Medill News Service Reporters
Ismael M. Belkoura
Ismael M. Belkoura is a graduate student at Northwestern University specializing in politics, policy and foreign affairs. He graduated from the University of North Texas in 2024 with a B.A. in Digital and Print Journalism. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the North Texas Daily, the student newspaper. He has bylines in the Dallas Observer, the Fort Worth Report, the Texas Observer and Capitol News Illinois. He previously interned at the Student Press Law Center.
Bridget Erin Craig
Bridget Erin Craig is a graduate student at Northwestern Medill in the Politics, Policy and Foreign Affairs specialization. She is Moroccan American. She grew up a military child and considers Vicenza, Italy home. She graduated with a B.A. from the University of Miami in Political Science, Criminology and Sustainable Development. Before Medill, Bridget conducted research on Chinese influence on key areas for the Defense Intelligence Agency and USCENTCOM, contributed to foreign policy and criminal justice research as an intern at the Cato Institute. She also studied abroad in Tokyo, Japan where she worked at a nonprofit and studied Asian affairs.
Erin Drumm
Erin Drumm is a reporter for the Medill News Service covering politics. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2024 with a BA in American Studies, and is now a graduate student at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism specializing in politics, policy and foreign affairs.
Amalia Huot-Marchand
Amalia Huot-Marchand is a graduate multimedia journalism student at Medill, specializing in politics, policy, and foreign affairs. She has worked at The Hill, Capitol News Illinois and has freelanced for various media outlets. Before Medill, Amalia completed a master’s degree at the Paris Institute of Political Sciences (Sciences Po) in International Governance and Diplomacy.
Atmika Iyer
Atmika Iyer is a graduate student in Northwestern Medill’s Politics, Policy and Foreign Affairs reporting program. Before Medill, Iyer graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in History and a minor in Professional Writing. She was also the editor-in-chief of her undergraduate college newspaper, the Daily Nexus. Iyer has reported with over five media outlets including Capitol News Illinois, CalMatters College Journalism Network and Street Sense Media D.C.
Huiyan Li
Huiyan Li is a reporter for the Medill News Service covering business & technology. She is a journalism graduate student at Northwestern University specializing in politics, policy and foreign affairs. Born and raised in China, she earned her B.A. in translation and interpreting from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. She interned at Center for China & Globalization and Xinhua News Agency before Medill.
Jordan Owens
Jordan Owens is a graduate student at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in the Politics, Policy and Foreign Affairs specialization. She graduated from Emerson College with a B.S. in Journalism in 2024. She was a show producer for the Emerson Channel and co-chair for Flawless Writes. She has previously written for Capitol News Illinois and interned with KISS 104.1 in Atlanta and WETA in Washington.
Leonardo Pini
Leonardo Pini is a graduate student at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, specializing in politics, policy, and foreign affairs. Born and raised in Italy, he worked professionally for the local edition of Italy’s national outlet “la Repubblica”, covering crime news. He also freelanced for “L’Espresso” magazine on foreign affairs and social issues. He produced two podcasts for RAI Radio, an Italian state radio, on asylum patients and assisted suicide. During his time at Medill, he was a fellow at Capitol News Illinois reporting on Illinois’ legislation.
Angeles Ponpa
Angeles Ponpa is a graduate student at Northwestern Medill in the Politics, Policy and Foreign Affairs specialization. Ponpa specializes in covering immigration and does bilingual reporting in both English and Spanish. She has a B.S. in Political Science. She previously worked on political campaigns, including an Illinois governor race. She also worked as a legislative assistant in the Illinois Senate.
Instagram: @angeleponpa
Khaleel Rahman
Khaleel Rahman is a graduate student at the Medill School of Journalism specializing in politics, policy and foreign affairs. Khaleel previously worked as a talk show producer for Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public Radio. He also freelances for online satire publications like The Onion and Reductress. He graduated with a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of Connecticut in 2022.
Matthew Shea
Matthew Shea is a graduate student at Northwestern Medill. He is based in Washington D.C., and specializes in politics, policy and foreign affairs. As a reporter for Medill News Service, he covers national security and foreign affairs.
Ashley Soriano
Ashley Soriano is a graduate student at Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in the Politics, Policy and Foreign Affairs specialization. Before Medill, Ashley proudly graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in international affairs. She also worked in local and national news in multiple states before entering graduate school.
Instagram: @AshleyNSorianoTV
Finya Swai
Finya Swai is a graduate student at Northwestern Medill School of Journalism specializing in Politics, Policy and Foreign Affairs. She graduated from Gettysburg College in 2020 with a B.A. in English and has worked both in marketing and 5-12th grade education. Though she spent her childhood living in Johannesburg, South Africa, she was born in the United States and is the child of two hardworking Tanzanian immigrants. In her free time she enjoys playing Overwatch and kickboxing.
Athan Yanos
Athan Yanos is a graduate student at Northwestern Medill in the Politics, Policy and Foreign Affairs specialization. He is a New York native. Prior to Medill, he graduated with an M.A. in Philosophy and Politics from The University of Edinburgh. He also hosts his own podcast dedicated to philosophy and international politics.