2014-2015 Luce Scholar

Centre for Strategic and International Studies Department of Economics Jakarta, INDONESIA



Audrey Stienon is a native New Yorker who grew up in a Belgian-American household. Her yearly visits to family in Europe sparked her fascination with understanding the world at large, and prompted her to study international relations in college. She has pursued study-abroad opportunities in diverse settings, including China, Crete, Argentina, Russia, Ecuador and Costa Rica. In 2014, Audrey graduated from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College with a double major in Political Science and Economics, and with a minor in Public Policy. She joined the Hunter College Model United Nations Team in 2011, and after her first semester, became the teacher’s assistant for the requisite course for all team members, and Head Delegate of the team during all competitions.

Having grown up with a younger sister who has Rett Syndrome, a severe developmental disorder, Audrey has long been involved in local awareness campaigns for Rett Syndrome and is interested in understanding the differences between individuals and groups in order to learn how best to respect them and accommodate their needs. More recently, she brought that experience to her academic work.

In the summer of 2013, Audrey worked as an intern at the International Disability Alliance, a disability-rights advocacy organization at the UN, and recently completed a public policy capstone thesis analyzing the ways in which New York State long-term care policies could be used to promote social integration for people with disabilities. While much of her work thus far has centered around the promotion of rights for people with disabilities, Audrey hopes to expand on the lessons she learned about the barriers facing this group, and pursue a career in which she can promote the integration into society of a range of traditionally marginalized groups around the world.

The 2014-2015 Luce Scholar placement for Audrey Stienon is at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta, where she will work to support the research and programming of the Economics Department.  Established in 1971, CSIS is an independent, non-profit organization focusing on policy-oriented studies on domestic and international issues. The mission of CSIS is to contribute to improved policy making through policy-oriented research, dialogue, and public debate, based on the belief that long-term planning and vision for Indonesia and the region must be based on an in-depth understanding of economic, political and social issues including regional and international developments. Within the Economics Department, the overall objective of their policy-oriented studies is to support the development of a sustainable economy in Indonesia – characterized by rapid, shared, participatory and environmentally friendly growth, the development of an open and competitive economic system, and the promotion of social justice, equity and equality for the society.