2024 Truman Scholars

Kaylyn studies social policy and legal studies and recently returned from Ecuador where she held a Gilman Scholarship. Kaylyn is co-president of the Undergraduate Prison Education Partnership, was selected as a Debarry Civic Scholar, was among GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 LGBTQ+ Activists in 2021, and testified in front of Illinois General Assembly to help unanimously pass a bill to reform sexual assault law. She was appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to serve on the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, serves on the advisory board for the National Organization for Victim Advocacy, and serves on the advisory board for The Harbour, a youth homeless shelter. She interned with KAN-WIN, a nonprofit for Asian survivors of domestic violence, and will work for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawai’ians, and Pacific Islanders in spring of 2024. Last summer, Kaylyn worked at the US Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights. She is a Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Resolution Pipeline Fellow and will work in the US Embassy in South Africa this summer. From keynotes to panels, she has spoken across the country about her experiences as a survivor of domestic and sexual violence.    

Born and raised in the Aloha State of Hawai'i, Daniel is double-majoring in political science and sociology. Inspired by his interest in the criminal justice system and commitment to addressing its inherent disparities, he is dedicated to pursuing a career in public service that allows him to work directly with those affected by these disparities. He intends to pursue a JD focusing on criminal law and prosecutorial experience. While serving in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and subsequently joining the Governor’s Office of Hawai'i, he developed his passion for public service and an understanding of the political process by working closely with and supporting underserved communities. After graduate school, he plans to continue his commitment to service as an Assistant United States Attorney and aspires to serve as a federal judge. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys cooking, lifting weights, and practicing jiu-jitsu (no-Gi, of course).    

Daniel is pursuing a double-major in environmental studies and American studies, with a minor in legal studies. He plans to pursue a JD/MEM from Yale, focusing on novel greenhouse gas regulations and the Clean Air Act. Currently, Daniel works as the farm and program director at Zumwalt Acres, a leading carbon-negative farm in rural Illinois that is rooted in Jewish values of justice. His role involves fostering consensus among scientists, farmers, and government agencies to equitably transition the Midwest agricultural landscape toward sustainability. Through connecting farmers to Zumwalt Acres' $5 million US Department of Agriculture Climate Smart Commodities Grant, Daniel has seen how federal policy plays a key role in the transition to a carbon-negative society. Motivated by this, he aims to push the administrative state to adopt innovative, just, and market-based regulatory solutions to climate change. Daniel also serves as the senior content editor for the Brandeis Undergraduate Law Journal, where he authored an article on gender affirming care and religious liberty, with another forthcoming on the administrative state and the major questions doctrine. Daniel is an incoming summer intern for the Honorable Judge Lee Rudofsky of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Jackson is completing his studies in communications, legal institutions, economics, and government. After growing up in a small town in rural Northern California, he has spent the last half-decade moving around the country working on campaigns, from city councils to presidential races and everything in between. This work has brought him to California, Iowa (three times!), Georgia, Ohio, Rhode Island, and now Washington, DC. He intends to pursue a JD, with a focus in constitutional law, and has a particular interest in democratizing the federal grantmaking process. More specifically, he is passionate about expanding access to technical assistance for small towns and rural communities that need the most support in discovering and applying for much-needed federal dollars. Jackson currently works in digital communications for Representative Adam Schiff’s campaign for the US Senate, as well as in the Congressman’s official office. Past work includes staff roles on the campaigns of US Senator Jon Ossoff, California Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls (IA 13), Congresswoman Cindy Axne, and many more. When he is not working, Jackson is an avid cook and likes to prepare elaborate dinner parties for friends.

Christian has always been fascinated by the ocean. He is currently majoring in biology and minoring in environmental studies, Spanish, and chemistry. His goal is to work as a marine biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He is a passionate environmental advocate and works to promote environmental service in his community. As a freshman, he started an aquatic conservation organization at his institution and became the leader of a tree-planting organization. From leading efforts to clean Mississippi’s waterways and remove invasive species with Aqua Culture, to maintaining a large tree farm and organizing plantings at various locations in his community, Christian has connected hundreds of volunteers with meaningful projects to make a positive environmental impact across his state and in his hometown of Oxford. Aspiring to earn a PhD exploring the genetic components underlying stress tolerance and survival in marine organisms, he plans to continue empowering communities to care for their marine environments and to create management and conservation strategies that can be implemented into meaningful policy. In his free time, Christian enjoys playing soccer, taking photos, kayaking, camping, SCUBA diving, and anything and everything that has to do with nature. 

Originally from Washington, Indiana, Allison is a first-generation college student majoring in aeronautical engineering technology and pursuing airframe and powerplant certifications. Once certified, she can conduct, inspect, and supervise air vehicle inspection and maintenance activities, giving her a unique perspective on aircraft maintenance procedures and publications. She intends to pursue an MS in computational analysis and public policy with the goal of ensuring safe and reliable aviation transportation. In 2022, Allison interned on the Lunar Surface Integration team at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Johnson Space Center, where she developed an interest in policy and its impact on safety regulations. On campus, Allison is devoted to serving her local aviation community. She is president of ATEaM, director of activities for Purdue Aviation Day, an ambassador for the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology, and a member of the Aviation Technology Student Council. As Purdue Aviation Day’s director of activities, Allison created initiatives to lower barriers for students entering the aviation workforce, including creating a scholarship and collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration to increase recruitment opportunities in the Midwest. Her long-term goals are to address aerospace workforce development and tackle aviation safety challenges.

Paul is a student of philosophy and religion. Shaped by his justice-impacted background, he is committed to advocating for marginalized communities, particularly the formerly incarcerated. Paul aspires to a PhD exploring the philosophy of science and cognitive science, with the goal of bridging his research and teaching to influence policy. He seeks to contribute to substantial criminal justice reform through collaboration with prestigious think tanks. Paul honed his research skills in a computational biology summer internship at Princeton University via the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program. He also serves as an instructor with the First Year Rutgers-Camden Experience Program, as well as a member of the Vice Chancellor's External Affairs Program. Beyond his scholarly pursuits, Paul enjoys exercise and fostering connections with his university peers. 

