Jonathan Andrews was raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan before relocating for his education. He spent four years studying within Michigan State University’s James Madison College, completing both a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and an additional Bachelor of Arts in Russian in 2025. Jonathan continued on to graduate study immediately after his time at MSU, joining the MAERES cohort later that year.
Outside of his classes, Jonathan works for Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies as a Teaching Assistant, supporting courses on international relations and US foreign policy. He has also previously held positions within the MSU JMC Human Rights Lab and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, gaining experience in OSINT investigative strategies and government work.
Jonathan’s primary academic interests are the relationships between former Soviet states, with particular emphasis on military issues, language policies, and nationalism. His undergraduate capstone research evaluated the impact of Latvian laws regarding language and citizenship on their democratic and market-based transitions after becoming independent. He hopes to apply these interests in future work after the conclusion of the MAERES program, either directly within the US government, or with a connected organization.