Academic Programs Team

Jeff Pickering is the director of Academic Programs at AEI. Before AEI, he worked for Russell Moore at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, where he hosted the weekly Capitol Conversations podcast. He previously worked in local church ministry and government affairs in Texas. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University.

Walker Wright is the manager of Academic Programs at AEI. Before joining AEI, he was a program manager for Academic & Student Programs with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Prior to that, he spent a decade in logistics, working in both operations and linehaul management. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he teaches international business. Mr. Wright’s academic work has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Economic Affairs, BYU Studies, Faith & Economics, and others. His popular writing has been featured in Law & Liberty, Econlib, and Deseret News. He holds an MA in government from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA and BBA from the University of North Texas.

Katja Liebmann is the project manager of Academic Programs at AEI, having previously interned at the German Marshall Fund and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. Ms. Liebmann also worked as an event organizer for At Your Service in London. During the London 2012 Summer Olympics, she was responsible for organizing and directing daily operations. Ms. Liebmann has a BA in psychology from George Mason University.

Olivia Fiebing is an Academic Programs assistant at AEI. She is an alumna of the AEI Collegiate Network and Summer Honors Program. Ms. Fiebing received a BA in political science from Hope College, where she participated in the Washington Honors Semester and captained the Women’s Volleyball team.

Cate Gangemi is an Academic Programs associate at AEI. She is an alumna of the AEI Executive Council and Summer Honors programs and the Hertog Political Studies Program. Ms. Gangemi received a BA in political science from Clemson University, where she was a Lyceum Scholar.

Connor Johnson is an Academic Programs assistant at AEI. He graduated magna cum laude and with highest honors in political science from Vanderbilt University. While an undergraduate, Connor is proud to have participated in the AEI Collegiate Network and the Summer Honors Program. 

Dominick Mellusi is an Academic Programs associate at AEI. Before joining AEI, he was an operations coordinator for Academic & Student Programs with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in history at George Mason University and is a 2019 graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University. As an undergraduate he was a campus coordinator for Students For Liberty.

Riley Millburne is an Academic Programs assistant at AEI. She is a 2024 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where she studied political science. As an undergraduate, Riley participated in the Washington Semester Program. She is an alumna of AEI’s 2024 Winter Seminars.

Ethan Wilmot
Assistant, Academic Programs
Email: [email protected]