Meet our
2026
Nordic Scholars
After completing a highly selective and rigorous application cycle, we are delighted to announce the 2026 Nordic Scholars cohort—an exceptional group of emerging leaders working across disciplines to address complex global challenges. Together, they represent the kind of thoughtful, systems-oriented leadership our future demands.
Yahvi Agarwal
BA Computer Science, BA Economics, Minor in Statistics and Data Science, Carleton College, ‘27
Yahvi is an emerging leader working at the intersection of technology, finance, and strategy, with a focus on how organizations create value in uncertain and data-driven environments. At Carleton, she has served as President of Girls Who Code and as a Resident Assistant, leading peer communities and facilitating inclusive, collaborative environments. Her academic work integrates computer science, economics, and quantitative analysis to examine decision-making, risk, and value creation across sectors. She is particularly interested in how organizations deploy data, technology, and capital to scale ideas and navigate complexity. Through NSLI, she is interested in examining how Nordic leaders manage uncertainty, align stakeholders, and build organizations grounded in long-term thinking and institutional trust.
Tayleur Baker
BS Communication Studies & Agricultural Science,
Minor in Leadership, Oregon State University ,‘27
Tayleur is an emerging leader in agricultural advocacy whose work focuses on the intersection of sustainability, rural communities, and public policy. She has held leadership roles, including Secretary of her Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow club, delegate to national rural leadership programs, and a participant in legislative advocacy and community-based sustainability initiatives. Her experience spans nonprofit engagement, policy exposure, and applied environmental work, including wetland restoration and rural community programming. She is particularly interested in bridging the gap between legislators and communities to advance sustainable and equitable solutions in the agricultural sector. Through NSLI, she is interested in examining how Nordic leadership approaches integrate sustainability, public policy, and community engagement to inform more effective advocacy and public service.
Noah Fiske
BA Business Leadership, BA Psychology (Honors Program), University of Puget Sound, ‘26
Noah is an emerging scholar of organizational behavior whose work examines how leadership, identity, and institutional structures shape the evolution of work. At the University of Puget Sound, he has served as captain of the men’s soccer team and as a coach, teacher, and teaching assistant, engaging leadership across peer and instructional settings. His academic focus integrates psychology and business to explore how organizations respond to complexity, particularly in the context of technological change and evolving expectations around autonomy and meaning. He is interested in how trust, legitimacy, and shared purpose are cultivated within organizations and how these dynamics shape individual agency and collective performance. Through NSLI, he is interested in examining how Nordic leadership models structure organizations to sustain trust, adaptability, and performance.
Reagan Ince
BS Informatics, BA Sociology, University of Washington, ‘26
Reagan studies the intersection of technology, society, and public interest systems, with a focus on how information systems shape access, behavior, and institutional outcomes. Her academic work integrates user and customer experience research, social science theory, and both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the role of technology in public life. She has developed leadership experience in collaborative, research, and design-oriented environments, working across technical and social domains to structure projects and engage diverse stakeholders. Reagan is particularly interested in how public interest technology can be designed and governed to better serve communities while addressing systemic inequities. Through NSLI, she is interested in examining how Nordic leadership approaches integrate technology, governance, and institutional trust to produce more equitable and effective systems.
Clementine McLemore
BA in Business Administration (Finance),
Certificate in International Studies in Business,
University of Washington, ‘25
Clementine brings experience across finance, consulting, and public–private sector engagement focusing on how institutions shape economic opportunity and resilience. At Goldman Sachs, she analyzed asset allocation strategies in the Private Wealth Management division. At the University of Washington, she advised small businesses through the Business Impact Group and served as the President of the Spanish Track in the Certificate of International Studies in Business Program. Currently, an Innovation Scholar at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, she focuses on financial literacy, business development, disaster recovery, small business growth, and economic resilience. She is particularly interested in how business and government align to strengthen communities and expand access to opportunity and will examine how Nordic leadership models structure cross-sector collaboration to advance economic resilience and inclusive growth.
Andrew Rose
BA in American Studies, Minor in History,
Carleton College ’27
Andrew is an emerging legal thinker and civic leader whose work centers on law, governance, and community-based approaches to justice. At Carleton College, he serves as director of the Mock Trial team and has conducted criminal justice reform research with the John Howard Association, contributing to reports used in state-level policy discussions. His leadership also spans student government and interfaith initiatives, where he facilitates dialogue across diverse communities. Grounded in collaboration and careful interpretation, Andrew is interested in how legal systems can better reflect lived experience and support equitable outcomes. He joins NSLI to deepen his understanding of leadership in institutional and democratic contexts.
Matthew Valencia
BS Computer Science & BA Philosophy,
University of Washington, ‘27
Matthew is an emerging technologist working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, product development, and ethical systems design. He has contributed to a startup developing a wearable device aimed at reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), where he has worked on AI-driven predictive functionality. His academic interests in philosophy complement his technical training, informing a focus on the ethical implications of emerging technologies. Matthew is interested in how complex technical systems can be developed responsibly while remaining accessible and impactful. Through NSLI, he is interested in examining how Nordic innovation ecosystems approach the governance and ethical deployment of emerging technologies.
Jessica Warner
BA Political Science (International Security), Minor in Spanish, University of Washington, ‘26
Jessica is an emerging public service leader with academic and professional interests in foreign policy, environmental sustainability, and civic engagement. She has a particular focus on Latin America, examining the intersections of democratic governance, environmental protection, and community-based development. Jessica is drawn to roles that combine public education, land stewardship, and international collaboration, and how public institutions can more effectively respond to complex social and environmental challenges. As Chief of Staff for the Washington Youth Alliance, she equips young people with organizing and advocacy tools to drive change across the state. Her background informs her interest in the relationship between policy and nonprofit work, particularly how youth can serve as agents of change. With NSLI, she will explore how Nordic governance models integrate environmental stewardship with democratic practice and civic trust.
Caitlin Wassell
BS in Biology–Physiology (Interdisciplinary Honors),
Minor in Global Health, University of Washington ‘28
Caitlin is a public health–oriented scientist studying Biology–Physiology with Interdisciplinary Honors and Global Health at the University of Washington. Her work centers on the intersection of human health, environmental systems, and community wellbeing. She serves as President of UW Peaks and Professors, where she leads initiatives to expand access to outdoor mentorship and build more inclusive, community-centered programming. Her experience spans neuroscience research, clinical and hospital-based care settings, and pharmaceutical clinical operations, reflecting a commitment to connecting scientific inquiry with real-world health systems. She is particularly interested in preventative care and how environmental and social conditions shape long-term health outcomes. Through NSLI, she hopes to explore interdisciplinary leadership approaches to building more resilient and accessible public health systems.
