Irwin Cotler Fellows 2024-2025

Amarah Friedman, United States, is an MA student in the Conflict Resolution and Mediation program at Tel Aviv University. She earned her BA, summa cum laude, from Macalester College with a double major in Linguistics and English, a minor in Dance, and a Concentration in Legal Studies. Amarah was an active competitor and leader in mock trial at the national level. She looks forward to earning her JD in the United States and practicing law while continuing to dance.

Ángel Romero, Mexico, is an MSc student in Medical Sciences at Tel Aviv University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of the Americas, Puebla. At Tel Aviv University, he studies vascular regeneration. He’s a true believer that humanity as a whole can overcome social and political problems through empathy and communication.

Antonio Peña, Colombia, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. He holds a degree in Law and has experience as an Extrajudicial Conciliator at the Chamber of Commerce of Bucaramanga (Colombia). Antonio carried out his Law internships at the Embassy of Colombia in Israel during the period 2022-2023, participating in crucial duties such as the management of humanitarian flights established by the Colombian government in the context of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. His interest in world political systems led him to participate in AGLO JOVEN, an Electoral Observation Mission that operates in Central and South America.

Avi Teich, Canada, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy program at Tel Aviv University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in Jewish Studies from Queen’s University in Canada. He was a campus fellow with Hasbara Fellowships and Honest Reporting Canada, and has interned with Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and Secure Canada. 

Dana Levinson, Ukraine, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy program at Tel Aviv University. She is currently writing her thesis Iran-Russia relations within the context of the wars in Syria and Ukraine. During her BA, she specialized in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Dana is dedicated to a career in counter-terrorism and intelligence, driven by personal experiences and a strong commitment to global security and peace. Her interests include international law, combating terrorism, and advocating for human rights.

Emily Wickenhagen, United States, is an MA student in the Ancient Israel Studies program at Tel Aviv University. She earned a BA in Anthropology and Judaic Studies, with a minor in Indigenous Studies, from Portland State University. She has previously interned for the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education as a recipient of the Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Scholarship.

George Karatasios, Greece, is a doctoral candidate at Tel Aviv University’s School of History. His PhD thesis is supervised by Prof. Miri Shefer Mossensohn of the Department of Middle Eastern and African History in TAU’s School of History. He holds a BA degree in History from Ionian University in Corfu, Greece, an MA degree in History and Political Science from Panteion University in Athens, Greece, and a Diploma in Turkish Language and Literature from the Department of Foreign Languages at the University of Istanbul, Turkey. His most recent career position was as an advisor to the Ionian Islands Region and as an Instructor of Turkish Language at the ‘’Erasmus School’’ on Corfu Island in Greece. His research focuses on the history of the Levant during the late 19th century Ottoman Empire period.

Giacomo Scassellati Sforzolini, Italy, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History, Politics, and Economics from University College London (UCL). He has previously worked at Italy’s leading consultancy firm and in one of Armenia’s leading think tanks. Giacomo is passionate about history and geopolitics and aims to pursue a career in either the diplomatic corps or the intelligence sector.

Ian Luis Amiel Signori Gorriti, Peru, is an LLM candidate in the Parasol Foundation International LL.M. Program at Tel Aviv University. Ian is an LLB and licensed lawyer by the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, and a member of the Lima Bar Association. He has an international specialization in Studies in Judicial Protection of Fundamental Rights and Due Process from Pompeu Fabra University in Spain. He is also an LLM candidate at the Queen Mary University of London in Laws in International Dispute Resolution.

Igor Maier, Brazil, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy program at Tel Aviv University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in public and private administration from the University of Coimbra in Portugal. A member of the University of Coimbra Debate Club, Igor also served as the Partnership Director at the local BRASA hub in the city of Coimbra. 

Kunduz Niiazova, Kyrgyzstan, is a PhD candidate in the Zvi Yavetz School of Historical Studies at Tel Aviv University. Her PhD project, “Empire, Nationality, and Modernity in Soviet Kyrgyzstan: Nexus of Kyrgyz-Jewish Intellectuals and Formation of Kyrgyz Cultural Identity 1930-1970,” is supervised by Prof. Ali Igmen and Dr. Vera Kaplan. She hopes her work will contribute to Jewish, Central Asian and Post-Soviet studies, and she hopes to initiate Jewish studies, Israel studies, and a Jewish museum in Central Asia.

Lindsay MacKinnon, Canada, is an master’s student in the Disaster Management program at Tel Aviv University. As part of her M.DM, she is currently conducting thesis research regarding corruption in the humanitarian field. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science from the University of Guelph, as well as a Bachelor’s of Nursing from Trent University. Lindsay worked as a nurse in Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which fostered her interest in the intersection of democracy, politics and public health. 

Mazal van Dam, the Netherlands, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy program at Tel Aviv University. She earned her BA in Law and Political Science from University College Roosevelt in the Netherlands. During her exchange semester in New York, Mazal participated in the Bard Globalization and International Affairs program and interned at American Jewish Committee (AJC). At AJC, she gained valuable experience working closely with the diplomatic and political outreach team there. With a passion for diplomacy and foreign affairs, she aspires to build a career in this field.

Pritee Subhadarshini, India, is a PhD student at Tel Aviv University specializing in Evolutionary Ecology. Her research focuses on the endangered Royal Iris flower, aiming to contribute to its conservation. She has participated in various community awareness programs and is an active member of the Live for Help NGO in India, where she advocates for environmental awareness and sustainability.

Ratnadeep Chakraborty, India, is a research student in the PhD program at The Shirley and Leslie Porter School of Cultural Studies. He is the co-founder of The Honest Critique, an independent media platform that provides in-depth global analysis. With dual master’s degrees in International Relations and History and a bachelor’s in Journalism, his work focuses on developments in Israel and terrorism in the region. He hosts the podcast “Indian Eye on Israel” and is the author of the book The Evolution of Israel’s National Security Doctrine: A Journey from Ben-Gurion to Netanyahu.

Samuel Morris, Australia, is pursuing his MA in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. Samuel holds a BA in Commerce and an MA in Secondary Education. He has previously worked in Transaction Advisory Services for Ernst and Young and as a Secondary Teacher with a focus on teaching Australian and International Law.

Sarah Wollenberg, Germany, is currently engaged in doing research for and writing her MA thesis in the Conflict Resolution and Mediation Program at Tel Aviv University. She holds a law degree from the Humboldt University of Berlin and is passionate about human rights advocacy.

Yasin Demirhan, Turkey, is an MA student in the Security and Diplomacy Program at Tel Aviv University. He holds a BA in Psychology and a minor in Global World Citizenship, with a focus on social psychology, human rights, and justice studies. His academic interests include the psychological aspects of political and diplomatic matters, and he aims to integrate communication strategies into his future work.