JOIN US IN WELCOMING THE NEWEST ROSIES!

Five freshmen and four sophomores have accepted positions as new Rose Institute research assistants. They will attend a series of workshops designed to hone their research skills, work closely with Rose staff, faculty, and fellow students, build lasting friendships, and develop a strong network with fellow Rosies.

Congratulations!

	Keegan Beecher '30 is from Walnut, California, and is majoring in Government at Claremont McKenna College. His interest in state and local government developed through his work in education policy and experience with California's legal system, including presenting an English Learner policy proposal to the California State Board of Education and interning with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. At the Rose, Keegan is particularly interested in criminal justice and education policy. He is excited to develop his quantitative research skills and explore how data can inform effective government decision-making. Outside of the Rose, Keegan is an Army ROTC cadet.
	Lucas Benardete '30 is from West Palm Beach, Florida, and is majoring in Government. His interest in government began with his work on congressional campaigns and his role as a congressional youth advisor for a Massachusetts Congressman while attending Phillips Academy Andover, as well as his engagement in local Floridian politics, particularly in the Florida agricultural industry. Currently, he is working on a New Hire Project focused on the San Francisco Police Department and new use-of-force policies. Outside the Rose, he is an Army ROTC Cadet, a Senator of the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College, and a member of the Alexander Hamilton Society. He enjoys hiking, particularly backcountry, rowing, and rappelling.
	Amelia Crum '30, from Los Altos, CA, is majoring in Government at CMC. Her interest in policy analysis grew from years of debate in high school, where she researched healthcare and foreign policy. She is excited to further develop her skill set through her work at the Rose, where she hopes to work on projects related to redistricting, elections, and housing policy. In her free time, she enjoys photography, watching shows and movies (period pieces and Star Wars are her go-tos), and rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals.
	Grant Kruttschnitt HM'30 is a freshman hire from Marin, California. He plans to pursue a B.S. in Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College. Grant is currently working on his new-hire project. Outside the Rose, he works as a data associate at The Student Life and as an associate at Graphite Digital. In his free time, he loves ultimate frisbee, board games, and reading.
	Gibson McIntosh '29 is from the Big Island of Hawaiʻi and attends Claremont McKenna College. Her interest in public policy centers on access to healthcare and education, particularly for underserved populations. She spent the summer interning at Monument Advocacy, a Seattle-based public affairs firm, where she worked on local government and federal policy projects. She also serves as the Hawaiʻi Youth Ambassador for the Tourette Association of America and, as an Appel Writing Scholar, researched disparities in access to Tourette syndrome care across Europe. For her Rose New Hire Project, Gibson is examining the effects of California’s restrictions on willful-defiance suspensions, focusing on students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Outside the Rose, she is a member of CMC’s Mock Trial team and enjoys musical theater, outrigger canoe paddling, and traveling.
	Aveeva Mirchandani '29, from Cave Creek, Arizona, is pursuing a dual degree in Public Policy with a Data Science sequence at Claremont McKenna College. Her public policy interests center on environmental sustainability, water policy, and human rights. She has experience in human rights research, environmental policy project development, and civic outreach, including canvassing and petition work. At the Rose Institute, Aveeva is excited to expand her research skills, particularly on AI policy. In the summer of 2026, she traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the UN Human Rights Council Sessions. Outside of academics, Aveeva enjoys traveling, discovering new music, going to concerts with friends, and crocheting. She also loves swimming, cooking, and exploring new spaces
	Hiroko Rose '30 grew up in Fairfax, Virginia.  She is at Claremont McKenna College, majoring in Government. Growing up outside of Washington, DC, she was exposed to politics at an early age, sparking an early interest in public policy. Throughout high school, she volunteered in municipal politics and with the League of Women Voters. At the Rose Institute, Hiroko hopes to research election security and campaign finance, conduct polls, and assist with survey research. In her free time, Hiro enjoys scrapbooking, camping, and drinking iced lattes.
	Kaitlyn Song '29 is a sophomore at Claremont McKenna College majoring in Government and pursuing a pre-law track. Originally from Sydney, Australia, she has also lived in Seoul, South Korea, and currently resides in Singapore. Her policy interests include criminal justice reform, particularly the moral questions surrounding capital punishment, and transportation policy, with a focus on public transit accessibility.
	Alex Wang '29 is from Shanghai, China. He is interested in comparative politics, the judiciary, and constitutional law. He has researched and compared the rigidity of US state constitutions, developing an original index of rigidity and an amendments database. He has also interned for Supreme Court advocate Andrew Tutt, where drafting appellate briefs and researching capital habeas issues deepened his interest in Supreme Court advocacy. Outside of Rose, Alex loves performing with his a cappella group, singing with the choir, and making people laugh with his improv troupe.