Welcome to the Peace Boat US 2026 Summer Interns!

Ilyana Balaj is a rising sophomore studying as a Political Science major with a concentration in Legal Studies and a minor in English at Monmouth University, where Peace Boat US recently made a new partnership towards supporting youth education for the United Nations Ocean Decade. Ilyana is one of the first interns to join as part of this new collaboration towards education for ocean science, and she is already very active in various activities including debate, mock trial, and she also hosts a weekly radio show on 88.9 WMCX. Raised in Bayville along the Jersey Shore, she has long been committed to community service, serving as Volunteer Chair for her high school’s Habitat for Humanity chapter and continuing her involvement through Monmouth’s Habitat initiatives. Her interests center on democratic participation, access to justice, and environmental policy, shaped in part by her research on ocean conservation and deep‑sea mining in the Pacific. Passionate about SDGs 16 and 4, she hopes to strengthen civic literacy, institutional transparency, and youth engagement in governance. Outside her academic and advocacy work, Ilyana enjoys photographing everyday moments on her digital cameras and writing poetry. She is excited to collaborate with motivated youth and to learn more about diplomacy through Peace Boat and the UN.

Sebastian Breña-Ochoa is a rising senior at Indiana University majoring in International Studies and minoring in Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management. Most of his coursework and extracurriculars have focused on the intersection between culture, politics, development, and language. One of those experiences included a semester working with HLSGDC, a student-run consulting group that partners with NGOs from around the world on international development projects. He is especially interested in SDG #2: Zero Hunger, and hopes to combine his passion for international relations and physical health by launching a business that empowers youth across the globe to build nutrition and fitness habits that are both environmentally sustainable and personally rewarding. Sebastian was born in Mexico City and returns on a yearly basis to visit his dad and two brothers. In his free time, he enjoys fútbol, calisthenics, exploring food markets, and anything that involves being out in the sun!

Ximena Corrales Loustalot Laclette is an Industrial Engineering graduate from Mexico and a Peace Boat US intern whose life has been deeply shaped by the ocean. Raised in a family of divers, she developed an early connection to the sea and a strong interest in ocean protection, sustainability, and education. She has completed specialized courses in ocean studies, sustainability, and ocean literacy, speaks Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French, and is preparing to begin a Master’s program in Sustainability. She has also participated in ocean-related events and initiatives where she seeks to share the importance of ocean protection and make ocean knowledge more accessible to others.

Through her personal project, @ximenascuba, she shares ocean literacy content in different languages, showing that language should not be a barrier to learning about the ocean or becoming part of its protection. As one of the participants in Peace Boat’s Youth for the SDGs program, Ximena hopes to keep learning from global ocean leaders while contributing her engineering background, communication skills, and international perspective to sustainable ocean action. The SDGs closest to her work are SDG 14, Life Below Water, and SDG 4, Quality Education, because she believes ocean protection and education must go hand in hand. Learn more about her ocean journey at @ximenascuba.

Vee (Madison) Edwards is an environmental sustainability student at UNC–Chapel Hill whose work focuses on climate justice, ocean governance, and community‑based sustainability. She has conducted research on syntropic agriculture in Brazil, labor abuses in global fishing fleets, and environmental law frameworks through UNC’s School of Law. Vee represented youth at COP30 in Belém with Peace Boat US and has spoken at UNESCO and the French Senate on youth leadership in peacebuilding. Her international fieldwork spans Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with experience in regenerative agriculture, coastal resilience, and community‑driven conservation. She has also taught empowerment‑based self‑defense in the U.S., Brazil, and Denmark, and is committed to creating accessible, youth‑centered educational spaces that advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Emma Goddard is a rising senior at Indiana University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Law. With a strong background in security studies and foreign relations, she is interested in the intersection of global security and humanitarian challenges. Emma is passionate about advancing nuclear disarmament and strengthening youth engagement within international institutions and advocacy spaces. Through her internship with Peace Boat US, she is excited to contribute to global efforts that promote peace, sustainability, and meaningful international collaboration. She is especially committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on SDGs #13 and #16, Climate Action and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Selena Kim is a senior at Tufts University, double majoring in International Relations and History, with a strong interest in international law, global governance, and sustainable 

development. Born and raised in South Korea, she has developed a cross-cultural perspective through navigating different cultures, fostering inclusivity, and valuing meaningful global connections. She is especially interested in how international institutions and youth engagement can address global challenges in more inclusive and meaningful ways.

Selena is excited to gain hands-on experience with sustainability initiatives, youth engagement, and global advocacy. She hopes to contribute her cross-cultural perspective, curiosity, and passion for international cooperation while learning more about climate change, the United Nations, and the role of civil society in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. She is particularly passionate about SDG 4, Quality Education, and SDG 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, as they connect closely to her interests in education, law, international institutions, and inclusive global governance.

