OFFICE/DEPARTMENT
Each semester, the East-West Center in Washington selects a cohort of Young Professionals to gain first-hand training and experience at a US-Indo-Pacific research and education organization in Washington, DC. This cohort has a total of eight Young Professionals, who you can meet below!
John Angelo Gerard ("Jag") de Onon Calbario
John is a Filipino graduate student at American University’s School of International Service, pursuing an MA in International Affairs: Global Governance, Politics, and Security. In addition to his studies, John works as a Political Affairs intern at the US-Asia Institute. Previously, he clerked at the Embassy of Canada and Embassy of Greece in Manila, in addition to interning at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, EU delegation to the Philippines, and the Embassy of Australia in the Philippines. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from De La Salle University in 2016. John is a native Tagalog speaker and is beginning to learn Spanish.
Arrizka Faida
Arrizka is an Indonesian graduate student at Cornell University, pursuing an MPA in Science, Technology, and Infrastructure Policy. At Cornell, Arrizka serves as a Southeast Asia Program Graduation Assistant. Prior to their move to New York, Arrizka worked at Telkom Indonesia and United Overseas Bank in Indonesia. In addition to these positions, they served on the B20 India 2023 Digital Transformation Task Force. Arrizka graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Bandung Institute of Technology in 2018 and is a native speaker of Indonesian.
Vincent Zhang
Vincent is a undergraduate student at Georgetown University’s Walsh Scholl of Foreign Service, where he completed an exchange program to SIT Switzerland in Spring 2023. At Georgetown, Vincent served as the Director of Internal Development for the Georgetown International Relations Association. In addition to his studies, Vincent serves as a Legislative Congressional Intern at the Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean. They previously interned at the 1882 Foundation and served as a researcher at the Free Speech Project. Vincent is fluent in Mandarin and proficient in French.
Lei Nishiuwatoko
Lei is a recent graduate of Northeastern University, where she earned a BA in International Affairs. During her time there, she participated in an exchange program at the University of Oxford in England, as well as study abroad programs in Switzerland and the western Balkans. Lei recently was a Case Team Assistant at LEK Consulting in California, and prior, served as an Assistant to a Brigadier General at the NATO Defense College and as a Program Associate of Outreach at WorldBoston. Her experiences also include positions at the Global Center for Climate Justice and on the Ed Markey campaign. Lei is fluent in Japanese.
Kyle Ta-ay
Kyle is a graduate student at American University pursuing an MA in International Affairs: Global Governance, Politics, and Security. At American University, Kyle serves as the Vice President of Finance for the Graduate Leadership Council, a Research Assistant of the ASEAN Studies Initiative, and an International Student Advisor. In addition to this, Kyle is a member of the Pacific Forum’s Young Leaders Program. Prior to this, they served as at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Philippine Department of Tourism; Trade and Industry; and Labor and Employment. He received his BA in Diplomacy and International Relations from Ateneo de Manila University. Kyle has language skills in Tagalog, Aklanon, Hiligaynon, Bisaya, Spanish, and Japanese.
Denise Geronimo
Denise is an undergraduate student at Colorado College pursuing a BA in International Political Economy, where they completed a study abroad exchange program to the Czech Republic. At Colorado College, Denise serves as a Community Engaged Fellow and previously served as an Issue Organizer for the Criminal Justice Coalition. In addition to their studies, Denise serves as a Communications Intern with the White House Initiative on AA and NHPI. Prior to this, she served as a Program Intern with the US-Asia Institute and the Embassy of the Philippines, as well as a Research Intern for the Center for Applied NonViolent Actions and Strategies in Serbia. Denise has various leadership positions, including at the World Affairs Council of America and the Colorado College Political Science Advisory Council.
Rocco Cartusciello
Rocco is a graduate student at Georgetown University pursuing a MA in Asian Studies. In addition to their studies, Rocco serves as a Research intern at the Pacific Forum and an Affiliate Scholar at the East-West Center. Prior to these positions, Rocco served as the Media Manager for the Georgetown Journal of Asian Affairs and as the cofounder of RAS Institute. From 2019 to 2020, Rocco was a consultant at Atlantic Pacific Jade. Rocco received his BA in East Asian Studies from Dickinson College, where they completed an exchange program at Peking University in China. Rocco has advanced language skills in Chinese.
Tatiana Ostwalt
Tatiana is a graduate student at Columbia University pursuing an MA in International Affairs as a STEM degree. In addition to their studies, Tatiana serves as a Department of State Virtual Intern for the East Asia and Pacific Bureau and as an Administrative Assistant for the Department of East Asian Languages and cultures. Prior to attending Columbia, Tatiana completed a Boren Fellowship at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea and received a BA from Wake Forest University in Politics and International Affairs. While at WFU, Tatiana served as an Administrative Coordinator for the Office of Academic Advising and as an Intercultural Ambassador for the Intercultural Center. Following their graduation, Tatiana become an English Teaching Assistant through Fulbright in Kazakhstan. Tatiana is proficient in Korean and Russian.
