Secretariat
Meet the leadership team behind PDI. See below for contact information!
Secretaries-general
Sarina Hegli
Hello, all! I'm very grateful to be one of your Secretary-Generals for the return of PDI to the collegiate Model UN circuit. I am a junior from San Diego, California, and at Princeton I study Politics and East Asian Studies. My favorite class at Princeton has definitely been Global Political Thought, taught by Professor Pratap Mehta. Outside of class, I'm a member of the Princeton Model United Nations Team (formerly captain) and a volunteer for National Alzheimer's Buddies. Feel free to send the Sec-Gens an email at pdi.secretarygeneral@gmail.com, or reach out to me personally at sh7503@princeton.edu!
Ferenc Somogyi
Hello, everyone! I am a junior from Cleveland, Ohio, and I’m extremely excited to be one of your Secretaries-General for PDI 2024! At Princeton, I study in the School of Public and International Affairs and focus on Central Europe, ethnic minorities, and diasporas (specifically Hungarian and Romanian studies, since these are my cultural heritages!). I also plan to minor in History and complete certificates in Contemporary European Politics and Society and History and the Practice of Diplomacy. Outside of classes, I am an active member of the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, the President of both the Hungarian and Romanian societies on campus, a member of the Model UN team and the American Whig-Cliosophic Society, and involved with the Balkan Society and the Aquinas (Catholic) Institute and the Orthodox Christian Fellowship. I’m really looking forward to restarting PDI this year and seeing our amazing committees in action! You can reach either Sarina or me via email at pdi.secretarygeneral@gmail.com or personally email me at fs5243@princeton.edu.
Chargés d’Affaires
Samiksha Gaherwar
Hey everyone! I’m Samiksha, a sophomore from Atlanta, Georgia majoring in Operations Research and Financial Engineering with minors in Statistics/Machine Learning and CS. On campus, I’m involved on a dance team, Business Today, student government, and our Entrepreneurship Club. But don’t be fooled - I’m a huge foreign policy and debate nerd. I’ve been MUNing since 12 years old, but outside of committee, you can find me throwing around a football, competing in pageants, or binging Gossip Girl. Feel free to reach out at samiksha@princeton.edu with any questions or just to say hi! :)
Vasco Rato Santos
Hello everyone! I’m Vasco, and I am a first-year student from Porto, Portugal concentrating in Operations Research and Financial Engineering. I am a member of Princeton’s Model UN team, and in my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, reading books on continental philosophy and modern European history, and listening to music. I’ll be your Chargé d’Affaires focusing on communication, so please send an email to my inbox at vasco.santos@princeton.edu if you have any questions about the conference or conference registration!
Chiefs of Staff
Aishwarya Swamidurai
Hi everyone! I’m Aishwarya, a second-year student from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma prospectively majoring in the School of Public and International Affairs (or SPIA, as we fondly know it here) with a minor in History and the Practice of Diplomacy. On campus, I am a U-Councilor with the Princeton Undergraduate Student Government, a member of Princeton’s Model UN team, and involved in Vote100 and similar civic and dialogue groups on campus. In my free time, I love watching good movies and TV shows with friends and playing board/card games (hit me up for recommendations). I’m so excited to meet and welcome you all to PDI 2024, as we work to make this conference the best it can be! Feel free to reach out to me at as2738@princeton[dot]edu if you have any general questions about staffing PDI, Princeton MUN in general, or just want to say hi!
Elliot Lee
Hi everyone! I’m Elliot, and I’m a second-year student from Great Falls, Virginia concentrating in Operations Research and Financial Engineering on the pre-medicine track with minors in Global Health and Health Policy, Engineering Biology, and History of Science, Technology, and Medicine. I am a member of Princeton’s Model UN team, Debate Panel, and Fed Challenge, and I’ve served on the American Whig-Cliosophic Society’s Governing Council as Director of Program Emeritus. In my free time, I love cranking tunes out on my clarinet, obsessing about health economics and global health in general, and talking about geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific and African regions, particularly as they relate to the Solomon Islands. Feel free to email me at el3205@princeton.edu if you have any questions about staffing at the conference, or just want to chat! :)
Director-General of Commitees
Andrei Iosifescu
Hello! I'm Andrei, a prospective History major from the class of 2026, pursuing minors in Medieval Studies and Humanistic Studies, and certificates in Contemporary European Politics and Society, and History and the Practice of Diplomacy. I serve as a Deputy Captain of the Princeton Model UN Team and have chaired crisis committees for the last two PMUNC conferences, but my current PDI role is an exceptional privilege: I am keen to ensure a highly stimulating, rigorous, and dynamic environment for all delegates across all our exciting committees! Outside of MUN, I am an EU Program Undergraduate Fellow, a Chapel Music Librarian, and I sing with the Chapel Choir and with the Early Music Princeton Singers ensemble. I am thrilled to meet you all in April! Email me at ai3201@princeton.edu for any questions!
Undersecretaries-General of Logistics
David Chau
Hello everyone, my name is David, a sophomore from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, concentrating in Public Policy with Princeton SPIA with certificates in French and Journalism. I am a current member of the Princeton MUN Team. Outside of MUN, I am involved in Princeton Collegiate Moot Court, the Princeton Legal Journal, and the Asian American Students Association. I will be serving as an Undersecretary-General of Logistics this year, focusing on connecting our delegates to the most amazing guest speakers possible. Outside of school, I enjoy watching travel vlogs and films! Please do not hesitate to reach me at davidchau@princeton.edu if you have any questions.
