Public service and policy areas of interest:

I am especially interested in public service and policy surrounding urban design, including transportation, housing, and infrastructure policy development.

Future education and career goals:

I am planning to eventually study for my master's degree in urban planning (MURP) or political economy and gain work experience in those areas. The dream job is eventually to work in journalism--maybe NPR--and amplify stories of success in community advocacy and change!

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

During her time at university, I have written about politics and current events for the independent news outlet Morocco World News in Rabat and interned at anti-human trafficking research nonprofit Stop the Traffik. On campus, I write for university newspaper The Mercury and compete with the Model United Nations team and the women’s cross country team. In Dallas, I spent a semester working as a legal intern with the Immigration Department at the International Rescue Committee, working with individuals and families through the process of applying for green cards or family reunification. I also spent a year tutoring at local after-school program Heart House in Dallas. In spring 2020, I interned in the Global Economics departments at The Brookings Institution as a Bill Archer Fellow.”

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.:

"I am a Eugene McDermott Scholar at UTDallas and a National Merit Scholar. In spring 2020, I was a Bill Archer Fellow in a program for students from UT System universities to intern in Washington, D.C. Additionally, (if this is applicable) I have received several awards for my writing: Best New Writer for my university’s newspaper my freshman year, as well as the Division 1 Breaking News award, Robert Bone Memorial Creative Writing Award, and, for cross country, the ASC Conference Championship Award for Sportsmanship."

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

"I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and love being outside in the state and national parks (Ohio is beautiful!). In my free time, I enjoy time with friends, board games, and taking on craft projects, like brewing kombucha."

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

"I hope to learn especially from community leaders in different fields about real-life challenges they face and how best to pursue justice through policy. I especially want to learn about public transportation, housing policy, and how to address barriers to equitable change (for example, a group of suburban homeowners protesting a public transportation stop in their neighborhood). "

Public service and policy areas of interest:

While there are many areas of public service and public policy that interest me, the areas that interest me the most include environmental policy and economic and social sustainability. While both areas are very broad, I’m most interested in the role these policies play at the local, state and federal levels.

Future education and career goals:

In May 2021 I will be graduating with a bachelor of science in public service and public policy, a minor in economics and a certificate in socio-legal studies. After graduation, my hope is to continue my studies and pursue a master’s in public administration where I will be able to further my knowledge and skills for the benefit of my community. Ultimately, I hope to obtain an administrative position within the public sector so that I have the ability to implement and recommend policies that are not only beneficial, but just and equitable in nature.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

This past year I was selected to serve as a 2019-2020 Newman Fellow. The fellowship is a one-year experience that provides students with training and resources to nurture their passions and help them develop strategies for social change, particularly within the public service sector. In addition to the fellowship, I currently intern for the City of Buckeye as a Census Intern. This internship has enabled me to not only apply the skills and knowledge I have gathered thus far, but to also serve my immediate community by engaging them in a crucial effort that will help fund many essential community programs such as public safety, healthcare and education. Within my role as an intern I have had the opportunity to network and gain a first-hand perspective of the policy process at the local level. During the past couple of years, I have volunteered at my congregation as both a teacher and youth leader. I also currently volunteer as a member of my city’s Complete Count Committee whose purpose is to advocate and create awareness for the upcoming 2020 Census. Within my role as a member of this committee, I have caravanned to several neighborhoods within my community to speak to families about the benefits and impacts the census has on both our state and city.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.:

"Unlike most students, my post-secondary journey began at Glendale Community College (GCC). During my time at GCC I was presented with the Chancellors Civic Leadership Medallion, 2018-2019 Honors Student of the Year Award and was chosen to be the student speaker at my commencement ceremony. In addition, prior to graduating and transferring to ASU, I was selected for the All-AZ Academic Team Scholarship Award through the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, which covers base tuition for my undergraduate studies. Since the start of my first ASU semester this past fall, I have engaged in many opportunities that would aid and further develop my knowledge, skills and capacities. Last semester I applied and was accepted into a rigorous research program through the Barrett Honors College where I researched Sustainable Energy Policy in the U.S. My job as a qualitative researcher was to study the source of this policy and the effects it would have on municipalities and their constituents. In addition to this research project, I am also in the midst of pursuing my own thesis project which aims to evaluate the political framework of municipal Green New Deals. Through this thesis paper, I hope to unravel both the challenges and benefits of this radical piece of legislation and ultimately spotlight the function and impacts of municipal efforts in respect to this proposal. "

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, and moved to Arizona in 2015. I am a first-generation college student and two words I would use to best describe myself are outgoing and optimistic.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

Throughout my time in the JSI program I would like to develop and further hone my leadership, communication and critical thinking skills. I believe that in further fostering these skills, I will become a more effective change agent and I will also gain the confidence needed to immerse myself in the sphere of public policy. Although the format of the program will be slightly different, I look forward to learning alongside peers who share distinct interests and backgrounds. I’m certain this diversity will enrich my overall experience and education during my time as a PPIA fellow.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

Carla's public service and policy areas of interest are reproductive and racial justice as it relates to the Latino immigrant community in the United States. She aims to address health disparities along race and class and improve access to healthcare for families of immigrant backgrounds. Overall, Carla seeks to expand opportunity and access for historically underrepresented communities.

