Cotter McCarthy is a rising senior studying Public Policy with a focus on government, law, and ethics. Through his coursework, Cotter has developed a passion for democracy reform and reducing political inequality. Cotter explored this passion outside of the classroom during an internship last summer with Common Cause, a non-profit organization dedicated to making America’s system of governance more democratic. At Common Cause, he conducted extensive research on voter registration policies, such as Automatic Voter Registration, which bolster political participation among historically underrepresented groups. At Brown, Cotter is an active member of Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE), a student group that serves Rhode Island’s homeless population through direct service and advocacy. In addition, Cotter is an enthusiastic member of Brown Mock Trial, where he serves on the Executive Board. As a Brown in Washington Fellow, Cotter hopes to gain practical experience in policy research and development, which will prepare him for a successful career in public policy and/or government. In his free time, Cotter enjoys listening to Broadway musicals and traveling.