Mission Statement

The Dreier RoundTable at Claremont McKenna College is dedicated to cultivating responsible and collaborative leaders who value public service and civil discourse. Our mission is to inspire students to engage with diverse perspectives and promote understanding through meaningful conversations and hands-on experiences. As future leaders in the public sphere, we aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to drive positive change and advance the common good.

DRt’s mission reflects the legacy of trustee and alumnus David Dreier’s 32-year career in public life, and CMC’s mission to foster “leadership in business, government, and the professions, and to support faculty and student scholarship that contribute to intellectual vitality and the understanding of public policy issues.” DRt is particularly focused on issues Dreier emphasized throughout his Congressional career: international trade, immigration studies, institutional development, and information flows. DRt plans to build on his work in those areas, among others.

The DRt also hosts the Annenberg – Dreier Commission, a special focus program that seeks to strengthen the free flow of goods, services, capital, information, ideas and people throughout the greater Pacific. Inspired by the Congressional work of Chairman Dreier, the ADC is an affiliated program under the Dreier Roundtable focused on addressing policy challenges within these areas by developing concise, actionable recommendations that are readily adoptable by key stakeholders.

Founder: David Dreier

Director: Michael Fortner

Co-Directors: John Pitney, Terril Jones

Program Coordinator: Alejandro Villegas (’21)

Managers: Mateo Colbert, Melanie Kallah

Advisory Board: Governor Steve Bullock (’88), Aditya Pai (’13)

Kylie Ha, Manager

Kylie Ha, a member of CMC’s class of 2026 and a Shaw Wagener Global Family Scholar, is studying Public Policy and International Relations with a focus on national defense, international security, and counterintelligence. She joined the Dreier Roundtable in 2023 for its commitment to public service and leadership in policy and civil discourse. As a Student Fellow, she hopes to deepen her passion for public service and explore policies addressing homelessness through tiny home communities and urban planning. Beyond DRT, Kylie is a Cadet in the Army ROTC Program, Student Director of Student and Parent Engagement in the Office of Admissions, Finance Manager for the Claremont International Relations Society, and Co-Founder of the 5C Triathlon Club. She enjoys studying Arabic, exploring the outdoors, and plans to study abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, focusing on International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy.

Jacob Smagula, Manager

Jacob Smagula is a junior at CMC dual-majoring in Government and Middle Eastern Studies. He joined the Dreier Roundtable to examine inequity and the power of public policy to impact people’s lives, and to further develop his understanding of complex issues and leadership skills. In addition to his role as a DRt Fellow, he is a Research Assistant for the “Race and Islam” Lab at The Gould Center and works at the Athenaeum. 

Mateo Colbert

Mateo is a member of Claremont McKenna College’s Class of 2025, he is majoring in International Relations. He is passionate about understanding how domestic policy influences international affairs and believes this intersection is crucial to comprehending global dynamics. As Co-Manager of the Dreier Roundtable (DRt), Mateo is committed to fostering civil discourse on campus. His goal is to create spaces where students can engage with diverse perspectives, promoting a more united student body equipped to address shared challenges. Mateo also studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, focusing on Humanitarian Law, and is actively involved with ASCMC and serves as a Resident Assistant.

Melanie Kallah

Melanie Kallah is a member of Claremont McKenna College’s class of 2025 as a recipient of the prestigious McKenna Merit Scholarship. She is studying International Relations and studied Geopolitics and Arabic abroad in Amman, Jordan for the Fall 2023 semester. Melanie was drawn to the Dreier Roundtable both because of it’s goal to inspire future public servants amongst students and because of it’s appreciation of civil discourse. As Co-Manager she hopes to establish the institute on campus so that the DRt may invest in students and students may invest in the DRt. She brings to the role extensive research and leadership experience and a strong interest in public service. Beyond DRt, she is the DEI Director of the CMC Model United Nations team, ranked 1st internationally. She is also a Committee Lead at the CARE Center, and a research assistant at the Gould Center. Outside of work, she loves playing piano and painting!

Julius Skestos

Julius Skestos is a junior at Pitzer college majoring in Political studies, focusing in comparative politics. Growing up in Columbus OH Julius had friends of varying political orientations and was always happy to provide and facilitate points of connection between people of different political backgrounds. This commitment to bipartisanship led him to join the Dreier Roundtable in 2022 because of the Roundtable’s commitment to fostering civil discourse, working across political lines, and encouraging public service. Expected to graduate in 2025, Julius continues to work as a Dreier Fellow assisting both with creating a newsletter and with other Roundtable functions to continue the mission of inspiring interest in public service and encouraging bipartisanship. Outside of academics Julius likes music, outdoor adventures, collecting antiques, traveling, and meeting new people.

Austin Andersen

Austin Andersen, a member of CMC’s class of 2025 majoring in International Relations, is studying abroad in Spring 2024 to explore different cultures and political systems. His interest in the Dreier Roundtable began after a discussion with Professor Fortner on drug laws in the 1970s and 1980s, deepening his curiosity about public policy’s impact on daily life. As a Dreier Fellow, he hopes to foster open dialogue while leveraging his research and writing experience as a journalist for the Claremont Independent. Outside of DRt, he plays defensive back for the CMS football team and serves on the CMC Social Life Working Group. He enjoys nature, traveling, and music, particularly EDM, Reggaeton, and Country.