Future education and career goals:

Carla hopes to pursue her Master's in Public Administration with a focus on Health Policy to learn how to best address health disparities disproportionately affecting Latinos in the United States. She wishes to pursue a career dedicated to empowering marginalized communities through civic engagement, public policy, and elected office.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

Carla has been had internships and work experience with the City of Tempe, a statewide Attorney General campaign, NextGen America, served as a Senate Page at the Arizona State Senate, EMILY's List, a State Legislative campaign, and most recently at the Arizona Center for Empowerment (ACE). On-campus, she has been involved in the Sun Devil Marching Band, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society, Undergraduate Student Government, University Housing as a Residential Assistant, and served as President of Planned Parenthood Generation Action at ASU.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.:

"Throughout her college career, At ASU, Carla has been a Lincoln Scholar, a Spirit of Service Scholar, a Capitol Scholar, received the Director's Scholarship from the School of Politics & Global Studies, nominated twice as the Most Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader, and is a Congressman Pastor Civic Leadership Medallion recipient. Nationwide, Carla has been recognized as the 2019 Planned Parenthood Invencible Youth of the Year for her student advocacy and campus organizing around menstrual equity at ASU. She has also been honored as a 2020 Harry S. Truman Scholarship finalist,, which is the most prestigious scholarships for undergraduates pursuing careers in public service. Finally, Carla is currently pursuing an undergraduate honors thesis focused on cultural perceptions on contraception for young Mexican-American women. For her research endeavors, Carla has been honored with the Quesada Honors Research Award and Norton-Ramsey Undergraduate Research Scholarship to aid in her research."

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

Carla is a proud Arizona native and avid reader. When she's not at school or working, she is usually expressing herself creatively. She likes to play guitar, paint, crotchet, and watch Gilmore Girls.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

As a first-generation American, Carla is extremely interested in learning how to seriously pursue graduate school to help support her in her future career. She is particularly interested in learning about the graduate school application process and learning quantitative skills through her coursework.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

I am interested in areas of social policy, specifically issues surrounding class and gender. I am extremely interested in analyzing how these two characteristics overlap and impact the phenomenon of sexual and domestic violence in the United States. I also have a broader interest in each area relating to issues such as reproductive freedom, affordable housing, and healthcare.

Future education and career goals:

As a first-generation college student, getting the chance to attend undergrad has been a feat in itself. Now, I am interested in pursuing further education and attending graduate school for a master's degree. I won't lie: I don't have a solid plan or ten-year road map like some of my peers, but I have a strong drive to continue my education so I can best help the communities I love. As of now, I am considering attending graduate school for public policy. I am looking to learn as much as I can before entering into a career in public service or non-profit work that would allow me to fight gender and class injustices.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

I currently serve as the Communications and Social Media Coordinator for the South Carolina House Democratic Caucus where I oversee the organization's social media messaging. I am also the Station Manager of WUSC, the University of South Carolina's student-run radio station, of which I am the host of The Feminine Musique, a show dedicated entirely to music from female and femme artists. I previously worked as an Orientation Leader with my university's Office of New Student Orientation and as Communications Director for the College Democrats of South Carolina, our state chapter of the College Democrats of America. I am a volunteer with UofSC's CECEY program which provides campus tours and engagement to students of local Title I elementary schools to peak their interest in pursuing higher education, and I've led multiple voter registration drives through my work with my school's Leadership and Service Center. I have also recently helped organize efforts to fundraise for organizations like Harvest Hope, a local food bank, and Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.:

During my time at the University of South Carolina, I have been awarded both the Dean's Scholarship and Presidential Scholarship for my academic achievements each year. Similarly, my academic work has awarded me the status of being both a Palmetto Fellow and Sirrine Scholar. Additionally, I have been honored as a Capstone Fellow due to the academics and service that I competed during my first two years of undergrad and was recognized at the Outstanding Achievement and Student Triumph Awards two years in a row.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I would describe myself as a movie buff, gym rat, avid Tweeter, and novice chef. My free time is largely spent listening to music, creating or enjoying art, and hanging out with my friends.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

As a result of participating in the PPIA JSI, I would like to have a better grasp on economics and statistics and their relation to the crafting of public policy. I would additionally like to have a more well-rounded perspective on the varying areas within public policy so that I am better educated and equipped to address the areas that I am less familiar with.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

My public service and policy areas of interest include social welfare, criminal justice, education, and culture and society. I desire to help create a future in which BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of color) may enter these systems and be supported to make positive changes in our communities. My main policy areas include prison abolition, incorporating ethnic studies into education curriculum, supporting the efforts of grassroot activism to create social reform, deepening our historical knowledge of communities of color and other marginalized communities, and eliminating femicide in our communities.

Future education and career goals:

Educationally, I would like to obtain my Master's in Education Policy or Education Administration and a PhD in American Studies. I would like to obtain these because I desire to expand the canon of Latinx literature in the Midwest and develop education policy in Minnesota that incorporates ethnic studies curriculum in state-wide standards.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

"Since my time at Augsburg University, I have been involved in various areas. Some extracurricular activities include being vice-president of Augsburg's Latin American Students Association; Head of Communications for our chapter of Women for Political Change; Honors Program class representative and house president; Opinions Editor for The Echo: Augsburg's Student Newspaper; and a member of our women's lacrosse team. I used to be an intern for American Friends Service Committee in St. Paul, where I facilitated meetings and workshops through their youth program Youth Undoing Institutional Program. Some of these workshops included the bi-annual event, Freedom School, Know Your Rights training, and more. My most recent internship was in the oral history department at the Minnesota Historical Society and the New Brighton Area Historical Society. I am also a 2018 Fellow at the national organization, Young People For (YP4). In my free time, I like to coach youth lacrosse and volunteer at youth summer camps. "

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.:

"At Augsburg's University, I was a full-time student researching in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program (2018-2019). I designed the project titled, ""Where Were the Chicanas During the Twin Cities Chicano Movement?: A Historical Analysis of Mexican American Women Between the 1960s-1980s,"" and I uncovered the connection between Mexican women in the Twin Cities Chicano Movement and local Latine-based organizations in the Twin Cities. I gained academic-year funding from Augsburg's Undergraduate Research & Graduate Opportunities (URGO) to edit these findings and publish them into a peer-reviewed journal (2019-2020). In the fall of 2019, I was a graduate student researcher at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I conducted a 200-hour research project titled, ""The Creation of Centro Tyrone Guzman (Formerly Centro Cultural Chicano,"" and I was the first undergraduate to receive this position.

