Ana is originally from Tbilisi, Georgia, and first came to the United States to pursue a professional ballet career. After several successful years in the dance field, Ana received a Bachelor’s degree at Birmingham-Southern College, double-majoring in Political Science and Dance, and graduated with honors in both disciplines. At Georgetown, in addition to MAERES, Ana is working towards a certificate in International Business Diplomacy and focuses on exploring how soft power capabilities and sustainable development can support conflict resolution processes in Eurasia. Previously, she worked for the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations and served as a Young Ambassador of Georgia to the United States, using public diplomacy, arts, and culture to build stronger ties between the two countries. Ana is currently a graduate program assistant at Georgetown’s Institute for Women, Peace, and Security,ย working on theย Onward for Afghan Women Initiative and the impact of war in Ukraine on women and girls.