Anastasia Townshend is a graduate student in the Master of International Public Policy program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She recently graduated with distinction from Wilfrid Laurier University, earning an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

During her final year of undergrad, Anastasia served as an Assistant Director of Events and Education or International Students Overcoming War (ISOW), a student-led initiative dedicated to supporting individuals pursuing an education who are affected by conflict. In this role, she helped coordinate programming and interviewed international women applying for ISOW scholarships. This experience deepened her interest in migration and immigration processes, particularly in how policy decisions shape opportunities for individuals navigating conflict and displacement.

Anastasia’s academic interests also extend to the gendered dimensions of global politics. Through courses such as Women, Gender, and War and Gender and Globalization, she explored how security, conflict, and development are experienced from a gendered perspective. She is particularly interested in the experiences of women and children in conflict-affected areas.

Anastasia aspires to apply the skills and knowledge gained in the MIPP program to work in the field of migration and human security, contributing to policies that address complex global challenges with a focus on gender, equity, and inclusion.