Elizabeth is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in genetics with a minor in biochemistry. Inspired by her lived experience with an understudied genetic disability, she intends to pursue an MD/MPH and bridge the gap between patient care, policy, and rare disease research. On campus, Elizabeth serves as the co-founder and president of Tigers 4 Accessibility, Clemson’s first disability-focused student group, organizes an annual campuswide Accessibility Awareness Week, and serves on the University’s Accessibility Commission to voice the concerns of students with disabilities. Elizabeth has also conducted extensive rare disease research at Clemson and St. Jude in an effort to alleviate the research deficit on such conditions. She is an active volunteer at the local Free Clinic, where she founded and fundraised for its Mobility Aid Program, which provides durable medical equipment to patients with financial need. Elizabeth plans to dedicate her career to advocating for accessible, equitable healthcare for patients, particularly those with disabilities, and seeking greater understanding of understudied genetic disorders.

Anna double-majors in legal studies and Black studies, with a minor in Asian American studies and a certificate in civic engagement. She serves as a lead tutor in Chicago's juvenile detention centers, bringing college preparatory materials to incarcerated students while developing her mentorship pedagogy. Additionally, she conducted research with the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching to center minoritized student perspectives at a predominately white institution. She remains involved with her hometown of Portland, Oregon, through work with those experiencing houselessness with Blanchet House of Hospitality, and carries that perspective to her advocacy for affordable housing with Evanston’s Connections for the Homeless. Cognizant of how education, race, and poverty operate in context with one another, Anna intends to pursue a JD with an emphasis on civil rights to uproot mass incarceration as a symptom of poverty and anti-Blackness. After studying abroad in Vietnam as the first person in her family to return since the Fall of Saigon, and interning with the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Anna hopes to bring a transnational lens to her legal and advocacy work and create further space for Black and Asian solidarity. 

Grant studies criminal justice and psychology. Their understanding of the American criminal justice system and the disproportionate imprisonment of the mentally ill have compelled them to focus on a career in correctional psychology. Grant intends to pursue a PsyD in clinical psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology. They are particularly interested in expanding substance abuse treatment available to incarcerated populations. Previously, Grant interned in the Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC) central office. They also conduct independent research on public perceptions of private prisons, and how education affects these perceptions. Grant has presented his research findings at the University of Wyoming Thyra and Keith Thompson Honors Convocation, the annual American Psychology-Law Society Conference, and the annual Rocky Mountain Psychology Association Conference. Grant enjoys reading and spending time outdoors in the Mountain West. One of Grant’s most interesting facts is meeting convicted serial killer Robert Joseph Silveria, Jr. – AKA “The Boxcar Killer” - during his WDOC internship. 

Juan is a dedicated individual currently pursuing his bachelor's degree in social work and intends to pursue an MSW. Despite facing abuse, foster care, and a period of incarceration in his past, Juan has overcome this adversity and currently serves as a behavioral health case manager and senior peer recovery support specialist, where he provides crucial support to individuals in need. Juan is a first-generation, nontraditional college student, who is passionate about substance abuse awareness. He served as the student representative on the Substance Abuse Coalition at Rose State College, where he organized a panel discussion, shared his story, and gathered professionals to educate students on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Beyond academia, Juan is a dedicated single father of two and an active member of his community, where he coaches soccer and volunteers with youth programs. His commitment to service extends to volunteering at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and aiding post-prison placement. Involved in charitable endeavors like the Oklahoma City Rescue Mission, Juan's journey illustrates the transformative power of resilience and service. His unwavering dedication serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to overcome obstacles and effect positive change. 

Alex majors in international relations, political science, and urban studies as a Foundation Fellow. He is passionate about reimagining urban systems and structures to better align with human sociology, psychology, and physicality. Alex intends to pursue an MPA focused on urban innovation with the goal of leading a city in implementing equitable policies to improve livability and social connection. This interest prompted him to create a $75 million regional economic development plan with the Center for Advancing Innovation, propose civic infrastructure legislative outreach strategies for a coalition of 100 local nonprofits/governments, and advise a Georgia county commissioner on affordable housing and transportation policies. Leading teams as a University Innovation Fellow, Alex has prototyped smart city technology products, modeled urban economic impact for the National Hockey League, and designed sustainable transportation systems for Delta Airlines. On campus, he researches urban public spaces and hate crimes in post-conflict societies, redesigns class curricula with active learning pedagogy, and helps lead the Georgia Political Review. Alex enjoys backpacking, political history books, playing cello, and board game nights.

Jane studies political science and digital product (UX) design. Volunteering in low-income communities showed her technology’s vital role in connecting people to government services. Ever since then, she has had a goal to make online government tools more user-friendly so that barriers like disability, digital literacy, age, socioeconomic status, and language do not inhibit Americans’ access to government programs. She is currently a research fellow at the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy and serves as the president of her university’s UX Design Association. In addition to researching the usability of Orem City and Utah County websites, Jane has developed extensive technological experience as the lead UX designer of a software startup (PROPOR) and a language-learning platform (the Missionary Training Center). In the summer of 2024, she will be a user research intern at Vivint. She plans to pursue an MPP/PhD in psychology with a focus on public sector technology. When she has free time, Jane loves to make music and ski in Utah’s beautiful mountains.    

Hailing from Salina, Adelaide studies agricultural economics and global food systems leadership with minors in leadership and international agriculture. Through 4-H, she presented the problem of feeding an estimated 10 billion people by 2050 to the US Department of Agriculture, sparking her passion for food security. Adelaide intends to pursue an MS in food and agriculture law to work at the intersection of policy and development, making agriculture more equitable and addressing the root causes of hunger. Her academic journey is enhanced by her advocacy work. As a Flinchbaugh Food & Agriculture Policy Fellow, she interned at the state and federal levels, including with Kansas Grain Sorghum, National Sorghum Producers, and US Senator Jerry Moran's office (co-founder of the Senate Hunger Caucus), furthering her knowledge of agricultural policy and international food assistance issues. Serving as the basic needs director for student government and a member of the leadership team for Food Security Scholars, Adelaide was motivated to create the Student Basic Needs Coalition to address food insecurity and promote access to resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Additionally, Adelaide enjoys supporting K-State sports and spending time with friends at the local coffee shop.

