Kiara Yllescas is a student at the Balsillie Student of International Affairs in the Master of International Public Policy. Kiara graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2021 with a BA in Communications and English, specializing in Digital Media and minoring in Spanish.

At Wilfrid Laurier University, Kiara actively engaged in the campus community by participating in climate justice research and contributing to campaigns with LSPIRG and Climate Justice Laurier. Additionally, she initiated an independent study on Digital Environmentalism under the guidance of Dr. Hunsinger from the Communication & Internet Studies department, further integrating her academic pursuits with her advocacy work.

During her time as a Master’s student at Parsons School of Design (SDM), Kiara cultivated an interest regarding regulatory practices in business. During this time, she also gained valuable experience in learning about management and organizational strategy, collaborating with leading-edge partners in New York nonprofit, and public sectors, as well as working alongside industry-leading faculty.

Her interest ultimately led her to explore laws, policies, and governance to support her research, which influenced her decision to join the MIPP program, where she could address complex global issues.

With a focus on deliberative democracy, deliberative polling, climate justice, and sustainability, Kiara envisions that her academic and professional journey will equip her to engage in the complexities of environmental and governance issues, as well as actively contribute to the development of innovative and effective solutions for the pressing challenges related to public policy, both at the local and global levels.