Other honors I have received are:

Myles Stenshoel Political Science Departmental Scholarship (2018-2019; 2019; 2019-2020; 2020-2021)

Norma Noonan Political Science Departmental Scholarship (2020-2021)

Alpha Kappa Delta (2020)

Phi Sigma Alpha (2019)

Augsburg University Exceptional Intern of the Year Finalist (2019)

Pickens-Opoku Social Justice Leadership Award (2019)

Ground One YouthQuake Fellow (2018)

YP4 Fellowship Spotlight (2018)

First-Team Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (2018)

Augsburg University Women's Lacrosse Practice Player of the Year (2018)

Honors Program Presidential Scholar (2017-2021)

Academic Dean's List (2017-Present)"

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

As a Mexican-American woman who is a low-income, first-generation college student, I am fighting for a world where all marginalized people can be liberated. Besides that, I really like doing arts and crafts, reading books, exploring the outdoors, and learning about history and people!

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

"I hope to learn more about the intersection of race and policy, such as how racist policies have become embedded into our institutions and how to counteract them on an administrative level. I also hope to learn more quantitative skills as I have little knowledge besides sociological statistics and I want to really just explore the field of public policy! I only know what I know and I don't know what I don't know :)"

Any other information you wish to share in your bio:

None at all! I am just really excited to be a part of this and learn more about public policy, people, and society.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

I am interested in working in higher education. Specifically, I intend to become an administrator at a community college. My goal is to make the system more equitable for all students. To be truly equitable, community colleges must be accessible to students from all backgrounds. They need to be attainable for first-generation and nontraditional students, available to professionals wanting to take night or weekend classes, and accommodating to senior citizens with a passion for lifelong learning. They also need to be appealing to students who are interested in taking an individual class. A secondary career interest is foreign service with the U.S. State Department.

Future education and career goals:

I intend to earn a Master of Education (M.Ed) degree and then a Master in Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree. The M.Ed. is attractive because it focuses on educational administration, policymaking, and research. The M.P.A. is attractive because it focuses on analyzing policy outcomes from an institutional level. This analysis will better inform the effective implementation of a college’s strategic plan and goals. I would like to begin my career as a Professor and then become an administrator. Or, with the State Department, I would begin as a Foreign Service Officer and pursue the track to ultimately become an Ambassador.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

After my first year in community college, I was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Ventura County Community College District as the Student Trustee. In the 2018 General Election, I ran as a candidate for the Simi Valley School Board and earned 45% of the total vote and nearly 20,000 votes. I previously interned for Congressman Steve Knight and was a Student Ambassador with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. I recently attended the Public Policy Leadership Conference at the Harvard Kennedy School. I currently work as a Student Manager with my university’s Division 1 baseball team and worked as an Assistant Manager at Little Caesars for four years.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.:

I was selected as a member of the First Team All-California Community College Academic Team by the Community College League of California, an honor given to the top 35 community college students in the state. At U.C. Berkeley, I was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I am passionate about politics and civic engagement. As a hobby, I enjoy baseball and published an article by the American Baseball Coaches Association titled “Equality Doesn’t Win Ball Games.”

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

I am eager to learn about how policy is effectively composed and communicated. Specifically, I would like to learn how to read and write policy. I also want to learn about quantitative analysis from data collection to the analysis of it. These skills are vital for composing policy briefs, writing reports, and giving oral presentations. Moreover, I am hoping to learn more about our nation’s foreign policy and how it interacts with the interests of other nations. The race and policy class with Professor Myers is exciting because I will be introduced to the underlying causes of many of the prevailing equity gaps in society.

Any other information you wish to share in your bio:

Although I was an accomplished leader and athlete in high school, I ultimately failed to graduate. I distinctly remember the dismissive nature of individuals when they learned that I failed to earn my diploma. My local community college did not require a diploma to enroll, so I used this opportunity to regain momentum in the classroom. The drive to overcome this embarrassing failure provided me with the resilience to ultimately pursue my goals.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

I am deeply interested in studying the experiences of women of color from lower-income backgrounds, specifically in the context of intimate-partner violence (IPV). As these women experience IPV at disproportionate rates, I hope to identify the ways in which government systems and services may better address their unique needs. The immediate need to physically protect survivors, combined with the need to rehabilitate them and target the root causes of violence, makes me especially interested in focusing on criminal justice and welfare policy through this intersectional lens.

