Mai Malesky is a first-year student from Durham, NC, planning to double-major in Public Policy and Economics. She is passionate about the interdisciplinary field of Behavioral Sciences, especially its capacity to explore why voters become apathetic, how authoritarian regimes emerge, and how disenfranchised citizens can resist political exploitation. Mai’s commitment to public service and civic engagement is inspired by her experience working with organizations in her local community, such as North Carolina Asian Americans Together. These experiences allowed her to see firsthand the power of grassroots action to create change. She is excited to be a part of the Laidlaw Scholars Program and to join fellow students devoted to ethical leadership and service, working to make a difference on a local, national, and global scale.