Johnny Russell

Johnny Russell is a rising second year student at Claremont McKenna College from Orlando, Florida. Johnny wanted to be a Dreier Roundtable fellow because he saw it as a great opportunity to work alongside such accomplished 5C students and faculty who share his own emerging passion for politics and public policy. A government major, Johnny believes that the institution’s goal to promote healthy civil discourse around campus will reshape the way he thinks about pressing social and political issues in America today. Thus, he hopes to gain from his experiences as a fellow some helpful tools to become a thoughtful participant in the American political system and most importantly an open mind. In addition to the Dreier Roundtable, Johnny is a first year guide and member of the nonprofit organization Student Connections.

Eliza Gunter 

Eliza Gunter is a student at Claremont McKenna College in the class of 2027. She is a dual major in Classical Studies and Government, and hopes to combine these two passions in her work and studies. Eliza was drawn to the Dreier Roundtable’s robust commitment to fostering open dialogue and civil service both on campus and beyond. In addition to the Dreier Roundtable, Eliza is the Director of Operations for the Claremont McKenna Mock Trial team, and a member of the Claremont Colleges Debate Union. She is also a First Year Guide at CMC. In her free time, Eliza enjoys hiking, swimming, and intramural sports.

Sadie Brown

Sadie Brown is a member of Claremont McKenna’s class of 2026 majoring in History with a Gender and Sexuality Sequence. At the Dreier Roundtable, she is a Media and Communications Fellow and works towards growing Dreier’s different platforms and student outreach. Sadie joined the DRt in 2024 because of the program’s dedication to public service and its commitment to educate students on different matters of public policy and civil discourse. In addition to her role as a DRt Fellow, Sadie is a liaison for the History and GSS Departments, and a member of the Athena Women’s Soccer Team where she is the starting goalkeeper.

Ranya Sharaf

Ranya Sharaf, a McKenna Merit Scholar in CMC’s class of 2027, is studying International Relations and Economics with interests in diplomacy and political economy. She was drawn to the Dreier Roundtable for its commitment to shaping future leaders and civically engaged citizens. Having worked in public service, government, and policy, she is eager to continue these efforts in college by educating and engaging her peers. As a Dreier Roundtable Fellow, she looks forward to advancing her passion for advocacy and public service, particularly by studying the effects of policy initiatives on different communities. Beyond the Roundtable, Ranya serves as the Director of Wellness for the College Programming Board, a Consultant for the Pomona Consulting Group, and a Fellow in the Kravis Center’s Leadership Development Program. She is excited for her first year as a Dreier Fellow and to collaborate with the Roundtable’s outstanding members and faculty.

Peter Dien

A member of Claremont McKenna Class of 2025, Peter Dien has spent his undergraduate experience conducting historical research, editing for The Student Life newspaper and developing humanities-driven stories to analyze the complex political and economic issues of our time. He is dual-majoring in History and Film Studies, which are two academic interests he aims to synthesize through a career in developing research, crafting narratives, and using the power of media to connect the global Vietnamese diaspora and embed reconciliation within the community. At the DRt, Peter works with the social media team to update the website, gauge online traffic to enhance user engagement, and create comprehensive graphic design campaigns to serve the mission of the institute. For fun, Peter loves watching movies on his Criterion Channel account, listening to Stevie Wonder, writing stories, and reading the latest book accumulating dust on his shelf.

Nathan Perry

Nathan Perry, a member of the CMC’s class of 2028, is from Santa Cruz, California. He plans to major in government with a sequence in legal studies. He looks forward to getting involved in all the great political organizations, expertise, and resources on campus, as well as creating productive dialogue that involves a variety of viewpoints. He’s excited to join the Dreier Roundtable to assist with Professor Fortner’s research on identity politics, a topic that caught his attention while taking his Intro to Government class. He’ll also be a part of the Keck World Affairs Podcast Program in the spring of ’25, exploring the Communist legacy in modern-day China and its implications for geopolitics. Some of his favorite things to do so far in Claremont are attending a good Ath dinner, going to late-night snack with friends, and playing frisbee on Parents with a nice sunset.

Lucio Vasquez

Lucio, a member of CMC’s class of ’28, is interested in majoring in Government with a sequence in Legal Studies. He began his first semester working under the Gould Center as a Research Assistant for Michael Fortner in the publishing of “United We Fall: Race, Place, and Identity Politics in New York City.” The Dreier Roundtable Research Assistant position now helps Lucio continue this research during the Winter of 2024. Interested in community engagement, Lucio is also a tutor for Student Connections & Kravis Lab for Civic Leadership, focusing on the practice of high-impact tutoring and spreading the values of mentorship and civic engagement. Outside of work, he enjoys playing guitar, listening to music, reading, hiking, and mentoring his siblings.