Grace Lyford is a rising sophomore at Tufts University. She is in the dual degree program and aims to graduate with a BFA and BA degrees in both International Relations and International Literature. She is passionate about bridging divides, not only through language but through art and education. Additionally, she seeks to maintain an open and inclusive dialogue to facilitate conversations. Grace is a strong supporter of SDG #10, Reduce inequality in and among countries, and SDG #16, Peace, Justice, and strong institutions. She is specifically intent on target 16.b Promoting and enforcing non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development. She looks forward to gaining a new perspective on world order and focusing on how strategies are implemented to most effectively garner desired results. She is enthusiastic about collaborating with a diverse group of interns to expand her knowledge and experience.

Tess McGarvey is a rising senior at Tufts University studying Philosophy and Spanish Cultural Studies. She is especially passionate about Sustainable Development Goal #13: Climate Action after witnessing the climate crisis’ disproportionate impact within her community of New York City and its role in worsening existing health disparities. Through this internship, she hopes to develop meaningful skills to support local climate activists working to address these challenges. She is inspired by Peace Boat’s steadfast commitment to climate solutions and its emphasis on sustaining energy and hope within conversations around climate action.

David McNamara is a freshman at Tufts University studying International Relations and Economics. David is passionate about equitable resource access, and has previously partnered with the Slovenian Mission to the United Nations to research Slovenia’s advocacy in the IHL and SDG spaces as part of a Tufts research cohort.

He has also conducted environmental research as an intern with Frontier Group, a think tank based in Boston. David is honored to join Peace Boat this summer and contribute with a special focus on water access and sustainable growth.

Maliyah Oselmo is a rising Junior at Pace University. Majoring in Economics and minoring in Pre-Law and Political Science, she dedicates her learning to studying the interactions between politics and economics in the socioeconomic sector. She is an aspiring attorney who would like to focus on intellectual property innovations to reduce economic inequality in pro-bono practices. Her studies demonstrate a passion for writing, research, and public service. 

Currently serving as the Creative Editor for the Honors Herald blog at Pace, Maliyah reviews peer articles and engages in the team aspect of writing. In her upcoming semester, she will be promoted to the Editor in Chief Role, a legal research assistant for Business Law related practices, and a residential assistant. Beyond the classroom, Maliyah has worked for the Central Queens Public Library and Pace University Housing Operations. 

Through the Peace Boat internship, Maliyah hopes to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to target environmental disparities and their interactions with socioeconomic patterns, through research, writing, and advocacy. She first recognized her devotion to public service during a mission Trip to Belize, where she learned the environmental importance of educational and economic circumstances. As a fellow for the Teagle Foundation’s City and the Seas Fellowship, Maliyah has taken courses in Public Administration and Ocean Politics. In the effort to research and educate others on the ocean’s impact on socioeconomic factors, she hopes to apply her knowledge and skills in this collaborative setting.

Jane Pan graduated from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she earned a Master of Science in Environment and International Affairs (MS-EIA). Her studies focused on renewable energy technologies, climate policy, and sustainability regulations. Jane is passionate about applying sociological perspectives to energy issues and climate actions, and is committed to advancing interdisciplinary research. She is eager to continue supporting Peace Boat US as a coordinator, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through practical, action-oriented initiatives.

Jane is passionate about SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13: Climate Action because advancing access to clean energy and addressing climate change are essential to driving a just energy transition and building a sustainable, resilient future for all.

Garrett Stemetzki (he/him) is a rising junior at Tufts University. He is pursuing a double major in International Literary & Cultural Studies in Arabic and International Relations. Garrett hopes to use his experience in international research and analysis to bridge the gap between foreign and climate policy, and to understand the role of cultural and media productions in these fields. He cares deeply about SDGs #10, Reduced Inequalities, and #16, Peace, Justice, and Stronger Institutions. With Peace Boat US, Garrett wants to promote climate and sustainability policy as a facet of lasting and effective peace and justice globally. He is thrilled to be working with Peace Boat US as a summer intern and to be participating in the Youth for the SDGs 2026 Latin America Voyage.

Myat Tun Shein is a rising senior at UNC Chapel Hill, majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Marine Science. She is passionate about environmental justice and climate policy, as her interest lies in creating a more sustainable future for the next generations. Myat is deeply committed to SDG #13: Climate Action and SDG #14: Life below water, as she aims to promote the importance of maintaining marine biodiversity and mitigating climate change, along with global warming. Excited to start her internship at Peace Boat US, Myat looks forward to working with the New York team supporting the organization’s mission while gaining experience in international climate advocacy and United Nations initiatives.

Alexis Urquhart is a rising sophomore at Harvard University, concentrating in Environmental Science and Engineering with a secondary in Integrative Biology (focusing on Marine Biology). As a student, Alexis is deeply passionate about fostering cultural connections and contributing to sustainability conversations. With Peace Boat US, she is excited to explore the intersections of my interests in ocean conservation with international relationships. As a member of Harvard’s Model UN organization, she is excited to deepen my understanding of the impact of UN activities and to participate in the United Nations Ocean Decade. Alexis is particularly driven by the SDGs 11 and 14, which aim to ensure sustainable cities and communities and conserve marine resources, respectively.