Legacy Award Fellows
Jordanna Yochai
2024-25 Legacy Fellow
Jordanna Yochai is a Master’s of International Affairs candidate at Columbia University’s School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA). Her coursework focuses on defense and security issues, particularly within Africa and the Middle East. She is a member of the 2024 Columbia University International Fellows Program (IFP).
Jordanna served within the Department of Defense, in both analytic and policy capacities. She also conducted research for the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Middle East Institute, the Wilson Center, and the Chicago Project on Security & Threats. Jordanna’s research was published by the Iran Primer, the Islamists, Peacefare, and the Chicago Journal of Foreign Policy. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations.
Jordanna has traveled and worked in Africa and the Middle East. She hopes to advance conflict resolution in these regions.
Joseph Lim
2024-25 Legacy Scholar
Joseph Lim is a native of Naperville, Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a B.S. in Finance (2022). He commissioned in the United States Army as an Active Duty Military Intelligence Officer and is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington. In his first two years, Joseph served as a Battalion Intelligence Officer overseas and is currently a Platoon Leader in a Brigade Military Intelligence Company. Joseph is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Law at Northwestern University and hopes to implement what he learns to make a positive impact in the U.S. Intelligence Community. In his free time, he loves to run, cycle, and play with his Golden Retriever, Charlotte!
Cody Gardiner
2023-24 Legacy Fellow
Cody Gardiner completed his bachelor’s degree at Emory University, where he double majored in international studies and history with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. After graduation, he interned at CNN before working for three years in risk and intelligence analysis. Cody currently serves as a threat manager on Meta’s Dangerous Organizations and Individuals team, where he conducts research on terrorist organizations, criminal entities, and hate groups. He is a master's student at Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program (SSP), concentrating on international security issues. After graduation, Cody intends to pursue a career focusing on the intersection of transnational crime and national security.
Max Goldberg
2023-24 Legacy Scholar
Max Goldberg is an accelerated BA/MA in International Relations student at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, with minors in Geography, and Atrocity Studies and Practices of Social Justice. Growing up in three countries across two continents thanks to his parent’s employment in the federal government, Max seeks to enter into the family business of national security. His completed internships with USAID, USDOS, the American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project, and at multiple agencies within the intelligence community, in addition to his travels across 25 countries and language proficiency in Spanish and Polish, have endowed Max with a unique understanding of the global security environment and the threats demanding an appropriate response. The Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 Legacy scholarship will greatly assist Max’s continued efforts to leave behind a safer, more secure world and deliver justice to victims of violent extremism, aggression, and terrorism.
Andres Morana
2022-23 Legacy Fellow
Andrés Morano completed his bachelor’s degree at Virginia Tech, pursuing an international education across numerous countries including Jordan, Oman, and France. After graduation, Andrés served in the United States Army for four years.
Andrés is currently pursuing his master’s at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) where he renewed his study of Arabic, national and international security, counterterrorism, and transatlantic defense. He believes that strong cross-cultural relationships contribute to terrorism prevention and national security efforts. After graduation Andrés intends to build upon his prior experience fostering international partnerships with a career as an American Foreign Service Officer.
Timothy Foye
2022-23 Legacy Scholar
A graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, Timothy Foye obtained his BA in International Relations and Political Science. While at Duquesne, Timothy was a Department of State sponsored Gilman Scholar studying Arabic in Jordan. Additionally, Timothy had several internships with the Departments of Defense, Justice, and State.
Timothy is presently a graduate student at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Medford, MA, obtaining his Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy. Timothy is interested in national security and US foreign policy and intends on continuing with a lifelong career in public service.
Aya Yousuf
2021-22 Legacy Scholar
A graduate from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Aya Yousuf obtained her BA in political science and economics. Currently, she is a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) obtaining her MA in international relations. She is interested in national security, counterterrorism, and US foreign policy
Chloe Wawerek
2021-22 Legacy Fellow
Chloe Wawerek enlisted into the United States Army in 2015 within the Military Intelligence branch. She served for five years with one deployment to Afghanistan. During her time enlisted she earned an Associates degree in Persian Farsi, and a Bachelors degree in National Security. She is currently attending Georgetown University to earn her Master of Science in Foreign Service. After completing her Master’s degree, Wawerek will return with as a commissioned officer to the United States Army. Her background is in innovation and emerging technology with focus on military applications for improvements in national security. Fields of interest focus on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Nicholas R. Benton
2020-21 Legacy Fellow
Nicholas joined the United States Navy in 2012 and served four years before returning to college at Portland State, where he received his bachelor’s degree. During his undergraduate years, Nicholas studied in both Moscow and London, and he has worked at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo. Nicholas is currently a graduate student at Georgetown University. He plans a career as an analyst focused on national security and emphasizes the need for developing understanding across cultures in order to positively impact terrorism prevention and national security.
Kelly Abbinanti
2019-20 Legacy Fellow
A graduate of the University of Virginia with a master’s degree in security studies from Georgetown University, Kelly has worked as an analyst for the U.S. Department of State and defense consulting firms. She is pursuing a degree at Georgetown’s Security Studies Program (SSP) and plans to become a state department foreign service officer.
Katherine “Katie” Rahmlow
2018-19 Legacy Fellow
She is a graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, New York and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and is an analyst in Washington D.C. Katie, finished her master of public administration degree at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School in June, 2020 where her areas of interest are technology law and policy, as well as cybersecurity.
Allison Miller
2017-18 Legacy Fellow
She is a graduate of Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Her Legacy Award was renewed in 2018-19 to enable her to complete her research examining how community engagement can prevent violence. Her dissertation specifically focused on violent extremism and gang violence. Dr. Miller completed both her Masters in Public Health and her PhD in May 2020.
