott Peters

Alyssa Leawprasert is a junior at Pitzer College, majoring in Political Studies with a subfield specialization in global politics. Since her sophomore year in school, she has actively participated in Pitzer Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault (PZ Advocates). As an advocate, she practices an intersectional approach and aims to increase awareness of sexual violence. Last semester, she held office hours at Pitzer’s Center for Asian-Pacific American Students (CAPAS) to increase the accessibility of advocates to Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) identifying students. In addition to PZ Advocates, she was a delegate for the Czech Republic in the University of Washington’s West Coast Model European Union 2022.

Currently, she is studying abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, at the School For International Training (SIT) International Relations and Multilateral Diplomacy, where she has learned the importance of geopolitical analysis and humanitarian aid. Raised in California, she has always felt a strong connection to her Thai roots. She is fluent, speaking wisely in Thai, and currently learning how to write and read to better engage with the community abroad in Thailand as well as at home in the United States. Alyssa aspires to one day become a Foreign Service officer focusing on Thai-US relations.

**Joseph Tak Maga**

**Program Placement:**
East West Center

Joseph Tak Maga is a junior at UC Berkeley, majoring in Economics and Music with minors in Public Policy and Political Economy. As a Research Fellow at Berkeley’s Institute of International Studies and the Center on the Politics of Development, he has contributed to projects investigating international climate policy, and energy waste toxicity standards frameworks. As a musician, he is an active pianist and organist, playing for various organizations and community theater productions in the San Francisco Bay Area. Joseph is passionate about the application of public policy in foreign affairs and economic development.

Perrine Ruderman

**Program Placement:**
Rep. James Moylan

**Natasha Yotmanee**

**Program Placement:**
*East West Center*

Perrine Ruderman is a freshman at McGill University, majoring in Political Science and minoring in International Development. She is currently a board member of McGill University’s Amnesty International chapter and holds a keen interest in human rights and providing a voice to victims of abuse. She wishes to further her education by attending law school and working in the human rights sector. Perrine loves learning about different governments, cultures and hopes to apply what she learns at TANIP to her future political pursuits and career.

Natasha Yotmanee is a freshman at William & Mary majoring in International Relations. She is fluent in English, conversationally fluent in Thai, and is currently learning Chinese. At school, she is a member of several cultural clubs and the Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies. Outside of school, she has gained experience working at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College to support the development of an analysis of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Natasha is passionate about International Relations, Human Rights, International & Economic Development, and Public Policy. After school, she plans to continue learning and gaining more professional experience to grow her interpersonal and technical skills to become the most successful version of herself. Natasha wants to drive change and aspires to become a Foreign Service Officer.