Chanel Matsumoto is a junior at Columbia University studying political science and human rights. She has interned with the U.S. Senate and contributes to advocacy efforts supporting the Native Hawaiian community through policy research and outreach. Her academic interests focus on Indigenous sovereignty, nationalism, and the intersection of Indigenous policy and national security in the Indo-Pacific—a perspective shaped by her upbringing in Hawai‘i. She also has a keen interest in U.S.-Japan relations and their influence on regional stability. Outside of academics, Chanel enjoys exploring new coffee shops and running.