Future education and career goals:

I plan to pursue a Master of Public Policy with a graduate minor in Africa and the African Diaspora from the University of Minnesota. These degree programs will provide me with the practical skills, scholarly insight, and network necessary for conducting research in my policy area of interest for an advocacy organization or think tank dedicated towards empowering women of color. I ultimately hope to apply this work in a curatorial position, helping to create public exhibitions that illuminate the resilience of women and IPV survivors of color for interdisciplinary, social justice-oriented museums.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

Over the last three years of my undergraduate career, I have connected with young people from underrepresented backgrounds through Rollins’ EMBARK, Diversity Envoy, and Peer Mentor programs. As an active EMBARK mentor and Diversity Envoy, I lead special events and tours for prospective students, as well as engage in community outreach initiatives through annual service weekends; similarly, as a Peer Mentor, I worked with first-year students in supporting their adjustment to college life. Beyond such fulfilling diversity and inclusion work, I am a member of Rollins’ Black Student Association and Latin American Student Association, and a former coxswain for Rollins Varsity Women’s Crew.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: Over the past two summers, I participated in student-faculty research to help curate Central Florida’s first public art exhibit exclusively on African dress, entitled “African Apparel: Threaded Transformations Across the 20th Century”. This project provided me with the opportunity to learn how art may be used as a powerful medium for engaging in public service through cross-cultural education. Inspired to continue engaging in cross-cultural education in the context of women’s empowerment, I interviewed Namibian and African-Australian women on their unique experiences through two study abroad programs in late 2019. My participation in programs like the JSI, most notably the Gilman Scholarship and the Harvard Kennedy School’s PPLC 2019, has enriched this work and will continue to guide my ongoing academic pursuits.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

Being raised by a single mother and an army of strong aunties has made me the person that I am today: a curious go-getter who hopes to spread positive vibes in helping others overcome their self-doubt. The values of independence, resilience, commitment, and community that these women have instilled in me are evident in everything that I do—from my public service projects; passion for exploring the arts from Africa and the Diaspora; and, hobbies (working out, drawing, and cooking, to name a few).

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

As I am a social butterfly at heart, I am extremely excited to join the PPIA family and connect with its diverse scholars, activists, and policy professionals—starting with the Humphrey School cohort, who I aspire to work with throughout my public service career. I am also excited to build my quantitative reasoning skills through the JSI’s coursework in economics and statistics, given that studies on IPV must convey its prevalence to policymakers who doubt the need to allocate more resources towards building stronger survivor protections, services, etc. I look forward to applying this analytical knowledge to collaborative projects with the other Humphrey School Fellows that address today’s most pressing and complex policy problems, especially for Professor Myers’ course in race and policy.

Any other information you wish to share in your bio:

I am grateful beyond words for having the opportunity to join the PPIA and Humphrey School families during such unprecedented times. The Humphrey School and the JSI team has already made me feel at home by demonstrating their commitment to providing the Fellows with their utmost support. I cannot wait to meet the cohort and JSI team in-person; but, for now, I cannot wait to help make this summer the best and most memorable experience possible.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

I am interested in the intersection of policy and identity. I am interested in finding new ways to engage and give back to my communities.

Future education and career goals:

I plan to attend graduate school and potentially earn my master's or doctorate degree in public policy or international affairs. I am not sure where my studies will take me but I am excited to utilize what I have learned to benefit the public good.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

I am the Vice President of Standards and a member of Kappa Delta. I am the Treasurer of the Rho Lambda Honor Society. I am a resident assistant, a member of BSU, and a member of the Beloit Independent Theater Experience, and a tour guide.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: I have been on the dean's list almost every semester of college. I am a McNair Scholar. Last summer I conducted research on Gender-based Violence in South Africa.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I love to read, crochet, and nap. I also love to be on the beach or hiking with friends.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

I am excited to deepen my quantitative research skills.

Public service and policy areas of interest: Motivated by my background as a low-income, first-generation, DACA student, I am passionate about pursuing a career in education, immigration, and public health with an antiracist lens. I am also interested in the economics of race and gender and how we can use the tools of economic policy to aid marginalized populations. Overall, I want to learn how to use different tools to dismantle capitalism, white supremacy, the patriarchy, and other systems of oppression.

Future education and career goals: As someone who is passionate about education inequity, I intend to become a teacher in underserved communities in the New England area to give back to the people who gave so much to me. It is important for me to see first hand the education inequities impacting marginalized students on a microlevel in order to capture what needs to change through macro level policies. I am also pursuing teaching in order to empower and educate students like me to demand a seat at the table and ask for no less. Eventually, I intend to pursue a joint MPP/JD degree in order to assist immigrants and undocumented students through a legal and policy lens. I hope to run for local & state government in Massachusetts and eventually run for Congress one day in order to enact systemic change and help my communities.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement: At Willamette University, I have worked as a Resident Advisor, Colloquium Associate, and the ASWU representative for my the DACA/Undocumented Committee. In addition, the job that has inspired and fueled my work for underrepresented and marginalized communities is my position at a College Track Academic Support & Program Assistant at Willamette Academy, a college access program that serves underrepresented students in the Salem-Keizer school district. During my semester at Washington D.C., I was a policy & research intern for Excelencia in Education, an educational consultant organization that advocates for Latinx student success in higher education. What was supposed to be a three month internship turned into an eight month internship that extended into the summer because of the mutual love I have for the work at Excelencia!

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: In 2019, I was a Harvard Kennedy School's Public Policy & Leadership Conference Scholar that has opened up many doors and opportunities for my career in public service. From there, I participated in PPIA & George Washington University's Public Service Weekend. I was awarded the Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship, a selective scholarship established to provide financial assistance to upper division undergraduate students at Willamette University who commit to high academic standards and exemplifies dedication, compassion, patience, sensitivity, self-discipline, and leadership. Aligning with my public service mission, I conducted a research project this past semester on how undocumented students finance their higher education.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests: My mom and I moved from Jakarta, Indonesia to Boston, MA when I was 4 years old and now live in Portsmouth, NH full-time. I like to swim, play tennis, hike, and read books about dismantling systems of oppression in the summers.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?: During JSI, I hope to hone my quantitative skills, especially getting comfortable with statistics and SYSTAT. I also hope to learn more about how to write and advocate for policies that have an equity and racial lens in a racially divided nation. Overall, I am excited to make new friends, site visits, and any guest speakers we will have.

