Ava Lorelei Deakin is an Editorial Fellow at USC’s Global Policy Institute and a Junior double-majoring in Political Science and Themed Entertainment. She is a published author whose Amazon bestselling book, Tomorrow Begins Now: Teen Heroes Who Faced Down Injustice, received NPR coverage and has been endorsed by an attorney for the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program. As lead plaintiff in Deakin v. OTTA, Ava secured landmark accessibility protections under the Fair Housing Act. She currently serves as President of ScreamSC, cultivating partnerships with industry leaders like Disney and Universal. Ava has completed strategic internships at SKIMS and DeadRinger Brands, and her work spans disability rights advocacy, entertainment industry analysis, and innovative storytelling. A recipient of the Washington Media Scholars Foundation’s Mia Guion Scholarship and USC Dean’s List honoree, Ava is fluent in French and passionate about using media and policy to drive social change.