Originally from Mississippi, Desaree is a first-generation college student studying neuroscience and human rights advocacy. After high school, she enlisted in the US Navy as a Nuclear Machinist’s Mate and was handpicked for the initial integration of women into submarines, becoming the first enlisted nuclear-trained female submariner in the Atlantic Fleet. Aboard the USS FLORIDA (SSGN 728), she deployed three times and served as her division leading petty officer and as a sexual assault victim advocate. The challenges she and other female crewmembers faced during the integration motivated her to separate from the Navy and pivot towards a career in advocacy. Combined with her personal experiences, Desaree’s work as a legal assistant for a Judge Advocate General and her internship at a criminal defense firm sharpened her focus towards combatting human trafficking. She seeks to earn a JD with an emphasis on public interest law. Desaree is passionate about advocating for adult survivors of human trafficking by increasing awareness and victim identification, strengthening legal advocacy and support services, and developing survivor-centric policies. In her spare time, she enjoys hosting crawfish boils, making friends with the crows in her neighborhood, and cuddling her lab, Sandy, and pit bull, Ramses.

Ray is double-majoring in English (with a concentration in creative writing) and communication and social influence. She has been a committed activist organizing to prevent sexual violence since middle school, and has since become the founding president of Temple University’s chapter of It’s On Us: Student Activists Against Sexual Assault. Through a partnership between her student organization and Uber, Ray secured $350,000 in free rides for Temple students needing to escape vulnerable situations. She currently occupies the first LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair position at It’s On Us National, where she is developing programming to better represent the experiences of queer survivors. As vice president of Planned Parenthood Generation Temple University, she is spearheading an initiative to bring emergency contraceptive vending machines to her campus. She is also an ambassador for Callisto, an encrypted matching system for survivors of sexual violence, and a campus lead for the Every Voice Coalition, where she promotes survivor-based legislation in Pennsylvania. Previously, she interned at Take Back the Night Foundation, Network for Victim Recovery of DC, and Break the Cycle. She intends to pursue a JD and support survivors through further legislative efforts. 

Gavin is an aspiring research meteorologist and climate science communicator. Growing up in rural Southeast Missouri, he was exposed to all types of weather which fascinated him at a young age. He is passionate about the social and economic vulnerabilities exacerbated by extreme weather events, particularly in the American Mid-South. He intends to pursue a PhD in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma focusing on behavioral insights surrounding severe weather preparedness and communication strategies. Gavin intends to inform public policy through the lens of the National Weather Service’s mission to protect life and property in the United States. He has enjoyed volunteering as a SkyWarn Storm Spotter with the National Weather Service and previously interned at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, presenting his research at the American Geophysical Union’s annual fall meeting. Gavin is a first-generation college student at Dartmouth College, where he enjoys fishing, club golf, and taking daily weather observations at the Shattuck Observatory. 

Bitaniya is a first-generation Ethiopian American residing in Seattle. As a community organizer, she hopes to dismantle internalized carceral logics through storytelling, community care, and healing to incite imaginative capacities for abolition. Her first collection of poems, Motherland, explores her experiences as a first-generation Black woman, reflecting her own family’s path of immigration across the world. As a cultural worker and university student, she works to restore autonomy to history’s originators by researching Black women’s erasure and contradictory relationships to historical geographies. She was heavily involved in the community design and implementation of Restorative Community Pathways a multimillion-dollar juvenile pre-court diversion program based in King County. She also serves as part of Wa Na Wari’s Black Spatial Histories cohort, learning community-based oral history and Black memory work.

Eli studies political science and is interested in national security and emerging technologies. As the grandson of a sailor in the US Navy and a mathematician who worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory, he aims to work at the intersection of national security and science and technology. He intends to pursue a master’s degree in security studies with an emphasis on nuclear weapons policy. Eager to expand opportunities for students to engage with national security and foreign policy issues, Eli co-founded and leads the Alexander Hamilton Society at Berkeley and established a fellowship for ROTC and non-ROTC students to bridge the civil-military divide on campus. He was a 2023 Hertog War Studies Scholar at the Institute for the Study of War, interned for both US Senator Tom Cotton and the Coalition Defense of Taiwan Project at the American Enterprise Institute, and is an undergraduate research fellow at the Berkeley Risk and Security Lab. Eli is also an assistant debate coach at the College Preparatory School in Oakland and an Eagle Scout.

Axel is a first-generation college student majoring in history with a minor in political science. Her roots, coming from a family that was lifted out of generational poverty by union jobs in rural, isolated Port Royal, Kentucky, inspired her to pursue a career in the labor movement. She began volunteering with Communications Workers of America (CWA) in 2016, joined as a member herself in 2021, and became a CWA NextGen Lead Activist for Public Sector Workers in 2023. She has also served as both treasurer and vice president of her university’s student government association, and was recently elected president, becoming the first openly LGBT person to win this office. She has also served as a delegate to the 2022 Georgia Democratic Convention, an ex-officio member of the Henry County Democratic Committee, chairwoman of the Young Democrats of Georgia Labor Caucus, and is finishing her second term as president of GCSU Young Democrats. She plans to pursue a JD and work to create pro-union policies to benefit America’s working families. She is also a member of the Delta Gamma fraternity, a devotee of all things “Sex and the City,” a perfume collector, and an avid Dolly Parton fan. 

Born to Dominican immigrants in Perth Amboy, Lezlie is a first-generation college student pursuing a double-major in political science and global interdisciplinary studies, along with minors in peace and justice and public administration. Lezlie's academic focus is driven by her aspiration to empower low-income communities of color in urban areas through the nonprofit sector. Her policy interests encompass advocating for diversity in K-12 curriculum, expanding college readiness programs, and championing equitable voting laws, particularly within communities of color. At Villanova, Lezlie is actively involved in various leadership roles. She is a cheerleader on the Villanova cheer team, serves as co-president of the Latin American Student Organization, and is a member of the leadership team for BIPOC, a multicultural student-athlete group on campus. Lezlie is an alumna of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, where she worked on Capitol Hill in the US House of Representatives. This summer, she will participate in the Public Policy & International Affairs Program's Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University, further preparing herself for graduate school. Post-graduation, Lezlie aims to pursue an MPA while engaging in community organizing efforts in her hometown. 

Adaure is a public health honors student in Detroit. Prior to this, she spent several years in Malawi, studying nursing and midwifery at Malamulo College of Health Sciences. Her clinical experiences as a midwife in high-demand, low-resource settings inspired her to pursue systemic work that could improve maternal and child health through policy and institutional reform. Adaure uses her personal, professional, and academic experiences to engage in understanding political institutions and how they interact with sociocultural questions that affect health and societal wellbeing. Adaure was a Mayoral Fellow for the City of Detroit, where she conducted vector and disease surveillance and community health education in the Environmental Health division of the Detroit Health Department. After the fellowship, she continued to work at the Detroit Health Department, where she now pursues outreach efforts in housing, environmental health, and process improvement. She plans to earn an MPH/MPP in community health sciences and health policy to address policy and research gaps at the intersection of housing and maternal health. She is committed to coordinating community-facing activities in Detroit that promote sustainability and efficiency in public health practice.

