After completing her BA in political science at Barnard College in 2024, Irene joined the MARS-REERS cohort through the 4+1 program.  Through support from Harriman, Irene worked as a Crime and Security Intern for the Center for the Study of Democracy this past summer in addition to her position as the Russia studies intern at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.  As a PepsiCo fellowship recipient, she travelled to Chisinau, Moldova over winter break to conduct field research for her thesis which focuses on the effect of separatism on anti-money laundering regulations.