Jessica Chai

Jessica Chai is a junior Liberal Arts Honors student majoring in Government, minoring in Chinese and Economics, with a certificate in Core Texts and Ideas through the Jefferson Scholars program. Over the summer, she traveled to London for the Clements Center Maymester, where she studied the U.S.-U.K. Special Relationship. She had the privilege to speak with high-level individuals such as Sir Malcolm Rifkind, General Robert Neller, and Sir Mark Lyall Grant, who challenged her to think critically about the U.S.’s role on the global stage after WWII.

Outside of class, Jessica is a managing editor of The Texas Orator, where she writes editorials on topics like US-China relations, nuclear colonialism, and security dilemmas. She worked as a UWC consultant and LAH Writing Fellow last semester, helping students strengthen their writing skills. Jessica also interned in the Texas House of Representatives during the 89th Legislative Session, where she spoke with lobbyists and constituents and contributed to the state-level policymaking process.

This summer, Jessica is in Washington, D.C. to help organize a gala for the International Leadership Foundation, a nonprofit that uplifts AAPI voices in public service. In the fall, she will return to D.C. as an Archer Fellow and gain firsthand experience in policy work with the institutions shaping it. 

For fun, Jessica likes to thrift, cook, and attempt to read. Some of her favorite movies recently include Borat, Juno, Inglourious Basterds, and The Phoenician Scheme.