— Maria Thornton —
Maria Thornton is currently a graduate student at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in New York City. At SIPA, she is studying International Security Policy with a specific focus on cybersecurity policy. Maria is specifically interested in the intersection of violent extremism, radicalization and cybersecurity/responsible tech policy. Maria became very interested in security policy after spending two years working hands-on with the refugee crisis as an asylum officer focused on Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Eritrea.