CCL Ambassadors

Major: Psychology

Hello everyone! My name is Avery Bullock and I'm a senior at Will Rice studying Psychology. I first became involved with the CCL as an ASB participant my freshman year in a trip focused on immigration and education. This trip was eye-opening for me as I learned about how to ethically engage with communities and interact in a mutually beneficial way, and it ignited a passion for immigration and social justice issues in general. I also led an ASB trip my sophomore year on the effects of the criminalization of immigration on undocumented immigrants, and even though the trip itself was cancelled to due COVID-19, I'm very grateful for the opportunity to have learned so much and engaged with my ASB group and our community partners. I also participated (remotely) in LRME with a non-profit called One Degree, and this was also a life changing experience as it helped me grow immensely both personally and professionally. The opportunities the CCL has provided me have been the most impactful experiences I've had at Rice, and I'm so excited to help other students on their own CCL journeys!

Outside of class and the CCL, I also love to crochet and dance on the Rice Owls Dance Team. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, I'd love to chat!

Major: Political Science, Spanish and Portuguese Studies

Hello! I am Karina Cavazos, a rising senior from Martel College studying Political Science and Spanish and Portuguese Studies. I was first welcomed into the Center for Civic Leadership as a freshman participant in Urban Immersion. The community engagement and reflection aspects of my experience led me to become a UI site leader the following summer. Last fall, I was part of a Houston Action Research Team project, where I had the opportunity to study the intersection of the criminal justice, education and immigration systems. In my last year at Rice, I hope to use these experiences to connect the student body to CLL opportunities!

Major: History

Hey y'all! My name is Kamil Cook and I'm a rising senior at Brown College studying history. I'm originally from Somerset, Kentucky (a small and beautiful town in Southeastern Kentucky) but I've always had family in Houston so Houston is kind of like a second home to me. Some of my best college memories have (thus far) come from the Center for Civic Leadership. I participated in Urban Immersion before officially matriculating at Rice, I joined an Alternative Spring Break focusing on water justice in New Mexico and West Texas (which was an absolutely incredible experience--please ask me about it lol), I then hosted an Alternative Spring Break focusing on access to healthcare in Appalachia, I've participated in LRME, and I've studied the jail-to-deportation pipeline in Houston through a grant from the Owl Vision Grant program. All of these experiences have taught me about ethical engagement with communities I'm not a part of, social justice, and critical reflection. It's not an understatement to say that the CCL has been incredibly helpful (and patient) with helping me find opportunities to study what I want.

Outside of the CCL, I enjoy learning about Palestine (I'm Palestinian), Appalachia, and anything history or cultural geography related. Also, I'm pretty involved at Brown, I'm conducting research with the history department, and I'm living off campus so if you have any questions about any of that (or just wanna talk) I love meeting new people and learning from others!

Major: Art History, VADA

Hey - I'm Sumin! I'm a senior studying Art History and Visual Art at Sid Richardson College. I'm passionate about equity and education in arts spaces and the intersection of art, activism, and community organizing. I first engaged with the CCL before my freshman year through Urban Immersion (now known as Civic Owlets), and since then I've also participated in Alternative Spring Break, the Leadership Mentorship Rice Experience, and the CCL Ambassadors Program. In my free time, you can probably find me reading in Hermann Park, hanging out at Coffeehouse, or trying out new restaurants in Houston's Chinatown. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about the CCL, and I hope to see you around campus!

Major: Neuroscience

Hi everyone! My name is Sam Lowe and I’m a junior at Jones studying Neuroscience. I’m originally from Southlake, Texas (near Dallas), but my time with the CCL has made me passionate about being involved in the Houston community! My first experiential learning program, Urban Immersion, provided me with a meaningful introduction into environmental justice and health equity in Houston and has shaped my career path. This past year, I led an Alternative Spring Break program (ASB) focused on the disparities in COVID-19 contraction and mortality amongst minority populations in the Greater Houston area. This experience sparked my interest in health policy and led to my involvement in another CCL program, the Houston Policy Challenge. Overall, CCL classes and programs have inspired me to pursue an MD/MPH in the hopes of eventually working for the CDC.

Outside of the CCL, I work for the Baker Institute as a Science and Technology Policy intern, volunteer with Camp Kesem, and make round-the-clock visits to Chaus (anytime is a good time for coffee). Feel free to reach out to me with questions, I’m always excited to talk about CCL programming!

Major: Social Policy Analysis

Minor: Environmental Studies & Politics, Law, and Social Thought, Certificate in Civic Leadership

Hi hi! My name is Maria Alejandra Mora, and I am a junior from Sid majoring in Social Policy Analysis; double minoring in Environmental Studies and Politics, Law, and Social thought; and pursuing the Certificate in Civic Leadership. I am very passionate about human rights, especially immigrant rights, and the inseparability of environmental justice with social justice. I absolutely love looking at policy through the lens of social determinants, issue intersectionality, and community voices. I also love plants, piercings, dyeing/cutting my poor hair, Elton John, the idea of domesticating a Rice squirrel, and learning random facts.

My involvement with the CCL began when I took POLI 260: Advocating for Ideas to Change the World, where I was exposed to lobbying and policy work for the first time. I loved my experience with this class, so I took LEAD 340. From there I participated in the Leadership Rice Mentorship Experience (LRME). In our cohort groups, I made two of the best friends I have at Rice, and we went on to apply for the CCL's Owl Vision Grant. With this grant, we did research with the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) and created an internship for 10 high school youth with curriculum centered around the jail to deportation pipeline in Harris County. Later on, my team and I went on to win the Houston Policy Challenge (HPC) for an environmental justice proposal addressing service inequities, and I am now coordinating next year's challenge!

The people I have met in the CCL are the reason why I have loved every minute of their programs and opportunities. The staff is incredibly supportive, and the students are so nice and passionate about the things that they do. I have learned so much, and I cannot imagine my time at Rice without the CCL in it. I love meeting new people and answering any questions, so please feel free to reach out at any time!