Any other information you wish to share in your bio: I speak 2 and a half languages: English, Bahasa, and some Chinese.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

My policy interests are in education and immigration, and I hope to work in the policy sector through policy advising and/or analysis, along with a specialty in communications.

Future education and career goals:

After my completion of undergrad, I hope to attain a Masters of Public Policy and begin my career in the policy sector. My plan is to one day be in a policy advising or advocacy position that allows me to influence law and policymakers in regards to immigration and education policy.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

During my undergraduate years, I’ve worked and served in a number of positions on and off campus. I had the opportunity to intern with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Office during my 2018 spring semester. Then that following summer, I interned and worked with G.S Proctor & Associates, a lobbying and consulting firm in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. In 2019, I interned with the Maryland Department of Veteran Affairs, in their Outreach and Advocacy office, and served as a fellow of Maryland Governor Summer Internship Program. During all this, I worked as a Math and Writing Tutor in my university’s tutoring center. On campus, I serve as the Student Government Council President, and Vice President of Trinity Sister Fellowship, a Christian club on campus. Off campus, I am a youth leader in my local church and a STRIVE DC mentor to youth with sickle cell at National Children's Hospital. I currently work as a communications intern with National College Attainment Network.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: "Dean’s List (2017-2020), Maryland Governor’s Citation for State Internship, The Dream.US Scholar, IB Diploma Recipient, High School Class Valedictorian, Presented a higher education policy proposal to Governor Hogan's administration for Foster Care and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth in Maryland."

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but I was raised in Maryland. During my free time, I like to read, paint, sleep, and watch Disney movies.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

Through this JSI experience, my ultimate goal is to grow the skills needed to do well in graduate school and be an effective public servant in my community. I hope to learn more about the ins and outs of policy work and how I can apply it specifically to my policy interests of education and immigration policy. Through the courses, I want to enhance my understanding of economics as it relates to policy and overall data analysis. And lastly, I hope to grow my network through the relationships that I will build within my cohort.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

I personally have an extreme interest in areas such as foreign, health care, and immigration policy. The three areas hold a special place in my life and I feel like it's my life purpose to work on these certain areas and help to better them for my generation and the next.

Future education and career goals:

I plan to finish my undergraduate studies in Political Science and Urban Studies in June of 2021. After that, I intend to pursue my masters in public policy and foreign relations. It's my hope to combine all four of my degrees and work as a part of a think tank, campaign, or lobbying group. Furthering my experience which will one day allow me to run for office.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

I've worked at the New York Hall of Science the past 7 months as an explainer. Most of my time deals with assisting visitors most of which are children with understanding and interacting with different exhibits across the museum. I've also held an internship with All Together in Dignity 4th world, a non profit organization aimed at combating poverty around the world. This opportunity allowed me to visit the United Nations multiple times during the summer of 2019, I was an assistant to our representative to the United Nations for the non profit. I've also been a fellow at Cameron Koffman for Assembly, a campaign working to get a 23 year old political novice to unseat an incumbent. However, due to COVID-19 my time there was shortened by several months.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: Throughout my college career I have received the dean's honor roll achievement multiple times during my collegiate career.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I'm a half Pakistani half Ecuadorian human living in Queens, New York! I love getting to know people and having thoughtful productive conversations with just about everyone I come across. I also enjoy working out and going on long walks.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

I hope to learn more about public policy in general during the JSI. The things that go into creating it, working on it, and implementing it as well. I also hope to network with different people who have had careers in public policy and pick their brains on their experiences and any advice they'd have for someone with my background and my goals.

Any other information you wish to share in your bio:

I'm beyond excited to begin this experience with all of you!

Public service and policy areas of interest:

As a first-generation low-income Latina college student, I believe education is the greatest equalizer in our society. Attending college has provided me with opportunities that I would have never known existed, and I hope to use my educational knowledge to pay it forward to my community and others. Many of my public service experiences have involved giving back to my UC-wide Latinx community by ensuring that they can matriculate and be successful in their higher education endeavors. I hope to use my leadership experiences to help address the systemic inequities that marginalized communities experience within K-12 and higher education systems.

Future education and career goals: I aim to pursue a career in education policy and to work within a nonprofit or governmental agency (i.e. California Department of Education) in order to help address the educational inequities that my community experiences. I hope to be able to make a tangible impact especially within the area of career and college readiness for students across the state. I am also very interested in pursuing a role within higher education yield/recruitment efforts in order to help address the barriers that marginalized students experience when applying to college. In order to build this career in education policy, I also believe that pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy will help me obtain the skill set needed to be successful in the field.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement: At UC Berkeley, I have had the privilege to serve as my Latinx community’s student government senator. In my time throughout the position, I was able to work with other community senators and my campus administration in addressing educational inequities that underrepresented minorities face within higher education. Also within the role, I worked on a wide variety of campus-related issues such as campus safety, financial aid reform and sexual violence/sexual harassment prevention.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: In my time interning for the California Department of Education, I co-authored a 20 page research tool kit packet on the 2020 Census and its impact on educational funding within hard-to-count communities. Throughout this project, I also worked with experts within the Department on how to best outreach to these communities. This research project was integral in shaping my understanding about the importance of how data can influence public policy.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests: "I am a half Guatemalan and Mexican womxn, so I love to embrace both of my Central American and Mexican identities. I also enjoy learning about other kinds of cultural histories and customs outside of my own (so feel free to tell me about your cultural customs or heritage)."

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?: I am excited to learn more about the field of public policy with my JSI cohort! I am also very interested in continuing to build my quantitative skill set in statistics and microeconomics. While I have some experience with the subjects, I am excited to learn how these academic disciplines directly tie within a policy analyzing framework.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

I'm interested in rural policy, rural healthcare and mental healthcare access, women's healthcare access, redistricting, prison gerrymandering, and farm bankruptcies among others.

