Nene Mokonchu

Nene Mokonchu is a junior at Brown University majoring in Political Science on the Pre-Law track. As a 2024-2025 Stone Fellow, her multimedia research examines three pillars that regurgitate wealth inequality and contribute to the erosion of democracy: the concentration of wealth among elites, survivor’s guilt that compels privileged individuals to “snatch the ladder up from under them,” and the rise of anti-intellectualism, which enslaves the masses and prevents reform from advancing beyond academic concepts. Focusing on the connections between elites, systemic dehumanization, and the decline of democratic values, Nene argues that anti-intellectualism is not only crafted by the elites but is also reinforced by those experiencing survivor’s guilt, who recognize their capital is fragile and thus uphold hypocritical systems to maintain their status. Drawing on her experience as a first-generation Cameroonian-American, she connects her family’s history with kleptocratic governments to her research and will conduct interviews with fellow first-generation Africans. This semester, Nene is interning with Blue Haven Initiative, an impact investing firm, and is taking political economy courses that supplement her research. A Division I track athlete and Army ROTC cadet, Nene aspires to make lasting contributions through civil rights law.