Zachary Burden is a sophomore at Boston College and a double major in Political Science and Economics. He is interested in the political and economic forces that shape everyday life and in researching public policy solutions to mitigate poverty and economic inequality.

At Boston College, Zachary serves as Co-Head of the Opinions section of The Gavel and as a Greeting Captain for the Student Admission Program. He became interested in African politics through his coursework and a university-sponsored trip to South Africa. During the trip, he and his peers visited Soweto and Cape Town, where they met with former members of the liberation struggle, individuals who experienced displacement and discrimination under apartheid, and local residents working to address the challenges South Africa faces today.

In his spare time, Zachary enjoys reading, hiking, and practicing latte art.