As the proud son of two immigrant parents, Rincon majors in biochemistry with minors in medicine, health, and society and data science. On campus, Rincon is the co-president of Next Steps Ambassa’dores, which is the dynamic peer support group for Vanderbilt’s inclusive higher education program for neurodiverse individuals, and serves as the campus policy chair for Active Minds, a group committed to heightening awareness and supporting mental health on college campuses. He founded the flagship ambassador site for the nonprofit Hip Hop Public Health, using hip-hop music and culture to break down cultural barriers to health literacy and equity in Nashville. Rincon intends to enter medical school and earn an MPH degree post-graduation. He aspires to pair his existing role as a disability rights advocate with his eventual status as a physician to care for patients with neurodevelopmental conditions. Outside of advocacy and service, Rincon can be found watching Formula 1 races, singing karaoke, or playing pickup basketball with friends. 

As an aspiring academic and civil servant, Elijah is currently pursuing a degree in government, Middle East studies, and Jewish studies. Elijah intends to specialize in legal, historical, and policy matters impacting conflict de-escalation and conflict resolution in the Middle East. Accordingly, Elijah has undertaken and led various grassroots peace initiatives pertinent to the Middle East. In the summer of 2022, he worked out of a Palestinian farm on behalf of the Roots peace movement, the only organization in the West Bank erecting joint initiatives for mutual understanding and reconciliation between local Jews and Palestinians. For the past two years, Elijah has led Atidna International, an organization establishing joint frameworks for dialogue and peacebuilding between Jewish/Israeli and Arab/Palestinian students on college campuses as the organization’s founder and president. From The Forward to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, Elijah’s peacebuilding initiatives have been heralded in both print and televised media. He also writes extensively about Middle East and North African politics. To prepare for his future endeavors, Elijah hopes to pursue a joint JD/PhD concentrating on international law, Middle East studies, and international security.

Alyssa is an environmental engineering student with minors in interdisciplinary problem-solving and climate change. Originally from Cavalier, a rural town in northeast North Dakota, she is passionate about improving climate change resilience and economic development in rural communities. Alyssa's career goal is to become an environmental attorney, focusing on securing cleaner, more affordable energy, revitalizing rural areas, and collaborating with environmental justice partners to drive change. On campus, she is currently a Nina Henderson Provost Scholar, where she builds capacity in local workforce development organizations to implement climate transition job training programs. Additionally, Alyssa develops and teaches undergraduate engineering curricula that incorporate social and environmental justice lessons to empower future engineers to advocate for equitable and sustainable solutions in their professional practice. She has conducted research on community-based heat mitigation techniques, the impacts of increased flooding on various social vulnerabilities, and the use of community gardens to promote access to healthy foods, reduce flooding, and improve economic development. In her free time, Alyssa volunteers at a local after-school program, where she introduces high school students to careers in technology. She also enjoys hiking, stargazing, and cooking with friends.    

Lisa studies in the politics honors program and double-majors in economics. As a first-generation American born to Ukrainian-Jewish immigrants, she is deeply committed to public service and making change through law and the justice system. She aspires to focus her career on expanding civil rights, promoting restorative justice, and uplifting values aligned with our democracy. She is passionate about facilitating dialogue across difference and civil discourse, believing that seeking common ground and understanding is a necessary starting point to bringing about change. As the chair of the University Judiciary Committee, she adjudicates Standards of Conduct violations with a focus on restorative and educational approaches that promote safety, freedom, and respect for all students. She cultivated her passion for civil rights as an intern with Equal Rights Advocates, a gender justice policy and legal nonprofit organization based in San Francisco. As a legal intern, she worked with attorneys to provide legal aid to women seeking justice and accountability in discrimination cases, and worked on California policy to provide legal and economic support for women. In her free time, she enjoys attending Jewish community events and spending time with her friends and family. 

The son of Indian immigrants, Aravind studies molecular & cell biology, healthcare management & policy, and statistics. His backgrounds in community health and basic science motivated him to pursue a career focused on addressing health disparities in under-resourced communities through advancing care for infectious diseases, due to their disproportionate impact on these populations. He intends to pursue an MD/PhD focused on immunology and communicable diseases, and subsequently hopes to work with the National Institutes of Health on continuing this research and also translating his findings by implementing community-informed interventions, with the aim of developing his own lab with these foci. Aravind founded ToxiSense, a research organization focused on creating more cost-effective, sustainable, rapid diagnostics for bacterial toxin contamination and infection. He also helps lead the Shelter Health Outreach Program, an organization of over 100 students alleviating health disparities faced by Philadelphians experiencing homelessness and other barriers to care. They do so through city-wide hypertension screening clinics, partnerships with Penn Medicine and Penn Dental to provide on-site care, case management, community health research, and a permanent free clinic in West Philadelphia. Aravind thanks his mom and dad for being his greatest inspirations, and all his other mentors that have supported him along the way.

Pranav studies political science and economics and is interested in international security, foreign policy, and strategic competition in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. On campus, he leads the Alexander Hamilton Society for Foreign Policy, is an editor for the Wisconsin International Review, and volunteers with the Missing in Action - Recovery and Identification Project, as well as Service to School. Previously, he worked as an international development researcher for Dane County and interned at the Center for American Progress and the US Department of Defense. He plans to pursue an MSc in international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science before attending law school and seeking a career in public service to promote principled and prudent American engagement abroad in championing democracy, human rights, and international law.

Kayle studies political science with minors in politics, philosophy, and economics, and education, schooling, and society. She has completed research assistantships focused on rural development, domestic agricultural policy, coastal resiliency, Native American history, and stream ecology. Kayle is passionate about improving rural mental healthcare access and worked with South Dakota State University Extension to distribute mental healthcare vouchers and coordinate suicide prevention training. She also co-founded South Dakota College Connections, an organization dedicated to aiding South Dakota high school students navigate the college admissions process. Kayle's commitment to rural development brought her to Washington for the National Farmers Union Legislative Fly-In, where she advocated for small farmers and sustainable agricultural policies. She continued that work during a 4-month internship with the US House Committee on Agriculture. Kayle has also studied and volunteered in Poland, Israel, and Ireland, to further understand histories of oppression, environmental peacebuilding, and agricultural sustainability. While on campus, Kayle has served as a sustainability co-chair in her student government and co-founded the Agricultural Student Association. Kayle intends to return to South Dakota and work to remedy the diverse issues that harm rural populations throughout her home state.

