Eleanor Holtzapple

Eleanor is a Croatian-American student at Sciences Po, currently pursuing a master’s degree in Economic Law. She completed her undergraduate studies in 2023 at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), earning a BA in Political Science.

Born in the United States, Eleanor spent her childhood moving between Croatia, Belgium, France, and Benin. Growing up in such an international environment fostered her passion for global perspectives, which she pursued through her studies at NYUAD. During her time there, she engaged in academic experiences across multiple countries, completing study-away programs in England and Italy, as well as fieldwork in Uganda. Her undergraduate dissertation examined the impact of political cleavages and propaganda on voter turnout in the United States. In addition to her academic work, she was deeply involved in student leadership, serving as class president and leading REACH, a peer-to-peer counseling initiative, as well as ADvocacy, a community service program supporting migrant workers in the UAE.

After graduating in 2023, Eleanor moved to the Balkans, where she worked at the Post-Conflict Research Center in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. There, she focused on research related to women's rights organizations in the region and led the creation of the organization's newsletter. Her experiences in Bosnia, along with her academic background, inspired her to pursue a master’s in law at Sciences Po. She hopes to build expertise in international and comparative law, with the long-term goal of working in cross-border legal frameworks particularly in political peacebuilding through law.

At Sciences Po, beyond her studies in Legal Change, Eleanor enjoys playing frisbee and volleyball and volunteers with Sciences Po Refugee Help.