Aidan Serna was a Research Assistant Intern at the Forum and is a recent graduate of Columbia University’s College of Arts and Sciences, where he earned a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Sustainable Development. His academic work focuses on the economic, military, and cultural consequences of U.S. foreign policy, with particular attention to counter-extremism and non-traditional military engagements. His senior thesis examined the relationship between local public opinion and counterinsurgency effectiveness in Afghanistan, analyzing how local and domestic public sentiment shape operational outcomes abroad. Professionally, Aidan has experience in Congress with Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03) and in the foreign-policy nonprofit space with Network 20/20. He currently serves as a Diversity Lead for the United World Colleges International Program.