Born and raised in Guam, Julie is majoring in criminal justice and minoring in biology. She intends to pursue an MPA to further her public service around her region and the national community. On campus, she is currently the student regent member on her university’s Board of Regents, and served as treasurer for the Public Administration and Legal Studies Society Club for three years. She uses these platforms to amplify and address her community needs of homelessness and recidivism. In the local community, she serves as legislative secretary for the 34th Guam Youth Congress, and is a recipient of the 2024 Congressional Gold Medal. Julie will intern at the White House this summer. She strives to foster and promote social justices in the interest of those whose voice have been muted in the participation of policy. Julie’s goal is to grow into an educated individual who is worthy of public trust, and who solves problems with the highest ethical consideration while practicing the principles of democracy. When she is not serving the public, she enjoys watching movies, playing with her cats, and taking pictures.

Born and raised in Lexington, Reese is a biochemistry and molecular biology major at the Honors College with minors in computer science and public health. As director of government relations, Reese oversaw the crafting of policy proposals that were presented to city, state, and national officials, based in part on a student insight survey she created. She led a student advocacy mission to Washington, where she championed to White House and Congressional leaders for improved resources for first-generation and immigrant students, stricter legislation regarding sexual assault and hazing, and increased higher education support. Reese’s passion for advocacy intersects with her passion for healthcare. She volunteers weekly in her city’s emergency department and is published in the Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Journal as a member of the Simoska Research Lab, where she researches mechanisms of bacteria that affect immunocompromised patients. These experiences have inspired her pursuit of an MD/MPH for a career in medicine and public health policy. Her goal is to work as a physician for underserved populations to build a foundation to lead healthcare policy reform and advocate for rural Appalachia at the federal level. 

Kelsey studies behavioral sciences, concentrating in sociology, with a minor in diversity and inclusion. Motivated to capitalize on the unique strength of American diversity to outthink US adversaries, particularly through neurodiversity as a key force multiplier, she aims to reform the US Department of Defense (DOD) accessions and retention policy. Her goal is not only to accept neurodiverse (ND) individuals into the military, but also to break down stereotypes and promote greater acceptance and empowerment in society as a whole. She aspires to pursue a master's in social innovation with a concentration in neurodiversity studies before serving as an information operations officer in the US Air Force (USAF). She plans to continue her joint research on astro psychiatric artificial intelligence and apply her education across the full spectrum of military operations to influence relevant actors' perceptions, behavior, and actions through gray zone tactics. Kelsey is an action officer for the USAF's ND Initiative, a DOD Intellectual Edge Alliance Fellow, and a Certified Professional Innovator from the University of Michigan College of Engineering. Outside of the military, Kelsey loves drawing, hiking, Garfield the Cat, and Pokémon.

Alexandra studies political science and history. On campus, she served as editor-in-chief of the Brown Political Review, the largest political publication in the Ivy League.  Currently, she is conducting research on voter registration in high schools as a fellow for the Taubman Center for American Politics. Motivated by her interests in education, democracy reform, and criminal justice issues, she has interned for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, the Center for American Progress, the Rhode Island Center for Justice, Organize New Hampshire, Public Citizen, and Loyola’s Project for the Innocent. She also serves as a tutor for system-impacted students in Rhode Island and a coach for debate students in California. Particularly passionate about access to legal services for low-income people, she founded the Student Legal Association Supporting Housing, which organizes Brown student volunteers to assist Providence tenants in their eviction proceedings. Alexandra hopes to earn a JD/MPA to pursue her interest in legal justice and ultimately work as a civil rights appellate lawyer. 

Born and raised in Omaha, Jackson studies biomedical engineering with a minor in applied math and statistics. His experiences as a disabled student and observation of the lack of representation in STEM professions has led him to advocate for the rights and aspirations of disabled Americans. He is especially interested in improving higher education for disabled students. As part of a Biomedical Engineering Design Team, he is creating a better ventricular catheter for hydrocephalus patients and will be leading his own team next year. Jackson is a Lime Connect Fellow and gratefully serves his peers as vice president of his university’s student government association, co-chair of its university-wide student advisory body, and chair of advocacy and activism for Advocates for Disability Awareness. After graduation, Jackson plans to pursue a JD with an emphasis in disability law. In his free time, he performs acrobatics, runs, and enjoys hanging out with his friends and Design Team.

Born in Aden, Yemen, and raised by a single mother in Detroit, Laila is an immigrant whose experiences push her to fight for impoverished communities like her own. Having grown up beneath the poverty line and as a product of school closures, Laila believes education is a fundamental civil right. She plans to pursue a JD/EdM and aims to protect access to an equitable K-12 education through legal and public office in her home city. Over the past eight years, Laila has dedicated herself to understanding how education inequity differently impacts disparate communities like her own. She bridges the gap between policy and people by both working with local policymakers and mentoring young Detroiters. Laila runs bazaars for Yemeni migrant women and is currently creating a scholarship to encourage Yemeni-American girls to pursue college. At Harvard, she studies history and anthropology, is a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, and acts as a liaison between the campus’s first-generation students and administration. Through this role, Laila has founded some of Harvard’s most impactful first-generation student initiatives. In her free time, you can find her trying new cafes and reading.     

Originally from Mesa, Yudidt is a first-generation college student studying public service and public policy. She comes from Indigenous descent from the Otomi people from Mexico. After graduating high school, Yudidt interned in Washington, volunteered as a missionary in Brazil, and studied international relations as a US Department of State Gilman Scholar in Sydney, Australia. She served as student body president at Mesa Community College and interned at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and Smithsonian National Zoo. As a community organizer for the Arizona Education Association, Yudidt advocated for higher pay for teachers. She is a former IGNITE National Fellow, Andrew Goodman Ambassador, and Smithsonian Young Ambassador. She intends to pursue a JD at Arizona State University with an emphasis on gender equity and immigration policy. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of women leaders, she aspires to serve as Mesa’s first Latina mayor. In her spare time, Yudidt likes to visit her friends who live in other countries and regularly volunteers at College Bound AZ, which helps students apply for college. She enjoys practicing yoga and likes to listen to Billie Eilish.

