Meet the 2025 TFAS Program Advisors

Denton is a rising senior from the University of Mississippi, where he is a member of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, studying public policy leadership with minors in journalism and global security studies. While participating in the Journalism + Communications track of TFAS last summer, Denton interned in the communications department of the America First Policy Institute. Through his internship, Denton pursued additional policy research opportunities with the Center for the American Child and the Center for Homeland Security and Immigration. Denton currently works as a writer for the Daily Mississippian, contributing news reporting and opinion editorials on state and local policy issues, national politics and cultural topics. Upon graduation, Denton hopes to attend law school in the D.C. area and pursue a future career in national security law.

Caroline Pierce is a rising senior at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with minors in political science and French. At SMU, she serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the 2025-2026 term, representing the student body as the Student Trustee. She is also the President of SMU’s Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law fraternity, a student worker in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and a member of Chi Omega sorority. Caroline has served as an SMU Orientation Leader and Associate Editor of SMU Look Magazine. Last summer, Caroline participated in the TFAS Journalism + Communications Program Track, interning as a freelance reporter on Capitol Hill for a national wire service. In this role, she interviewed members of Congress and covered press briefings and hearings on high-profile policy issues. She had two articles published about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez following interviews with the congresswoman outside the House chamber. Among her most unforgettable moments were attending a photo op for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, sitting in the press gallery as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress and participating in photo ops at the NATO Summit. As part of the TFAS program, Caroline took the American Political Thought class, where she earned the Academic Excellence in Political Thought Award. Caroline is excited to return as a Program Advisor this summer and help students have the same transformative experience she had.

Alexis Thomas is a program advisor for TFAS International Affairs track. She is a recent graduate of Boston College, where she graduated with a degree in political science. At BC, she was active in the debate club, student government and various leadership societies. She is from the Philadelphia area. She participated in TFAS’ Washington summer program in 2024 on the international affairs track as a Defense and Security Studies Spencer Fellow, where she interned at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America. At JINSA, she focused on the conflict in the Middle East and researched U.S. and Israeli security policy in the region. Alexis has also interned at the Massachusetts State House and the Institute for the Study of War. At ISW, she was a national security and intelligence analysis intern focused on collecting and analyzing open-source intelligence for the Middle East team. She has conducted research for professors at Boston College, researching political violence, terrorism and political trends in the Middle East. Her interest lies in national security, non-state violence and the role of religion in conflict, particularly in the Middle East. Her senior thesis at Boston College focused on militia mobilization during conflict in the Middle East and the role of religious symbolism. Alexis wants to pursue a career in national security and someday obtain a master’s degree. She is looking forward to supporting students as a program advisor.

Ashleigh Weinstock is a rising senior at Pepperdine University studying integrated marketing and communications with a minor in great books and enrollment in the Certificate for Conflict and Dispute Resolution, a co-ed program with the Caruso School of Law. She has interned for Lobbyit, a premier bipartisan lobbying firm in Washington D.C., Marriott Vacation Club Worldwide, Food and Friends and most recently, Dell Technologies. Her professional experience includes a background in political analysis, strategic research, sales, and customer service and she has worked for three years as a professional seamstress. One of her greatest extracurricular passions is debate. She has been debating for 11 years and is the Pepperdine University Debate Team’s assistant director. She also spends summers working as an agricultural volunteer on organic farms and enjoys gardening, painting, Shakespeare and good conversation.

Max Whalen is a rising senior majoring in government with a passion for law and legal research at Cornell University. He has worked as an editorial intern at The Dispatch and as a research assistant for the Legal Insurrection Foundation. These experiences not only expanded his knowledge but also provided him with a perspective on contemporary political issues. In addition to his academic achievements, Max is the Editor-in-Chief of the Cornell Review, where he oversees the publication’s content and collaborates with other editors to produce topical and high-quality articles, along with the Executive Vice President of the Cornell Republicans. Max is excited to continue his academic and professional journey in government and law and looks forward to contributing to an elevated discussion on contemporary politics.