Sigma Iota Rho (SIR)

Who we are

Sigma Iota Rho (SIR) is the premiere honor society for international affairs and it is open to all Hamilton Lugar School undergraduate students. SIR promotes and rewards scholarship and service among students and practitioners of international studies, international affairs, and global studies and fosters integrity and creative performance in the conduct of world affairs. SIR supports HLS activities, hosts events to develop professional skills and networking, and wider global cultural engagement on campus and within the Bloomington area.

Interested in joining Sigma Iota Rho? Applications for the 2025-26 academic year are open! Students can apply for membership through Tuesday, November 11^th, 2025! To stay up-to-date with Sigma Iota Rho and application deadlines, follow them on Instagram @sigma_iota_rho_iu.

Samantha Thurman – Co-President

East Asian Languages & Cultures, Economic Consulting

Samantha Thurman is a senior studying Economic Consulting and East Asian Languages and Cultures. She is a Herbert Presidential Scholar and a Shreve Scholar and is involved in the Chinese Flagship Program. During the summer of 2024, Samantha will be studying abroad in Taiwan furthering her language skills. Looking forward, Samantha hopes to find a career in consulting, focusing on international business.

Ally Mclauglin – Co-President

International Studies

Ally McLaughlin is a senior from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania majoring in International Studies and minoring in French and Geography. She is a Metz scholar, a Meister scholar, and a member of Pi Delta Phi. On campus, she is a student ambassador for the Hamilton Lugar School and for the Office of Admissions, and is also a passionate sports fan. This past summer, Ally studied in London, England and completed a six-week exchange program with the London School of Economics and Political Science. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in the field of international athletics.

Karina Vattasseril – Secretary

International Law & Institutions, Spanish

Karina Vattasseril is a junior from New Jersey double majoring in International Law and Institutions and Spanish and minoring in Norwegian. Karina is an HLS Student Ambassador, a member of Phi Alpha Delta (PAD), and Women in Law. Outside the classroom, you can find Karina in the HLS Global Lounge or watching anything sports-related from tennis to F1.

Zoe Catlin – Treasurer

International Law & Institutions

Zoe Catlin is a senior from Franklin, Indiana majoring in International Law & Institutions with minors in Philosophy and Spanish. Zoe is also completing the Political and Civic Engagement (PACE) certificate and serves as a HLS Peer Mentor. Zoe has completed multiple internships, including a position at the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in London during the summer of 2024. Outside of the classroom, you can find Zoe enjoying hanging out with friends, drawing, knitting, or practicing martial arts as the President of the Hapkido/Self-Defense Club at IU.

Celia Parker – Events Coordinator

Masters of International Affairs

Celia Parker is a Masters of International Affairs Candidate with a focus in Development, Sustainability, and Environment at IU, originally from Chicago, Illinois. Celia recently graduated in May with a B.A in International Studies and a minor in European Studies. Celia has interned for the International Center Indianapolis, working with the State Department’s IVLP Program. She is currently a research assistant for Professor Emma Gilligan in the International Studies Department. Outside of campus, you can find Celia at Morgenstern Books, where she works on weekends and spends most of her time, other than hanging out with her friends or cooking at home.

Hamilton Lugar School
of Global and International Studies

Sigma Iota Rho (SIR)