Tej is studying molecular biology, healthcare management & policy, and statistics. Inspired by his experiences as an advocate and volunteer, Tej seeks to make healthcare systems more equitable and cost-effective. Focused on health economics, radiation oncology, and human-algorithm collaboration in clinical care, his research has been published in Nature Medicine, JAMA Health Forum, Journal of National Cancer Institute, IJROBP, and Journal of Clinical Oncology. Tej co-founded the Social Equity Action Lab, a youth-led think tank that brings together students, institutional partners, and policymakers across the country to inform legislation on key issues such as America’s mental health crisis, value-based payment reform, and healthcare decarbonization. On campus, he is the director of the Locust Bioventures group, coordinator for the Netter Center High School Pipeline Program, and policy/outcomes researcher for the Shelter Health Outreach Program. He also interned with the Mongan Institute for Health Policy and Institute for Healthcare Improvement, working on projects covering Medicare Part D policy and alternative payment models. Following graduation, Tej intends to pursue an MD/MPP and leverage insights from medicine and policy to improve nationwide care delivery.

Originally from Clinton, North Carolina, Yadira is the proud daughter of Mexican blue-collar and farmworker immigrants. She is studying public policy with a minor in history and a certificate in human rights. As a first-generation low-income student, Yadira serves as the Duke Student Government vice president for equity and outreach, addressing equitable fees, aiding DACA students, and advocating for marginalized students. Yadira is also the co-president of Duke Define America, leading a team that supports immigrants at Duke, in Durham, and beyond. Advocating for farmworker justice, she was an Into the Fields intern for Student Action with Farmworkers and currently serves on their theater committee. In the summer of 2023, Yadira worked for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in the office of US Representative Yadira Caraveo and learned about systemic barriers within the agricultural industry. She is also a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, researching the socialization of farmworkers in rural North Carolina based on the influences of geopolitical power that impact their experiences. Yadira aspires earn a JD to advance labor rights for farmworkers and low-wage workers.

Born and raised in southwest Iowa, CJ is hard of hearing and grew up using American Sign Language at home. Living at the intersection of the LGBTQ+ and disability communities, CJ strives for inclusion and acceptance for all who want to participate in the political process. Whether he is running for Iowa Senate, leading a rural queer working group, or clerking for Representative Sami Scheetz in the Iowa Legislature, strengthening civic engagement among rural Iowans is the priority for CJ. He is pursuing a degree in political science while serving as communications director for the Iowa Auditor of State, Rob Sand (IA 05). CJ and his husband live on a small farm in rural Audubon County, where they are active members of the Iowa Farmers’ Union and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. CJ is passionate about working toward climate solutions as part of a robust rural economic development agenda.

Jay is passionate about evidence-based policy to promote equitable economic opportunity. He currently studies economics, applied mathematics, and computer science. Growing up in rural Maine, Jay saw firsthand the life-changing impact of public investment in education and defense. Inspired by this, he has interned with the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, the US State Department's Office of Monetary Affairs, and in Maine's Governor's Economic Recovery Committee, helping save Americans nearly $4 billion and guiding $1 billion in effective investments in broadband and workforce development. Jay has also conducted research at Yale Law School, the Federal Reserve, and Brown University, focused on evaluating retirement, rural development, and social safety net policies. He has presented his research to executive and legislative branch policymakers, as well as academics. Jay also stays involved politically, serving on his county and state political party committees, a Maine gubernatorial campaign, and as a presidential elector in 2020. He intends to pursue a JD and a PhD in economics to analyze and implement evidence-based policy as a researcher and policymaker in Maine. In his free time, Jay enjoys playing trivia, promoting inclusion, running, and traveling with friends and family.

Raised in Albuquerque, Marley is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science and art, with a minor in English as a National Merit and National Hispanic Scholar. Merging traditional and unconventional backgrounds for a legal occupation, each discipline intertwines to drive her focus on presentation and individual expression within the political world. Leading university groups focused on representing student voices, Marley is passionate about nurturing a sustainable community and does so as her university’s chief editor and Phi Sigma Alpha political science honor society president. Inspired through her work interning with the executive director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, Marley intends to pursue her JD with concentrations in constitutionality and civil rights. Previously, Marley interned with the Air Force Research Laboratory. Outside of class, Marley enjoys writing creative fiction and poetry, making jewelry, and playing water polo for her university. 

TJ Riggs is a student activist studying political science and Spanish. He has spent his life moving both internationally and around the United States, inspiring his interest in the ways different communities overcome setbacks. His freshman year, he was tasked with reviving Samford University’s chapter of Amnesty International, which served as his introduction to the world of human rights activism. TJ became involved with death penalty advocacy in Alabama and was asked to serve as Amnesty International’s Alabama state death penalty abolition coordinator. In his role, he has worked closely with local legislators, partner organizations, and international human rights groups to advance the fight for abolition in the state. Outside of his activism, TJ is a varsity policy debater for his university’s team and has earned three consecutive bids to the National Debate Tournament. TJ also serves as the head coach of a youth outreach debate program through ImpactAmerica. He intends to pursue a JD and continue his death penalty work through both legislative activism and on-the-ground legal representation. In his free time, TJ enjoys spending time with friends, researching for debate, and visiting local restaurants

Camila is majoring in secondary education with a concentration in history and social sciences and a minor in human rights studies. Since childhood, she knew she wanted to be a teacher and dreamed of someday opening her own school. Her background in education, combined with her human rights studies, inspires her to work to make a quality education accessible for everyone. Camila intends to pursue a master's degree with an emphasis in educational psychology and learning design. Camila is particularly interested in how people learn, including how best to design curricula, materials, and learning spaces to better support that learning process. As part of her honors thesis, she is creating a manual to guide educators in Puerto Rico to incorporate social-emotional learning in their classrooms. 

Edwin, from Northern Virginia, is a first-generation Salvadoran-American majoring in legal studies within the Politics, Policy & Law Scholars Program. He is also in the Community-Based Research Scholars Program and the School of Public Affairs Combined Program concurrently earning his MPA. On campus, he co-founded Latinos En Acción, which is a chapter of United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth network and serves as student body president. Off campus, he is involved in organizations centered around immigration, such as the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), and gained experience in state and federal government. Edwin has been selected for the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship, the Henry Clay College Student Congress, and the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at UC-Berkeley. He plans to attend law school to become an attorney and support low-income families at the intersection of criminal and immigration law. Years later, he hopes to serve his community as an elected official dedicated to creating inclusive and representative policies.

