Manav Desai

From the campaign trail to the courtroom, Manav understands that political change begins with the people closest to it.

As a rising junior at UNC, double majoring in Political Science and Communications with a minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, Manav has built his academic career around a single conviction: that effective rhetoric is the engine of meaningful political change. That belief hasn’t stayed theoretical. Having worked on over 20 campaigns across North Carolina, he knows what grassroots organizing actually looks like on the ground.

Now, he will apply that philosophy as Civic Trust Builder’s Voter Engagement Specialist, helping to bridge the gap between elected officials and the constituents they serve.

At UNC, Manav serves on the board of the Wrongful Convictions Club, where he applies that same advocacy mindset to the intersection of law and justice. This fall, he will bring that perspective abroad, continuing his studies at King’s College London.