Anna O'Donnell

Since the pivotal 2016 election, Anna has held a deep passion for American politics and for preserving democracy against extremism. After growing up in the Chicagoland area - where she channeled her enthusiasm for social justice and civic engagement into multiple volunteer positions across the city -Anna took her interest in politics and zeal for research and writing to Boston College to pursue a BA in Political Science. At Boston College, Anna held leadership roles within the Op-Ed section of The Gavel, the university's progressive newspaper, writing extensively on national politics, foreign policy, the 2024 Presidential election, and on-campus developments. Looking to expand her research skills, she also served as a Research Assistant and Fellow with the Political Science Department's Political Violence Project. Working on this undergraduate research team led by Professor Peter Krause, she focused heavily on the Middle East and global political insurgencies. Taking inspiration from this work and Professor Krause's Arab-Israeli Conflict course, Anna authored an extensive academic article comparing the Anglo-Israeli and American-Israeli alliances to explore the unique depth of the latter. Her piece, "What Makes an Alliance Devoted?", was subsequently published in Colloquium: The Political Science Journal of Boston College, reflecting her sharp interest in international relations theory and the intersection of U.S. foreign policy and domestic public opinion. Furthering her professional development during her undergraduate career, Anna interned virtually with The Progressive Magazine, served in Senator Ed Markey’s Boston office, and worked as a Public Information Intern with the United Nations News Centre in New York City, where she reported on UN reports and current events. Most recently, she served as a Student Fellow for Representative Seth Moulton's political team, supporting donor prospecting and campaign efforts. Working with the campaign deepened her commitment to guiding the Democratic Party into a new era of pragmatic leadership - an exact focus and energy she is eager to bring to her role at Third Way.