Born and raised in Santa Ana, Diego Antranik is the proud son of Bolivian and Mexican immigrants. From a young age, his mom, dad, and aunt instilled in him the value of public service, education, resilience, and community. Over the past four years, Diego has mobilized thousands of his neighbors to engage and vote in local politics through community organizing. Interning at the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ office, Diego helped push forward an unprecedented homelessness prevention program. The pilot program provides $400 a month to 100 single-parent households and senior citizens on the brink of losing their homes. Diego hopes to continue the fight to give his community a political voice through his “Santanero Voter Initiative,” a program to increase voter turnout among Latino youth. He is committed to a life of public service, believing that politics should be responsive to everybody, not just large corporations, and that every person is entitled to basic needs such as healthcare, housing, and a life of dignity. Diego studies political science and public affairs and intends to pursue a JD/MA in economics.

Isaac is driven by a love for public service and a commitment to community. His career in advocacy began when he organized hundreds of students to protest his former college’s decision to fire a professor for officiating a gay wedding. Isaac organized protests, events, and petitions, working to support and protect queer students along the way. He then pursued a year in politics and government, starting as a congressional campaign intern before being promoted to oversee digital operations and strategy. Isaac played a pivotal role in a landslide victory. At just 20 years old, he went on to direct the creation of a new congressional office and served as communications director, building an entire program from the ground up in a matter of months. Isaac also has substantial formal research experience, writes for student publications, and consults for political campaigns. He is completing his BA in sociology and political science and plans to earn his JD to enforce tax law and drive tax reform. Isaac intends to eventually run for public office, working to represent his community and advocate for positive change.

Albiona is pursuing a major in political science, with minors in justice and women’s studies. As a daughter of Macedonian-Albanian immigrants, she grew up knowing the value of an individual’s vote in America. Her interest in voting rights and civic engagement inspires her to advocate for voting rights in her future legal career. She intends to pursue a JD with an emphasis on public interest and social justice. On campus, Albiona previously served in student government and currently serves the university as student regent on the University of Alaska Board of Regents. In her free time, she loves to read, scrapbook, and listen to podcasts. 

Jahneé is a dedicated community organizer and cultural worker, passionate about empowering youth. Currently a full-time youth organizer at Miami Homes for All, Jahneé mobilizes youth with firsthand experience of housing insecurity. They have organized around homelessness nationwide through internships with organizations like The Bronx Defenders and Causa Justa: Just Cause via the Center of Third World Organizing’s Movement Activist Apprenticeship Program. Committed to combating discrimination based on having a criminal record, Jahneé actively contributes to Beyond the Bars as a member, advocating for fair access to employment and housing. As a 2023 Changemaker with The Alliance for LGBTQ+, they led a banned book and people’s history campaign, establishing little libraries of banned books across Miami-Dade County Public Schools zones. Expressing art and passion through zines and poetry with Art for the People South Florida, Jahneé integrates personal experiences as a homeless, justice-impacted, queer, Latine individual to challenge the status quo. Majoring in global studies and women and gender studies, Jahneé aspires to earn an MPA and a PhD in community well-being.    

Growing up in the National Park Service encouraged a dedication to natural resources for Jaiden. She is currently studying forestry with a minor in fire sciences and management and has worked as a wildland firefighter for the National Park Service for the past two years. Her experience inspired her to focus on prescribed fire implementation and challenges. She intends to pursue an MS in natural resources stewardship with a concentration in forest sciences to expand her knowledge of the influence of policy in forest management. Jaiden is particularly interested in designing prescribed fire programs for the National Park Service to support natural disturbances on a landscape while mitigating fuel to protect property and life. She hopes to encourage collaborative efforts between National Parks and local tribes to perform burning in areas with cultural significance. In her free time, Jaiden can be found flyfishing the Blackfoot River and traveling to different National Parks.

Sophia studies political science, foreign area studies, and Japanese. Her background in policy development and personal understanding of sexual crimes has compelled her to focus her undergraduate studies and research on sexual crimes and justice. She intends to pursue an MS in data science. Sophia is focused on data collection and effective prevention education and plans to use her further education to support the development of these goals. Sophia has previously conducted research on sensitive-subject surveying to evaluate the effectiveness of current military sexual crime prevention efforts with the Office of Labor and Economic Analysis, as well as conducting personal and team research projects with both the Academy and Stamps Foundation. Sophia also enjoys Brazilian jiu-jitsu, volunteering with children and young adults with learning disabilities via The Resource Exchange, and supporting the Academy’s Public Affairs projects. 

Anitvir is currently studying biomedical science and is passionate about health literacy, particularly how it impacts the ability of patients to receive and follow through with prescribed medical care. He founded the Columbus chapter of Red Saree, a nonprofit organization devoted to raising awareness for and decreasing the prevalence of heart disease within ethnically diverse communities. For the last several years, Anitvir has also been an involved volunteer in multiple free clinics and spent a summer abroad in India volunteering at a mission hospital surgical center. He built ServUS, a sustainability start-up devoted to empowering and incentivizing students to engage in service. He is currently pursuing a fellowship through the Asia Foundation’s LeadNEXT ambassadors program focused on global leadership and collaboration. He hopes to pursue a combined MD/MS with a concentration in health policy management to guide health literacy decision making. In his free time, Anitvir enjoys playing basketball, playing chess, and trying all kinds of different food.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Alex is majoring in political science. He serves as vice president of the Columbia Political Union, program coordinator for the Eric H. Holder Jr. Initiative, and justice intern for the Brennan Center for Justice. During his freshman year of college, Alex co-founded "Reachout!" an initiative to empower marginalized high school students with the resources to create competitive college resumes. A current Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar, Alex has a broad interest in movements to end mass incarceration. His background in prison volunteering, interning as an investigator for The Bronx Defenders, and researching death penalty litigation at Columbia Law School inspires him to pursue a career in criminal justice reform. He plans to pursue a JD with an emphasis on progressive prosecution. After graduating, he aspires to work as an assistant district attorney with an emphasis on appeals and helping youth offenders in his hometown. In his free time, Alex enjoys cooking, attending jazz shows, and reading science fiction novels. 

