Ashton Basak is a member of the Class of 2027 in the School of Foreign Service majoring in International Political Economy while minoring in Diplomatic Studies and Journalism. Fascinated by the conflict in Cyprus, Ashton's passion for international affairs grew with a particular interest in the interplay of politics and economics in Cypriot reunification efforts. Dr. Abraham Newman’s Proseminar “Global Economic Competitiveness” further cultivated Ashton’s curiosity about the interaction of economics and security in reflecting on the merits of global competition and what it means for a country to be competitive. As a MURF, Ashton now works with Dr. Newman in studying US sanctions and the consequent effects on Russian firms. Outside of being a MURF, Ashton is an Editorial Assistant for the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs and volunteers with the Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program. In his free time, he enjoys playing piano, fencing, and being outside with friends.