Editor-in-Chief: Mercer Booth
Mercer is a senior from Cary, North Carolina majoring in Political Science and Economics, with a minor in Russian Language. Mercer has been with the CPR since his freshman year, serving as a Staff Writer and as Global Section Editor. His goal is to help grow the CPR and solidify its reputation as a leading voice for political discourse on campus. Mercer is deeply interested in international relations, campaign strategies, and macroeconomic policies. In his free time, Mercer enjoys playing soccer, watching the Carolina Hurricanes, and participating in Intramural sports at UNC.
Managing Editor: Eleanor Goldstein
Ellie Goldstein has been with the Carolina Political Review since her freshman year and has served as a reporter, Opinion Desk Editor, and is excited for the opportunity to be the Managing Desk Editor this year. She is originally from Denver, Colorado and is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill with a double major in Business Administration and Political Science with a minor in Sustainability Studies. Ellie is deeply passionate about writing, reading the news, and the intersection between economics and geopolitical affairs. She hopes to lead the Carolina Political Review becomes a lead outlet for bipartisan political information. Besides the CPR, Ellie is involved in many business and law organizations at Carolina. She believes strong opinions are important for influencing policy and hopes to make a difference by using her voice to inspire meaningful change.
Local Section Editor:
Adriana Concepcion
Adriana Concepcion is a Political Science major with a minor in History at UNC Chapel Hill. She is passionate about the intersection of politics, media, and identity, and hopes to use storytelling as a tool for advocacy and connection. At CPR, Adriana looks forward to exploring nuanced political topics with creativity and clarity. Outside of writing, she’s involved in Latinx in Law, the Journal of Foreign Affairs, serves on the Student Alumni Association Board, and is an ambassador for UNC JOURNEY. She is also the founder of her small business, Valentina by Val.
National Section Editor: Elise Chang
Elise is a sophomore from Chapel Hill with majors in Public Policy and History with a minor in French. She joined CPR as a Staff Writer immediately upon arriving on campus in 2024. Elise is passionate about engaging young people of all backgrounds in political discourse. Outside of CPR, Elise is a menstrual equity advocate, a public policy development researcher, and an active campaign volunteer. If she's not writing or canvassing, Elise enjoys reading, playing the piano, and being with friends (preferably outdoors).
Global Section Editor: Aakanksha Sinha
Aakanksha is a second-year from San Francisco, California double-majoring in Political Science and Journalism with a minor in History. She joined the Carolina Political Review last spring, focusing primarily writing long-form pieces about national policy and international affairs. Passionate about international relations, Aakanksha is especially interested in the intersections of the media, law, and politics and their implications on both national and global stages. When she’s not reading, editing, or writing, Aakanksha enjoys rehearsing dances in the Union Underground, playing board games, and taking evening walks around Chapel Hill.
Opinion Section Editor: Andrew Aslakson
Andrew Aslakson is a sophomore from Waxhaw, North Carolina, double majoring in Political Science and History. As a member of the Political Review, he writes about the internal dynamics of the Democratic and Republican Parties through a historical lens. At UNC, Andrew is on the Moot Court team and is a print writer for the Undergraduate Law Review. Beyond campus, he remains deeply engaged in politics at the local, state, and national levels. He has served as Vice President of the North Carolina Teen Democrats and National Communications Director for the High Schoolers 4 Harris Campaign. He was also recognized as an Emerging Advocate Scholar by the American Civil Liberties Union. In his free time, Andrew enjoys playing the piano, collecting vinyl records, and running.
Multimedia Curator: Mia Penn
Mia is a sophomore from Minneapolis, Minnesota, double majoring in Economics and Global Studies with a minor in Chinese. She is particularly interested in global trade and development and is passionate about cross-cultural communication. Drawn to the power of media to raise awareness and drive institutional change, Mia joined Carolina Political Review to learn more about global issues, explore diverse ideas, and contribute to thoughtful dialogue. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, practicing martial arts, yoga, photography, and other creative pursuits.