Each semester, the East-West Center in Washington selects a cohort of Young Professionals to gain first-hand training and experience at a US-Indo-Pacific research and education organization in Washington, DC. This cohort has a total of eight Young Professionals, who you can meet below!
John Angelo Gerard ("Jag") de Onon Calbario
John is a Filipino graduate student at American University’s School of International Service, pursuing an MA in International Affairs: Global Governance, Politics, and Security. In addition to his studies, John works as a Political Affairs intern at the US-Asia Institute. Previously, he clerked at the Embassy of Canada and Embassy of Greece in Manila, in addition to interning at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, EU delegation to the Philippines, and the Embassy of Australia in the Philippines. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from De La Salle University in 2016. John is a native Tagalog speaker and is beginning to learn Spanish.
Arrizka Faida
Arrizka is an Indonesian graduate student at Cornell University, pursuing an MPA in Science, Technology, and Infrastructure Policy. At Cornell, Arrizka serves as a Southeast Asia Program Graduation Assistant. Prior to their move to New York, Arrizka worked at Telkom Indonesia and United Overseas Bank in Indonesia. In addition to these positions, they served on the B20 India 2023 Digital Transformation Task Force. Arrizka graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Bandung Institute of Technology in 2018 and is a native speaker of Indonesian.
Vincent Zhang
Vincent is a undergraduate student at Georgetown University’s Walsh Scholl of Foreign Service, where he completed an exchange program to SIT Switzerland in Spring 2023. At Georgetown, Vincent served as the Director of Internal Development for the Georgetown International Relations Association. In addition to his studies, Vincent serves as a Legislative Congressional Intern at the Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean. They previously interned at the 1882 Foundation and served as a researcher at the Free Speech Project. Vincent is fluent in Mandarin and proficient in French.
Lei Nishiuwatoko
Lei is a recent graduate of Northeastern University, where she earned a BA in International Affairs. During her time there, she participated in an exchange program at the University of Oxford in England, as well as study abroad programs in Switzerland and the western Balkans. Lei recently was a Case Team Assistant at LEK Consulting in California, and prior, served as an Assistant to a Brigadier General at the NATO Defense College and as a Program Associate of Outreach at WorldBoston. Her experiences also include positions at the Global Center for Climate Justice and on the Ed Markey campaign. Lei is fluent in Japanese.
Kyle Ta-ay
Kyle is a graduate student at American University pursuing an MA in International Affairs: Global Governance, Politics, and Security. At American University, Kyle serves as the Vice President of Finance for the Graduate Leadership Council, a Research Assistant of the ASEAN Studies Initiative, and an International Student Advisor. In addition to this, Kyle is a member of the Pacific Forum’s Young Leaders Program. Prior to this, they served as at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Philippine Department of Tourism; Trade and Industry; and Labor and Employment. He received his BA in Diplomacy and International Relations from Ateneo de Manila University. Kyle has language skills in Tagalog, Aklanon, Hiligaynon, Bisaya, Spanish, and Japanese.
Denise Geronimo
Denise is an undergraduate student at Colorado College pursuing a BA in International Political Economy, where they completed a study abroad exchange program to the Czech Republic. At Colorado College, Denise serves as a Community Engaged Fellow and previously served as an Issue Organizer for the Criminal Justice Coalition. In addition to their studies, Denise serves as a Communications Intern with the White House Initiative on AA and NHPI. Prior to this, she served as a Program Intern with the US-Asia Institute and the Embassy of the Philippines, as well as a Research Intern for the Center for Applied NonViolent Actions and Strategies in Serbia. Denise has various leadership positions, including at the World Affairs Council of America and the Colorado College Political Science Advisory Council.
Rocco Cartusciello
Rocco is a graduate student at Georgetown University pursuing a MA in Asian Studies. In addition to their studies, Rocco serves as a Research intern at the Pacific Forum and an Affiliate Scholar at the East-West Center. Prior to these positions, Rocco served as the Media Manager for the Georgetown Journal of Asian Affairs and as the cofounder of RAS Institute. From 2019 to 2020, Rocco was a consultant at Atlantic Pacific Jade. Rocco received his BA in East Asian Studies from Dickinson College, where they completed an exchange program at Peking University in China. Rocco has advanced language skills in Chinese.
Tatiana Ostwalt
Tatiana is a graduate student at Columbia University pursuing an MA in International Affairs as a STEM degree. In addition to their studies, Tatiana serves as a Department of State Virtual Intern for the East Asia and Pacific Bureau and as an Administrative Assistant for the Department of East Asian Languages and cultures. Prior to attending Columbia, Tatiana completed a Boren Fellowship at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea and received a BA from Wake Forest University in Politics and International Affairs. While at WFU, Tatiana served as an Administrative Coordinator for the Office of Academic Advising and as an Intercultural Ambassador for the Intercultural Center. Following their graduation, Tatiana become an English Teaching Assistant through Fulbright in Kazakhstan. Tatiana is proficient in Korean and Russian.
