About Me

I am a senior at Northwestern University studying Russias relationship with the EU, UK, and US, sanctions policy, and the intersection of international law and global strategy. At the moment I am working on an honors thesis focusing on executive coercion of higher education in Russia, Hungary, and Türkiye under Professor Jordan Gans-Morse.

Throughout my undergraduate studies I have authored papers on topics ranging from UK fiscal policy and US sanctions policy, to the ethics of targeted killings and Russia’s post-Soviet shifting power structures. You can see some of my essays here.

I recently completed a law clerkship at Saper Law, a Chicago IP and entertainment law firm, where I assisted with motions, case research, and federal court proceedings. I am now interning with Partner Community Capital, a CDFI in the Appalachian region, where I am building a quantitative model using financial, physical, and human metrics to measure and support community resilience.

Outside of academics, I love taking aerial photography (have a look at my gallery), playing the saxophone and bike riding.

You can reach me at claytonmichaels1@gmail.com