Future education and career goals:

I would love to work in the public sector creating policy to bring equity and stability to rural areas while reducing racial disparities and providing inclusive communities.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

I had a career in technology prior to returning to school specializing in Apple, Panasonic, Acer and Asus. I am a board member for the Three Lakes Historical Society and created a new series of successful fundraisers for their museum. I interned with the Minnesota Senate and volunteered as a major mentor. I worked as a transfer student leader and a section leader for incoming transfer students.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: I am a Mulhollem Cravens scholar, Edelstein Scholarship recipient, Barbara Newsom Scholarship recipient, and P.E.O. Scholarship recipient. I am also on the Dean's List.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

Home is a small rural town in northern Wisconsin. I love musicals, hiking, puzzles, and spicy food. I love Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, and many more fandoms, especially if they are sci/fi or fantasy related.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

I would like to expand my knowledge base in qualitative data analysis and social research. I'd like to learn how to evaluate current policies and measure how successful they are.

Any other information you wish to share in your bio:

I can't wait to get to know everyone and start learning!

Public service and policy areas of interest: Policy areas of interest include government, human rights, racial justice, and criminal justice. I am big on helping the immigrant communities such as participating in lobbying in Raleigh, NC to get a bill passed so undocumented students can receive in-state tuition.

Future education and career goals: My future education goals consist of earning my Master’s and Ph.D. with the possibility of doing a joint program to earn my Juris Doctorate. I know I will have a career that helps marginalized groups through direct action such as policy work and administrative advocacy. I also know I will be active in nonprofit organizations in diverse communities. All my work is paving a new path to other students that relate to my journey.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement: A job I have held during my 3 years of undergrad is working as the student employee of the Reference Desk at Bluford Library. I helped with 3 cataloging projects for the library and I have also worked with the archivist for 1 project. Volunteer involvement I have done is a mentor for middle school students. I also spend a lot of time with organizations on campus such as being Vice President of History Scholars.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: "In 2017 I was awarded the AVID Scholarship at East Chapel Hill High School & the A Brush with Kindness Scholarship given by Habitat for Humanity for completing the most service hours through the Blue Ribbon Youth Leadership Institute. Through 2018-2020, I was awarded the Royall Mack Scholarship at North Carolina A&T State University for the students who excel in the Department of History and Political Science. For 2018-current I serve as an Honor Ambassador for the Honors Program at North Carolina A&T State University. In Spring 2020 I was inducted to the Phi Alpha Theta National History Society. Projects I have been working on for Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 are the History of the Tuscarora through my internship at the Register of Deeds in Greensboro. The other research project is titled ‘People Not Property’ that deals with looking at deeds containing the sale of enslaved people in North Carolina."

Background/personality/hobbies/interests: One of my proudest hobbies is cycling, the most miles I have ever completed in one day is 97 miles. I am also one of the biggest music enthusiasts, I listen to music in all languages in addition to loving how to dance.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

I am hoping to grasp how to do qualitative research. It is a great skill that will be helpful to me as I continue my education. I hope to learn the ins and outs of public policy and how it is deeply connected to many things, that affect everyday people. I am aiming that this program places me on a good path or sparks new interests that I may not have been fully exposed to or understood, prior to my learning experiences in JSI.

Any other information you wish to share in your bio: I am a first generation college student and first generation U.S. citizen. I am driven to exceed because of my experiences.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

I am particularly interested in mental health/disability policy, labor economics, and education policy. It is incredibly important to me that everyone has access to affordable mental and physical health care; without this access, individuals are not able to live their best lives or realize their possibilities. Additionally, multiple sectors and jobs are stigmatized as 'unskilled labor' and are not compensated fairly. Because of this, these sectors experience high turnover, and individuals in these jobs are trapped in a cycle of poverty. Lastly, education is how many come to hold information and power. However, students from minority groups often do not have the same opportunities as other students. When a nation systematically excludes certain people groups from effective education, we are silencing important voices that deserve to be heard.

Future education and career goals:

I want to work in policy analysis. Data and statistics excite me, and it is especially important to me that what I do has a positive impact on the world. That is why I want to pursue a graduate degree in Public Policy. I hope to work in the public sector to help create effective and equitable policy.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

"I am the captain of the Mock Trial team at St. Kate's. I am also on the executive board for the NAMI On Campus club at my school. Additionally, I have worked as a statistics TA for three semesters and as a research assistant for two semesters. The research projects I have been involved in have centered around statistical discrimination in the US labor market, educational policy in Egypt, and social supports in Sudan.

In my first two years as an undergraduate, I volunteered at an affordable housing organization called Project for Pride in Living (PPL). PPL also has programs focused on education and career readiness. I participated in their America Reads program as a mentor-tutor for an elementary-aged child."

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.:

Upon acceptance to St. Kate's, I was admitted into the university's honors society and awarded the presidential scholarship. Additionally, this spring, I was awarded the Sr. Seraphim Gibbons math scholarship for excellence in the math curriculum. I have had the opportunity to be a part of multiple research projects, including an independent research project on the disparities in welfare in the United States.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I am a trans student from the Twin Cities metro in Minnesota. I love to garden, play video games, and cuddle with my cat.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

I am particularly interested in learning more about qualitative analysis. I have been a part of multiple quantitative research projects, but know very little about qualitative data! I am also excited to network with PPIA alums and other PPIA fellows. It would also be fantastic to learn more about UMN professors and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs! Lastly, I am excited to learn more about graduate school and how to choose between different schools and programs.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

I am interested in both education policy, International development in conflict ridden places. Education holds the power to change lives and influence people. I benefited from an after school program in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I grew up. I am really interested in ensuring access to good-quality education for minorities, especially in areas that are long affected by gun violence, girls that are influenced by previous experience of abuse , trauma and immigrant children from other countries that need language study.

