Center for Global Democracy
Research Assistant & Lead Democracy Fellow · Cornell University
Built and validated multi-country supplier datasets, using workflow automation to improve accuracy and efficiency.
Open to analytical & advisory roles
Washington, DC
Arsalan
Ansari
Policy · Law · Research · Consulting
Cornell Government graduate with experience across policy, legal research, institutional analysis, data, public affairs, and strategy—bringing adaptable research and problem-solving skills to analytical, advisory, and consulting work across sectors.
Profile
I bring a multidisciplinary background across public policy, law, data, institutional research, public affairs, and communications. My experience spans universities, nonprofits, philanthropy, legal-information organizations, and consulting, with a consistent focus on turning complex evidence into clear, practical analysis.
A Cornell Government graduate with minors in Information Science, Public Policy, and Law & Society, I combine rigorous research methods, multilingual perspective, and digital fluency. I am open to policy, legal, research, consulting, strategy, and related analytical roles across sectors.
Cornell University, College of Arts & Sciences
B.A. Government · Dean's List · IOPGA Scholar · May 2026
Minors: Information Science · Public Policy · Law & Society
Experience
Where I've worked
Legal Information Institute
Research Assistant · Cornell Law School
Reviewed 120+ Wex entries and produced accessible legislative and judicial summaries.
Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Student Research Fellow · Palo Alto, CA
Analyzed 100+ sources on post-victory governance transitions, institutional continuity, and outcomes.
Justia / Oyez
Legal Research Intern
Edited 300+ Supreme Court case summaries into clear, accurate public-facing abstracts.
Ford Foundation
Intern · New York, NY
Improved IT documentation and data processes across three teams while supporting global convenings.
Rational 360
Public Relations Intern · Washington, DC
Produced policy research, landscape assessments, and strategic communications for client campaigns.
Center for International Policy
Tech Policy & Security Assistance Monitor Intern
Analyzed 50+ bills and tracked $20B+ in arms transfers across 70+ countries.
Gender & Security Sector Lab
Research Assistant · Cornell University
Analyzed multilingual, cross-national time-series data on violence against public-facing women.
Projects
Selected work
Legal Research
Wex Legal Dictionary
Contributed research and editorial support to Cornell Law's free legal encyclopedia, improving clarity and public accessibility of 120+ entries.
Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law
Founder
Applied Public Policy Strategies
Founded APPS Cornell — a student platform for practical policy strategy, mentorship, and applied governance problem-solving.
Cornell University · 2025–Present
Civic Access
Oyez Project
Streamlined 300+ Supreme Court case summaries into accessible civic abstracts, making the Court's reasoning legible to non-lawyers.
Justia · Summer 2025
Policy Data
Financial Freedom Index
Contributed policy-data workflows for comparative governance analysis in the Brooks School × Center for Global Democracy research initiative.
Brooks School × CGD, Cornell
Languages
English
Fluent
Persian (Dari)
Native
Pashto
Fluent
Urdu & Hindi
Conversational
French
Conversational
Arabic
Reading
Technical Skills
Research & Analysis
Policy AnalysisInstitutional ResearchComparative GovernanceLegal ResearchArchival MethodsContent Analysis
Data & Tools
PythonRHTML/CSS/JSGitHubSalesforceBloomberg TerminalS&P Capital IQExcelLaTeXLexisNexisProQuestFactivaMuck Rack
Focus Areas
Technology PolicyPost-Conflict GovernanceLaw & Data AccessSecurity AssistancePublic Interest Law
Leadership
Campus & community roles
Founder, Applied Public Policy Strategies
Launched a student-led platform for practical policy strategy, applied problem-solving, and peer mentorship.
President, Organization for Afghan Students
Led cross-campus programming and outreach for Cornell's Afghan student community.
Resident Advisor, Housing & Residential Life
Supported student wellbeing through conflict resolution, community building, and mentorship.
Vice President, International Students Association
Coordinated programming and collaboration across international student organizations.
Peer Career Coach, Career Services Office
Advised students on résumés, applications, and interview preparation.
Additional Roles
Supervisor, Cornell Service Center · Cornell in Washington Ambassador · Student Advisory Board · Alexander Hamilton Society · Sigma Alpha Mu · Prepare Mentor · Handshake AI Fellow
Contact
Open to full-time roles across policy, law, research, consulting, strategy, and public affairs. My résumé is available upon request.
Email
aa2324@cornell.edu
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/ansariarsalan