Biography
Gabriela LeBaron is pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, focusing on international security and regional conflict in West Africa. LeBaron earned her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, where she studied development sociology. During that time, she was awarded the Societal Solutions Scholars Award, a grant that funds student-led projects in the Global South. With this grant, LeBaron began a microfinance project in a village in Honduras and provided long-term support to the participants. Since then, she has investigated ways to create robust support systems and channel resources to locally-led organizations working to improve governance in their communities.