Meet the Fellows
Meet the Fellows
The Vinson Institute Fellows Program is an educational opportunity for UGA's undergraduate students interested in state and local government. Meet our current Vinson Fellows students.
Meet Our Spring 2024 Fellow
Jacob Coleman
Major: Ecology and Sociology
Division: Infrastructure and Community Resilience
Jacob Coleman is a second-year Ecology and Sociology student pursuing a certificate in Urban and
Metropolitan Studies. As a Vinson Fellow, Jacob worked with the Infrastructure and
Community Resilience division to explore the implementation of government policy,
government training, and interactions between the public and the government.
He currently serves as the SGA Senator for the School of Ecology. He has participated in the Redcoat Marching Band as a clarinet player and has served on the Sustainability Grants Selection Committee for UGA’s Office of Sustainability.
Meet Our Fall 2023 Fellows
Sara Anis Ali
Major: Political Science and International Affairs
Division: Survey Research and Evaluation Support
Sara Anis Ali is a second-year student studying Political Science and International Affairs. As
a Vinson Fellow, Sara was interested in evaluating restorative programs for juveniles
to determine their effectiveness. Ali completed her research project with the Survey
Research and Evaluation division.
Sara has interned at the Solicitor General's Office and District Attorney's in Fayette County. During her internship at the Solicitor General's Office, Sara conducted a project analyzing the Conditional Discharge Program for misdemeanor marijuana possession.
Jai Gonzales
Major: Geography
Certificates: Urban Studies and GIS
Division: Government Services and Research
Jai Gonzales is a senior student studying Geography, with certificates in Urban Studies and GIS.
They completed a research project with the Government Services and Research division.
They have done research with UGA’s Community Mapping Lab on black spaces in Athens, including Brooklyn Cemetery and Hot Corner. They recently completed a fellowship with Trees Atlanta where they mapped and added trees to the catalog of the newly-created Atlanta Beltline Arboretum. In addition, they currently work at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, where they have organized a cohort of students in garden-oriented learning/ development while assisting with caring for the landscape.
Meera Srinivasan
Graduating: May 2026
Major: Political Science
Division: Survey Research and Evaluation Support
Meera Srinivasan is a second-year student studying Political Science at the School of Public and International
Affairs. As a Vinson Fellow, she worked with faculty mentor and Public Service Assistant
Brian Simmons in the Survey Research and Evaluation Support division.
Prior to becoming a Vinson Fellow, she conducted research on a variety of topics, including prison labor, zero-tolerance policy in education, drug crime and discrimination in sporting spaces. Meera works as a communications staff member at The Backpack Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aimed at alleviating the burden of homelessness throughout the Southeast. She is also a Legislative Fellow with the Spencer Frye Fellowship Program.
Program Coordinators
Madison Drummond
Student Engagement And Programs Manager
Camille Rogers
Program Co-Coordinator and Graduate Research Assistant