Future education and career goals:

I plan on gaining some experience in the education sector before continuing a degree studying education policy. I hope to do a research project on ESL programs for children from Southeast Asia, and on programs for children who have been through trauma. Then I hope to work to make education policies that benefit people.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

I volunteer in Carol Stream, IL outreach center. It's an after school program for students who need extra help. I also volunteered in the Homework club of First Baptist Church, helping Burmese students learn English. I have also been involved in a Honduras project that focused on raising money to provide clean water to a village in Honduras. I worked last summer and this summer in China, with a Chinese camp program that provided art for disabled children, and children who went through trauma. I also work in the International students office in my school.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: "I was a recipient of the Bishop E. Sharon Scholarship from Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Korea, that allowed me to study intensive Korean language study during the summer. I won a global awareness award in my school for a paper on China and colonialism."

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

My parents moved to America from China in 1989, they worked hard and moved schools many times to ensure that my sister and I have better education. I love to spend time with my family and we like to cook and play music together. I like to learn about new foods, new languages, and new cultures. I love good conversations over tea & coffee, and learning stories about other people.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

I want to develop skills on technology or math tools to use in research for policy making in the public sector. I want to develop the ability to analyze policies and programs. I want to develop problem solving skills while working with a complex system.

Any other information you wish to share in your bio:

I really want to say to all the teachers, and the administrators thank you for your work on moving this program online. Thank you for all your preparation work and most of all this opportunity!

Public service and policy areas of interest:

My interests in public policy are to further combat income inequality, to push more focus on affordable housing, and to provide support for struggling LGBT+ youth. Too many groups of people are disproportionately impacted by homelessness and financial instability. I believe that we can only be strong by uplifting our most vulnerable populations, and I keep that mentality in mind in my interests.

Future education and career goals:

At this point, I am intending to seek a master's degree in public policy. After that, I hope to go on to work in state-level politics to write legislation. I also am interested in working with nonprofits that directly impact the policy issues I am most passionate about. The dream would be to run for federal office and work on legislation in Congress.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

For the past year, I have been involved in two units of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Part of that work involved working to get endorsed candidates elected to city office in Duluth, as well as broadening the DFL's reach onto college campuses to promote progressive politics to young voters. For the past two years, I have been extensively involved with College Democrats at UMD, holding both the position of Secretary and Vice President. We prioritize voter turnout on campus for every election and provide opportunities for students to get directly involved in local, state, and federal campaigns.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: I've had the privilege of earning several scholarships through UMD. I have maintained a scholarship from prior to my undergraduate career, as well as earning two scholarships through the Political Science department this spring. Those being as follows: the Wolff Memorial Scholarship and the Julius F. Wolff Scholarship. I have also maintained being on the Dean's List for every semester of my undergraduate career so far, and am currently working to graduate with academic honors.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

My hobbies include door knocking for elections, exploring the city of Duluth, and spending time with my friends in the political science department.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

I am incredibly excited to get to know the fellow members of the JSI Cohort this summer. Through a difficult time, I believe that all of us will be able to come together to provide a unique support system for each other through this program. I am also excited to learn more about the process of policy-making, as that is a career path I am interested in.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

I'm passionate about the field of disability. I enjoy research and the practical applications of those findings to support and inform policies. In particular, I volunteer supporting those who face homelessness in the local area, and am interested in the overlap between people of color, people with disabilities, and those facing homelessness.

Future education and career goals:

I'm considering going abroad to pursue a graduate degree in disability. For certain I would one day like to pursue a degree in clinical psychology to continue researching perceptions of those with disabilities or those who are homeless, as well as the potential of the framing effect to change those perceptions. These findings could then be used to support policies that help better society.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

"Hi everyone my name's Becky and I'll be your tour guide today!" I work at the Welcome Center at FGCU giving tours. I'm also an Honors College mentor for incoming freshmen and a University Ambassador. I volunteer with the Kindness Project, a group on campus that collects materials and packs bags of essential items for those who are homeless. We partner with the Lee County Homeless Coalition to distribute the bags and help at Point In Time (PIT) counts. "

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: "I'm a proud member of our Honors College at FGCU. I'm beginning an Honors Thesis looking at the impact of the framing effect on perceptions of disability, which I'll be excited to publish and present on by spring. "

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I love to play music (piano, guitar, drums, anything I can get my hands on), and would love to one day open a nonprofit that encourages individuals with disabilities to pick up extracurriculars like playing music using adapted methods.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

"Being a psychology major, I'm excited to learn the basis of policy writing and analysis. I have looked into policy myself before, but I think having a more solid background in policy will help better understand when reading policies that are currently in place. Mostly though, I'm excited to network and create relationships with the cohort members! I can't wait to hear their stories, perspectives, and goals. There is so much to learn from other people, and a number of new friends to be made. "

Public service and policy areas of interest:

My desire to pursue a career in public service is informed by my parents’ legacy of prioritizing the well-being of others over self-interest. To me, a career in public service is synonymous with advocating for others through community organizing, nonprofit work, and policymaking. My main policy interest is public health because I am interested in studying the critical intersection between health, race, and class. I hope to advance public policy that will mitigate health inequities impacting communities of color.

