Program: Széll Kálmán Public Policy Fellowship
Year: 2026 Summer
Host Institution: International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Research Focus: Economics and U.S. Foreign Policy
Quote: “I have a strong interest in campaign strategy and believe politics should feel more understandable and approachable for everyday people. In the long term, I hope to contribute to projects that help people engage with public life in a healthier and more constructive way. Ultimately, I hope my work will leave behind something useful and meaningful for others.”
Read her introduction here: hungaryfoundation.org
Laura Mészáros is pursuing her law degree at Széchenyi István University in Győr, Hungary. Her academic interests began to take shape during her years at Krúdy Gyula Secondary School, where she became fascinated by history, international relations, sociology, psychology, and politics. She believes that history is one of the most valuable disciplines because it not only helps societies understand the present but also offers insight into future political and social developments. Looking back, she considers her high school environment especially formative: the coexistence of vocational and academic education within the same institution reflected the duality that would later define many of her own interests and experiences.
Alongside her legal studies, Laura entered the international fashion industry as a high fashion model, working in cities including Shanghai, Hong Kong, Athens, Istanbul, and Budapest. Through international campaigns and creative productions, she gained firsthand experience in multicultural environments and had the opportunity to observe the inner workings of marketing, public relations, branding, and production processes behind the scenes. While the fashion and film industries initially meant a creative outlet, these experiences also deepened her awareness of labor rights and human rights issues within global industries.
IFES envisions a world where people are free, societies are democratic, and elections are fair. They collaborate with civil society, public institutions, and the private sector to build resilient democracies that deliver for everyone. As a global leader in the promotion and protection of democracy, their technical assistance and applied research develop trusted electoral bodies capable of conducting credible elections; effective and accountable governing stakeholders; civic and political processes in which all people can safely and equally participate; and innovative ways in which technology and data can positively serve elections and democracy.