Eva Engel
Hi everyone! I’m Eva, a freshman from Chapel Hill, North Carolina planning to concentrate in mathematics with a certificate in History and the Practice of Diplomacy. I am deputy captain of the Princeton Model United Nations Team (and happy to answer questions about it!) and a member of the Princeton Sinfonia. I’ll be one of your Undersecretaries-General of Logistics this year, so please reach out to me at eva.engel@princeton.edu if you have any questions about logistics or just want to talk about the conference and/or life at Princeton!
Liam O’Shaughnessy
Hello everyone! I’m Liam, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio, and I am excited to be serving as your USG of Logistics! I plan on pursuing a degree in Physics with concentrations in French and Slavic Language and Literature. In terms of Model UN, I am a member of the PMUNT competitive travel team and the Secretary-Emeritus of the International Relations Council, the body that runs Model UN at Princeton. Outside of school, I enjoy running, playing piano, and watching films. Feel free to reach out to me at lo8603@princeton.edu for any logistics/general questions!
Undersecretary-General of Media
Maki Flauta
Hi! I'm Maki, a first-year student from Hong Kong and the Philippines. I intend on majoring in SPIA, with a focus on welfare economics and international development, and minoring in Philosophy and Values and Public Life. I'm also part of the Princeton Filipino Community and the New College West council. If you have any media-related questions, feel free to email me at mf9689@princeton.edu. See you in April!
Abby Yuexi Lu
Hello. I’m Abby, a sophomore from Hong Kong concentrating in SPIA with certificates in European Cultural Studies and History. I’ll serve as your Under Secretary-General of Media for PDI 2024. On campus, I’m also extensively involved in the warm residential community of Rocky and other foreign policy initiatives. I’m especially interested in the Western Balkans and East Asia. Outside of the realm of international relations, you can find me in one of Nassau’s many coffee shops, taking long walks around campus, or writing an essay while listening to house music. Feel free to reach out for any media-related affairs, coffee recommendations, or a new friend. Cheers.
Undersecretaries-General of Operations
Jasmine Chen
Hi everyone! I’m Jasmine, a sophomore from California. I’m planning to concentrate in SPIA, with a minor in Chinese and a certificate in Statistics and Machine Learning. On campus, I’m involved with Princeton Model Congress and Whig-Clio. Beyond academics, you can find me practicing aerial arts or playing the cello. I’ll be one of your Undersecretaries-General of Operations for PDI 2024; you can reach me at jasminechen@princeton.edu.
Luqmaan Bamba
Hello everyone! My name is Luqmaan and I’m one of the co-USG of Operations for PDI ‘24! I’m a freshman from New York City who’s currently undecided but choosing between SPIA and Computer Science. I am very much into reading and philosophy and hope to get a minor. On campus, I’m active in Whig-Clio, Civic Leadership Council, the Black Student Union, and intramural soccer. Reach me at luqmaanbamba@princeton.edu. Looking forward to meeting you!
Undersecretary-General of Security
Santhosh Nadarajah
Hello there! I’m Santhosh, a junior from Los Angeles concentrating in Molecular Biology on the Pre-Medical track. I’ve previously served as a three-time chair for PMUNC, our high school MUN conference, and am very excited to see how PDI goes and to meet y’all. I’ll be your USG of Security, so I’ll be working with University Admin and our Department of Public Safety to ensure your safety and that everything runs smoothly. You can reach out to me at santhoshnadarajah@princeton.edu.
Undersecretary-General of Technology
Nicholas Urbati
Hello! I'm Nicholas, and I will be your USG for Technology! I'm a junior from Southern Mississippi majoring in Politics on the quantitative track. On campus, I'm the Vice-President for College Democrats, the Treasurer and a contributor to the Princeton Political Review, self-described guardian of the welcome desk at Firestone library, and the president for the Princeton Juggling Club. I'm also a member of the MUN team and am involved with the Whig-Cliosophic Society. I look forward to ensuring this PDI is the best it can be regarding technology. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at nu7611@princeton.edu. See y'all at the conference!
Oversight
Srista Tripathi
Hello! My name is Srista Tripathi, and I am a current junior. I am thrilled to be serving as Oversight for PDI. As the former Secretary General of PMUNC 2023, I am excited to assist with bringing back our first collegiate-level conference in recent years, and to meet all of you. I am currently studying in the School of Public and International Affairs on the Pre-Medical track.
Vincent Jiang
Hello everyone! My name is Vincent Jiang, and I am currently a junior majoring in the School of Public and International Affairs. As the former President of the International Relations Council for the 2022–2023 term, I am thrilled to see our vision come to life in the form of Princeton’s first post-COVID college conference! It’s been great competing alongside some of you on the college circuit as first Deputy Captain and then Captain of the Princeton Team, and I can’t wait to bring it home to Princeton campus. Outside of MUN, I am involved in several foreign policy related think-tanks on campus and I am a cadet in the Army ROTC program.
IRC President
Aly Rashid
Hello Everyone! My name is Aly Rashid and it is my pleasure to welcome all of you to PDI in my capacity as President of the Princeton International Relations Council. I am a Sophomore from Lahore, Pakistan and am majoring in Economics. I am also pursuing minors in Political Economy, History and Practice of Diplomacy and Optimization and Quantitative Decision Science (I apologize for the number of ands in that sentence). I have been doing Model UN for over 7 years now, and as a former Deputy Captain of the Princeton travel team I can't wait to show you how great of a conference IRC can hold. Feel free to reach out with any concerns (or for playlist recommendations)!
Photos taken by Aarushi Adlakha ’26.