Kristi Kamesch is a 2016 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, USA, where she graduated with a degree in International Relations and Global Studies and a minor in Middle Eastern Studies as well a degree in Government and a minor in Arabic. Wrapping up her undergraduate degrees, she wrote a capstone paper regarding the effectiveness of methods of counterterrorism. During her time as an undergraduate, Kristi worked for Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing voter turnout and voter understanding of candidates and legislation at all levels of government. She participated in several student organizations at UT, including the International Affairs Society, the Liberal Arts Council, and the Senate of College Councils, where she led a committee focused on enriching the academic experience of UT students. She also wrote for the Liberator, the Liberal Arts Council's student publication, for a brief time. Kristi is originally from Mansfield, Texas, where she graduated from Mansfield Legacy High School in 2012. She will be attending graduate school in the upcoming Fall 2016 semester, pursuing a master's degree in Security Policy Studies. Kristi enjoys volunteering with animals and children and visiting new places in her free time.