Ofirah Yheskel is a graduating senior at The University of Texas at Austin. She is pursuing a dual degree in Communication Studies along the Political Communication tract and International Relations & Global Studies with a focus in international security. During her time at the university, she has gained experience on all sides of the political spectrum, beginning first as an intern on Ted Cruz’s campaign for United States Senate. She then went on to become a community organizer in east Austin with Organizing for America, President Obama’s grassroots group, mobilizing voters in six precincts for Election Day. Most recently, Ofirah has completed a legislative research internship with the nonpartisan nonprofit group Project Vote Smart and hopes to continue working to empower voters in the future. During the summer of 2011, she had the opportunity to study abroad and enhance her Spanish speaking capacity in northern Spain. This fall she completed a thesis about the security implications of terrorist groups becoming political parties; the concepts of democracy building and consolidation are especially of interest to her. She looks forward to interning with the U.S. Department of State.