Marissa Gaston
Fall 2020 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Seattle, WA
College: University of Washington, Seattle
Degree: B.A. Political Science
Marissa Gaston graduated from the University of Washington, Seattle, in June 2020 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Classical Studies. Driven by a desire to pursue goodness and truth, Marissa believes in the merits of free enterprise and personal faith. With a long-standing interest in the American founding, she spent her senior year of high school portraying First Lady Abigail Adams in a one-woman living history show.
During her Sophomore year in college, Marissa earned multiple grants and scholarships to study abroad at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be’er Sheva, Israel. Her time living and learning in Israel solidified her focus on both theology and international politics. Shortly thereafter, in early 2020, Marissa interned with the State Department at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in Rome, Italy. Serving under Ambassador Callista Gingrich, she learned about American diplomacy and the Vatican while working in Political Economy and Public Affairs. Additionally, she has completed research internships with Dr. Natan Aridan, editor of the Israel Studies journal, and with the Washington Policy Center. She also recently finished the manuscript of her first book.
Throughout her undergraduate career, Marissa was an active staff writer at the University of Washington’s student newspaper, The Daily, where she especially enjoyed writing political opinion pieces. She has also been involved with AIPAC, the Young Professionals, and the Husky College Republicans. Prior to arriving at the John Jay Institute, Marissa managed the 2020 reelection campaign of a Republican official in the Washington State House of Representatives.
Marissa speaks several languages, including French and Norwegian, and has independently traveled to over two dozen countries. Marissa is excited to live in Christian community at the Institute and looks forward to developing her ability to be a principled leader as a John Jay Fellow.