AEASP 2025 Scholar Andrew Okon

Andrew "Drew" Okon was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is a graduating senior at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Mathematics and Economics. Passionate about policy research and data analysis, Drew has participated in the NC Summer Policy Institute, where he developed strategies for systemic policy change, and is a Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (MURAP) Scholar. Through MURAP, he conducted research analyzing nutrient inequality through a political economy lens. He is currently working with the North Carolina National Security Research Opportunity under the Department of Defense to strategize economic development to Western Carolina.

He is an avid runner and a member of the UNCA track team, enjoys thrifting, and is an frequent collector of antiques. After graduation, he will pursue a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Economics at UNC, aiming to shape policies that address economic and social inequities.