Fast Five: Apolline Ancel ‘26GS Shares Her Interdisciplinary Journey from Politics to Democracy in the Digital Age

While many would say a bachelor’s degree in one country would be enough work for a lifetime, Apolline Ancel ‘26GS  decided to pursue a dual degree across two continents through Columbia’s Dual BA with Science Po in France. As a political science major from Strasburg, France, Ancel knew that her international background would serve as the foundation for her interdisciplinary approach to research, ultimately leading her to take classes through Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and produce original research about how technology can aid democracy in the modern day.

How has the program shaped your academic interests and/or long-term goals?:

Studying in two countries and in two universities that have different ways of learning, of expectations, and of thought process enabled me to shape my academic interests and long-term goals.

At Sciences Po, I flourished as a generalist. I loved going from constitutional law to comparative politics to history and sociology. It taught me that my curiosity thrives at the intersection of disciplines, pushing me toward academic and professional paths that are inherently multidisciplinary.

At Columbia, I pursued this curiosity through the core curriculum. But Columbia is also a university of research, and this aspect taught me so much. I learned that I was passionate about finding solutions where we can design or enforce tech to strengthen our democracies. Building on that initial interest, I sought out and bargained to go into SIPA courses, developed research projects, and attended conferences to deepen my focus. Once I found my niche, Columbia’s resources—faculty, fellowships, and peers—aligned to fully immerse me in the field.

Both of these extremely rigorous and intellectual environments thus shaped my long-term goals to work in public policies and within communities to drive meaningful changes in terms of civic engagement and tech accountability.

What's been your favorite class so far?:

At Columbia, I had the chance to take the SIPA course “Global Media: Policy and Innovation.” It is co-taught by Anya Schiffrin, faculty co-director of the Technology Policy and Innovation concentration at SIPA and Maria Ressa, an awarded journalist for her independent media Rappler in the Philippines and Nobel Laureate. Although it was hard not to have impostor syndrome as this class was filled with outstanding master’s students, I learned so much. The professors gave us a landscape of both the problems and concrete solutions to make tech giants more accountable and work for the resilience of our democracies. It was a true honor to be able to research for this 25-people class and contribute from the French and European perspectives I learned at Sciences Po.

How do you balance your academic, social, and personal commitments at Columbia?:

Balancing academic, social, and personal commitments at Columbia has not always been easy for me. The academic intensity can be demanding, the NYC loneliness can creep in, and I’ve learned that balance is something I build intentionally rather than something that comes naturally. What has helped most is cultivating a few deep friendships on campus: I have a few study buddies with whom I share long hours of work, but also real breaks. We eat together in the dining halls to pause, go to the gym, and create small moments of rest that make the workload more sustainable.

Joining the student council also played an important role in helping me find balance. Having a community to come back to every Tuesday night, and working together to organize events, gave structure and meaning to my week beyond academics.

Finally, spending time with GS and Dual BA students has been incredibly grounding. Many of us come from nontraditional paths, are only here for two years, and arrive with the maturity of having already studied elsewhere while constantly adapting to a new system. Being surrounded by people who share that experience makes it easier to feel understood; and that, more than anything, has helped me find balance at Columbia.

What accomplishment(s) during your time in the program are you most proud of?:

Last year, I was immensely proud to have been elected the International Students Representative by the GS students and be able to sit on the student council! This year, I am so proud to have been able to organize events bringing sometimes 200+ students to taste the food of the many different cultures and countries of this GS community. Organizing these events has been an honor, and I am grateful for the trust the GS community places in me. I believe that sharing our different food cultures is one of the best ways to find community and flourish from our differences.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your background, something you're passionate about, your favorite spot in NYC, a fun fact about yourself? :

To get out of campus but still be productive, you can usually find me studying at the Natural History Museum library (it’s free!) or in one of the florist cafés along 87th Street.