Murphy Institute Celebrates Exceptional Political Economy Graduates

The Murphy Institute's Undergraduate Program in Political Economy is proud to celebrate its graduating seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and dedication to public service. This year's honorees include recipients of the prestigious Murphy Public Service Award and the Charles H. Murphy Prize in Political Economy, alongside numerous graduates earning Latin Honors.

Recognizing Dedication to Public Service

The Murphy Public Service Award acknowledges graduating seniors for their significant contributions to the community. This year’s award goes to Skyler Kil and Maya Shields. 

Maya Shields, a double major in Political Economy and English with minors in Political Science and Environmental Studies, has been a driving force for positive change. Her senior thesis explores the integration of Indigenous Technical Knowledge into Western policymaking. Her leadership and community involvement both on and off campus are evidenced by her roles as President of CACTUS, founding treasurer of Students Against Food Insecurity, and internships with the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy and the Seattle Clemency Project. In addition to the Murphy Institute Public Service Award, Maya received the Jim Runsdorf Excellence in Public Service Student Award from the Center for Public Service and was recognized with the Tulane 34 award for her outstanding leadership and academic excellence.

Skyler Kil, a distinguished Political Economy major with minors in Political Science and Strategy, Leadership & Analytics, achieved the remarkable accomplishment of serving as Editor-in-Chief for two undergraduate journals: the Tulane Undergraduate Law Review and the Journal of Policy and Political Economy. Skyler also served as a Dean’s Ambassador for Newcomb-Tulane College, a service-learning assistant for the Center for Public Service, and a research assistant in Political Science, demonstrating a broad commitment to both campus and community.

Celebrating Academic Excellence: The Charles H. Murphy Prize

Five outstanding political economy graduates have been awarded the Charles H. Murphy Prize in Political Economy, an honor recognizing the top graduating seniors in the program. This year's recipients are Lindsey Cliff, Rachel Moody, Megan Roche, Ellen Schaezler, and Elizabeth (Ellie) Stevenson.

Lindsey Cliff, a double major in Political Economy and Political Science-International Relations with a minor in Russian, graduates with an impressive 3.99 GPA. Lindsey's leadership roles include serving as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Programming Director of the Tulane Journal of Policy and Political Economy. Her academic prowess earned her the Russian Book Prize, and she presented her research on Russocentrism at NYU’s Jordan Center’s Masters and Undergraduate Research Symposium. This fall, Lindsey will pursue a Master of Arts in Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Rachel Moody, a Newcomb Scholar, graduates with a triple major in Political Economy, Latin American Studies, and Spanish. In addition to the Charles H. Murphy Prize, Rachel is a co-recipient of Political Economy’s Senior Honors Scholar award. Her senior thesis delves into the role of women in Latin American drug cartels, and she has published in the Women Leading Change Journal. Rachel served as President of Tower and Crescent, an editor for the Tulane Undergraduate Law Review, and an ESL teacher with Catholic Charities. Rachel's exceptional leadership and academic excellence were further recognized with the prestigious Oak Wreath cohort, the Tulane 34 award, and her induction into the William Wallace Peery Society.

Megan Roche graduates with a 3.97 GPA, majoring in Political Economy and Communication, with minors in German and Strategy, Leadership, and Analytics. A Phi Beta Kappa inductee, Megan has been honored with the Founder’s Award and the Ann Royal Arthur Memorial Award from the German Department and is a member of the prestigious Newcomb Institute Oak Wreath Cohort. Megan gained valuable experience through internships with Planned Parenthood North Central States and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Outreach Tulane. Megan was also awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Award to teach English in Austria.

Ellen Schaezler achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA, double majoring in Political Economy and Sociology, with a minor in Strategy, Leadership and Analytics. Ellen is an inductee into Phi Beta Kappa and was an active member of Tulane’s Performing Arts Society, serving as its treasurer this year, and a member of Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity. She also interned with Flyte, a New Orleans-based nonprofit. Ellen plans to apply to law school after gaining experience working at a law firm after graduation.

Elizabeth (Ellie) Stevenson is a dual-degree, double major in Political Economy and Chemistry who also earned a perfect 4.0 GPA while writing two honors theses—one in each major. In addition to the Murphy Prize, Ellie is a co-recipient of Political Economy’s Senior Honors Scholar award and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, receiving the Karlem Riess Award as the top Phi Beta Kappa inductee. Ellie was further honored for her outstanding commitment to academic excellence and leadership as an inductee of the William Wallace Peery Society. She has co-authored a published paper in mathematics and received a perfect score on the LSAT. She will attend Yale Law School in the fall. A strong leader on campus, Ellie served as a Site Lead Intern for Tulane’s Ethics Bowl Program and engaged in community outreach with Tulane Chemistry and Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans.

A truly remarkable achievement: Ellie Stevenson and Ellen Schaezler are the first women in the history of the political economy undergraduate program—and only the fifth and sixth students overall—to achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA. Congratulations to Ellie and Ellen for this outstanding accomplishment!

Graduating with Latin Honors

The Murphy Institute also celebrates its graduates earning Latin Honors for their exceptional academic performance:

Summa Cum Laude (3.962 or higher): Ellen Schaezler, Ellie Stevenson, Lindsay Cliff, Rachel Moody, Megan Roche, and Noah Fisher

Magna Cum Laude (3.904-3.961): Olivia Meyer, Kayla Keats, Noah Meyer-Herron, and Meah Matherne

Cum Laude (3.826-3.903): Lucy Bailer, David Bailit, Brandy Brennan, Skylar Kil, Maggie Smart, and Sofia Wuensch

The Murphy Institute extends its warmest congratulations to all its graduating seniors for their hard work, dedication, and significant achievements. These graduates are poised to make meaningful contributions in their chosen fields and beyond.