Future education and career goals:

I plan to pursue a Masters in Public Policy with a concentration on public health to gain the skills necessary to tackle inequities through policy making and health care administration. Through a career in public health policy and nonprofit management, I hope to help communities of color access high quality, universal health care.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

At American, I serve as the Director of the AU Student Government Women's Initiative, an organization that creates intersectional feminist programming for AU's campus community. I am the President and Founder of the AU Black Pre-professional Society and a member of the President's Council on Diversity and Inclusion. Off campus, I have interned at the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, Fundación Senara, Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence, and Advocates for Youth. I also work as a front desk receptionist at the University Center on campus.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.:

I was the 2019 recipient of the Robert H. Repetto Scholarship which is endowed to support a full-time, undergraduate, honors student in the Department of Government in the School of Public Affairs at American. In 2019, I assisted AU faculty member in the Department of Sociology Dr. Michelle Newton-Francis with her research project titled "Why I Didn't Report" which analyzed disclosures of sexual assault on social media in the wake of the Kavanaugh hearings. In 2019, I assisted faculty member Gregg Ivers in the Department of Government with interviewing Jennifer Lawson, a former field secretary and organizer for Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I am originally from Pembroke Pines Florida but is happy to call DC her second home. I am passionate about writing and performing poetry, collecting postcards from every city she visits, and finding a balance between her Leo sun and Capricorn moon.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

I hope to meet policy leaders from broad and diverse backgrounds, as well as local government officials and alumni from the Humphrey School. I look forward to learning about the policy interests of my cohort members and what social issues they hope to address. I also want to strengthen my policy analysis and research skills. I'm most excited about the seminar on race and policy.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

"My passion for public service began when I was a high school student in a youth-development organization where I learned about social justice topics such as privilege, gender roles, and community solidarity. Those experiences inspired me to choose a career and major that was community and people oriented such as City and Regional Planning. As a third-year now, I think I found my fit. I want to serve the world as a planner with a focus on housing. Whether it's analyzing housing legislation or being a part of the many interconnected fields of housing such as transportation, economics, or public health, housing is at the epicenter of health for any community and being a part of this complex system is how I want to change the world."

Future education and career goals:

After my undergraduate career, I hope to build my resume and knowledge as a planner. I hope to eventually gain my Masters in Public Policy and transition to a regional or state entity or organization where I can be part of the solution to the California Housing crisis. I also see myself in an adjacent field such as the Air Resources Board, where I can help formulate and implement legislation using my skills as a planner.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement: Throughout my undergraduate experience, I've been privileged enough to hold a couple positions that intersected the industries of public policy and planning. I was an intern at the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition (SFHAC) and Bay Area Housing Advocacy Coalitions (BayHAC), where I helped my organizations in different functions such as housing legislation analysis and developing letters of support for San Francisco/Bay Area development. Both organizations are politically aggressive at the local, regional, and state level. Additionally, I'm an intern at Lisa Wise Consulting, Inc (LWC)., a Planning, Economics, and Implementation consulting firm. I assess impacts of community development objectives, market conditions, development feasibility, and state housing law on long-range planning. I was also a class facilitator for 13+ undergraduate students where I facilitated weekly dialogues on topics around social identities such as gender, race, sexual orientation, familial relationships through a systematic and micro lens. I've logged 100+ hours in community service during my time as an undergraduate.

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

I'm a queer Chinese American student at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo studying City and Regional Planning with an older sister. My favorite past times are napping, pies, and volunteering.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?: I hope to learn more about the relationship between the public policy and the planning field. Historically, there has been a lot of inequitable practices in both realms - such as redlining - that have shaped the livelihood of people across America and I want to learn more about where these fields intersect. I'm looking forward to all my classes and better honing my technical analysis and research skills. Lastly, I'm excited to create lifelong friends with my cohort, I've only gotten to know a few of them and I'm already anticipating the experience ahead. They all come from diverse backgrounds and I'm ready to learn more about their individual experiences.

Any other information you wish to share in your bio:

I don't think these bios are a complete version of myself, if you have any further questions about me, please reach out.

Public service and policy areas of interest:

For the past couple of years, I have become interested in international education policy. As an immigrant, my greatest tool and gift has been the opportunity to get an education. Through travel to Africa and the Middle East, I saw how the countries I visited had a lack of educational development. As a Muslim and Somali, I hope to go back and give back in any way I can. With concrete steps towards building an elementary school in my hometown in Somalia.

Future education and career goals:

My future goals are to get a master’s degree and/or a PhD and then to move back home to work on education policy/development. I hope to work with either state actors, NGOs, nonprofits, or all in any way that I can work towards getting an education to students who so desperately need it.

Extracurriculars, jobs, internship, volunteering involvement:

Early in my college career, I wasn't sure as to what to do in the future; therefore, I did a lot of extracurriculars and internships to figure out what I want to do. My experiences took me from campaign work, nonprofits, private sector, congressional offices, and interest groups. As I enter my last year, I now have a more clear view of what I want to do.

Academic achievements, such as scholarships, honors, research projects, etc.: On campus, I am a Sabo Scholar, Page Scholar, Interfaith Scholar, and Phillips Scholar (through the Minnesota Private Colleges Council). I did my senior thesis (which I took early) on the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement (which was created as a protest against Israel) and its effects on American politics, looking specifically at whether or not the U.S can be a reliable negotiator..

Background/personality/hobbies/interests:

Growing up in Africa as a child, my favorite thing to do was play soccer and that is something I still carry with me. Aside from soccer, I love traveling and exploring, which has taken me to almost all continents.

What do you hope to learn/experience during the JSI?:

This past semester, I took a Political Statistics and Methodology class and fell in love. I hope to gain a better understanding of quantitative data, statistics, and economics. I also hope to connect with likeminded people. Aside from that, taking graduate-level courses and learning about graduate school culture.