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Capstones - Winter 2026

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Policy Briefs in the topic

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Capstones in the topic

SCALE - STEM and Civic Access for Language Equity

By

Saharsh Shivshankar

On

May 4, 2026

This policy brief will discuss how language continues to impact civic and STEM participation in the United States, and the key ways to promote linguistic inclusion with policy

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Examining US Supply-Chain Resilience in the Critical Minerals Sector

By

Arrington Short

On

May 4, 2026

This brief concludes in favor of comprehensive public-private partnership and increased cooperation with mineral-rich African nations as a means of securing supply chain resiliency and inhibiting Chinese dominance.

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Invisible in Plain Sight: Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Immigrant and Diaspora Communities

By

Nara Morais

On

May 4, 2026

This policy brief examines the persistence of gender-based violence (GBV) within immigrant and diaspora communities in the United States, with a particular focus on female genital mutilation (FGM) as an overlooked policy blind spot.

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Expanding Mental Health Access In Public Schools

By

Saismaran Vummadi

On

May 4, 2026

This policy brief examines the growing youth mental health crisis in the United States and the critical role schools play in providing accessible support. With rising rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress among students, many schools remain under-resourced and lack sufficient mental health professionals.

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Building Care Beyond the Clinic: Integrating Connection Into Healthy Aging

By

Gemma Wang

On

May 4, 2026

This brief highlights the crucial neglect of social connection as a key facet of successful aging and proposes the deliberate reallocation of Medicare funding to prioritize interaction as a clinical health priority.

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Health as a Human Right: Expanding Insurance Coverage to Advance Equity and Protect Immigrant Communities in the United States

By

Laís Ramirez Santoro

On

May 4, 2026

This brief examines disparities in health insurance coverage — especially among immigrant populations — and argues for expanded coverage as a strategy to reduce poverty, improve access to care, and promote health equity nationwide.

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Protecting Students, Promoting Justice: Addressing the School-to-Prison

By

Estrella Vazquez

On

May 4, 2026

This policy brief proposes the Student Justiceand Support Act, a comprehensive legislative initiative aimed at reducing the school-to-prison pipeline. The bill addresses the disproportionate disciplinary practices that push students, particularly students of color, students with disabilities, and low-income students, out of schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

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The Racial Implications of Private Prisons

By

Aditi Senapati

On

May 4, 2026

This brief also explores three policy interventions, as demonstrated by the state of New Jersey, in ending the for-profit prison system: ending contracts with for-profit prisons through both state and federal legislation, race-blind charging and jury reform, and ending cash bail in favor of evidence-based pretrial release.

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Western Foreign Policy, Islamophobia, and Reduced Effectiveness of Counterterrorism: A Feedback Loop that Must Change

By

Prinsha Chanda

On

May 3, 2026

To improve the effectiveness of counterterrorism and intervention, the United States must amend its foreign policy methods, cease the stereotypical representation of Islam, and work with Muslim communities.

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Menstrual Equity

By

Destiny Sumani

On

May 3, 2026

This policy brief examines menstrual inequity as a structural barrier to educational access and evaluates policy approaches to address it.

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Addressing Educational Inequity Through School-Based Support for Children’s Basic Needs

By

Isabella Villa Urrego

On

May 3, 2026

This policy brief contends that food insecurity, housing instability, and limited access to healthcare are the key structural impediments to academic performance.

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An Educational Path to Financial Equality and Its Social Mobility

By

Alvina Lin

On

April 14, 2026

Financial literacy is not mere knowledge, but an opportunity for individuals to avoid economic consequences through understanding the financial system and decision making. On a broader scale, quality financial literacy also signifies protection for individual access to long-term economic security and equality.

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The Ontological Crisis in Suicide Prevention: Transcending Epistemological Silence through a Narrative Evidence Model

By

Madison Zeng

On

April 14, 2026

Current suicide prevention in the U.S. relies on checklist-based assessments that prioritize legal liability over patient experience, resulting in a staggering 0.01% predictive accuracy for suicide mortality. To effectively address the national crisis, the system must shift from these "silencing" clinical tools toward a human-centered model that values personal narrative and subjective distress.

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Multilingual Cancer Literacy for Immigrant Communities

By

Keerthi Eran

On

April 14, 2026

This brief analyzes the systemic causes and consequences of linguistic inequities in cancer care and evaluates existing policy frameworks. It proposes three key policy solutions: standardized multilingual cancer screening outreach protocols, expanded professional medical interpreter services in healthcare settings, and investment in community-based multilingual cancer literacy programs.

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AI Assisted Utilization in U.S. Health Insurance: Defining Human Review

By

Audrey Huang

On

April 14, 2026

This brief examines AI-assisted utilization review in U.S. health insurance, focusing on prior authorization determinations and claims denials.

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Coverage Gaps In Young Adults

By

Eesha Chandolu

On

April 14, 2026

This policy brief examines the structural causes of coverage instability among young adults, including administrative enrollment barriers, income fluctuations, and employment patterns that limit access to employer-sponsored insurance.

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Solving the California Literacy Crisis

By

Elizabeth Foster

On

April 14, 2026

Despite significant investments in literacy reforms, 44% of California’s 11th graders still fail to meet basic reading standards. These initiatives will continue to fall short without standardized implementation and strict accountability across all school districts.

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The Invisible Workload of Grief: Student Bereavement Administrative Burdens

By

Elizabeth Wang

On

April 14, 2026

This policy brief examines the “invisible workload of grief” faced by college students after the sudden loss of a parent, focusing on the administrative and academic burdens that arise alongside emotional distress. Bereaved students often must navigate financial aid changes, housing adjustments, documentation requirements, and academic deadlines during periods of acute grief, creating barriers to academic success.

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Bridging the Digital Divide: Addressing the Causes, Impacts, and Policy Strategies for Senior Digital Inclusion

By

Neil Devaraj

On

April 7, 2026

This brief examines the underlying causes of the digital divide among seniors, its impact on society, and strategies to address digital exclusion.

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Expanding the Inflation Reduction Act to Reduce Pharmaceutical Spending

By

Arjun Anugole

On

April 7, 2026

This brief explores the current US standards for setting prescription drug prices and its implications along with plausible options to expand the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce pharmaceutical spending.

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Artificial Intelligence in Child Protection Case Assessments

By

Amna Cesic

On

April 7, 2026

This policy brief will cover the use of AI in child protection services, the risks it poses to family integrity and civil rights, and the need for clear policy standards to ensure accountability and fairness.

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Unequal Education in the United States

By

Rustin Motakef

On

April 3, 2026

This policy brief examines unequal education in the United States and the structural factors that contribute to disparities in school funding and resources. It proposes policy solutions such as equity-based funding reform, expanded federal support for high-need districts, and teacher incentive programs to help create a more equitable education system.

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