Born in Queens to migrant workers and then living several years in Asia, Wena’s experiences drive her political and legal advocacy for migration labor and diasporic communities as well as an understanding of the uniqueness of transnational identities. A proud first-generation student, Wena studies race & ethnicity studies and history with a specialization in political economy. She is a Laidlaw Scholar and serves as a university senator. Educated in New York City Public Schools, she has served as a director of the educational equity nonprofit IntegrateNYC and been involved in local elections. Inspired by the immigrant street vendors who nourish the hearts of New Yorkers, she has worked since high school with the Urban Justice Center’s Street Vendor Project on policies to accommodate licenses and legal resources for vendors. Her dedication to labor rights has been nourished by experiences as a White House intern, Columbia Law Review DEI director, and a research assistant exploring the legal history of immigration. Wena intends to pursue a JD/MPP to reconcile the gaps in labor law that have historically excluded protections for migrant workers. In her free time, she enjoys writing prose, practicing the Chinese harp, and building intergenerational friendships with street vendors on food crawls around NYC.

Mikayla majors in urban studies and Black studies and commits her time to housing justice advocacy and racial justice activism. She hopes to pursue a career that makes material differences for those disadvantaged by housing discrimination, neighborhood segregation, and redlining. She has worked to transition Black first-year students to Stanford through New Student Orientation programming, produced policy memos on tenant protections that influence the US Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and other legislators to center frontline, renter communities in the energy transition, and served on the Stanford Board of Trustees to advocate for equitable land use. These experiences teach her that a future where affordable, climate-conscious housing as a human right is within reach. In her free time, she enjoys pottery, reality television, and traveling.

Grace is a dedicated honors student majoring in political science and minoring in sustainability. She aspires to earn a JD and to work in the federal government as an environmental lawyer, ensuring equity in land use policy implementation. She is particularly interested in applying lessons from the past to create a future of community-informed infrastructure development during the green energy transition. Originally from Rhode Island, her interest in public service was sparked through environmental work in local advocacy, nonprofit, and research spaces. In Washington, Grace has expanded her policy knowledge in transportation, financial services, energy, and agriculture through a multitude of internship opportunities, including with US Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg, US Senator Jack Reed, and former Representative David Cicilline. During the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, she reviewed grant applications for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program and assisted in developing a report on the US Transportation Decarbonization Blueprint. Grace is an active member of her academic community as a leader of the University Honors Peer Advising Program, an editor for the Undergraduate Review, and an undergraduate research assistant. 

Lee is pursuing a degree in sociology and the study of women, gender, and sexuality to inform his activism in housing justice. He is a founding member of Ithaca’s Youth Action Board, a group of young people working to fight youth homelessness in their community. Lee, along with his team, won the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program grant, a multimillion-dollar grant dedicated to elevating youth voice in service provision. Lee has been a central force in grant execution, helping found a Temporary Living Project and a Permanent Supportive Housing Project for youth in need of assistance in Tompkins County. He focuses on the safety of LGBTQ+ disabled youth, as protecting marginalized populations is the root of equitable policy. Lee is a community advocate and a member of the Ithaca Continuum of Care, a network of organizations and stakeholders working together to end homelessness. In his role, he uplifts the voices of people with lived experience of homelessness, ensuring that people at the heart of policy are not lost in the discussion. Lee plans to pursue an MSW/MPP with the goal of achieving a radically safe future for his community.

Ella, an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, is from Crookston, Minnesota. She studies public policy. Her community-based advocacy centers around the 15 nuclear missile silos housed on her Tribe’s reservation, which will soon be modernized, generating extensive environmental, public health, and safety concerns. To raise awareness about this injustice, Ella published an investigative podcast series “The Missiles on Our Rez” with Scientific American. She also works for Nuclear Princeton and Princeton’s Program on Science and Global Security, where she investigates nuclear assaults against Tribal communities. Ella previously served on the Minnesota Young Women’s Initiative Cabinet and the National Council of Urban Indian Health Youth Council. Outside the classroom, she aims to grow institutional support for Native students. She served as president of Natives at Princeton and led Princeton’s Indigenous Advocacy Coalition, where she worked with the administration, alumni, and students to hire Native faculty and organize events. She intends to pursue a JD with an emphasis on federal Indian law and environmental justice. After graduating, she will pursue community-engaged policy and journalism to empower Tribes to enact legislation that aligns with their wants and needs.

Trent is a driven first-generation Roan Scholar, majoring in political science with a minor in public administration. Fueled by a deep-seated passion for public service and a keen interest in higher education policy, he aspires to build a career in politics and law. Trent envisions pursuing a JD with a focus on public policy, ultimately aiming to empower underserved individuals in the Appalachian region by providing legal counsel, safeguarding the rights of the marginalized, and helping develop legislation to enrich educational opportunities within rural communities. Trent has worked tirelessly to foster a positive campus environment and provide greater opportunities for students. He founded and currently serves as president of his university’s mock trial team, and is also president of the student government association. He interned with the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, where he gained insights into the intricate workings of local governance, and served as a constituent services intern for US Senator Bill Hagerty – a role that reflects his commitment to understanding and addressing regional needs at the federal level. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Trent enjoys spending quality time with friends and indulging in a shared passion for horror movies.

Mielad is passionate about eliminating health disparities among racially and economically marginalized communities. Coming from an immigrant family in Texas, he aims to leverage research to inform – and reform – health policies and systems. He conducts health equity research as a National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Scholar and collaborates with hospital leadership at the Kennedy Krieger Institute on food insecurity research as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention John R. Lewis Scholar. Noticing gaps in his research on how large institutions respond to community needs, Mielad advocates at a systemic level, currently serving as Governor Greg Abbott’s appointed student regent of the University of Houston System. He is also the first youth member of the board of directors of the American Red Cross, Houston Chapter. Mielad intends to pursue an MD/PhD with a focus on data-driven health policy and management. He hopes to ensure all Americans can access healthcare regardless of their background. In his free time, Mielad enjoys morning runs, baking, and visiting farmers markets.    

Zane studies sociology, political science, and gender, sexuality & women’s studies. Their interdisciplinary background has helped inform their understanding of social justice and equity. Zane intends to pursue a JD/MA in human rights studies, eventually working in public interest law to protect the interests of queer communities and dismantle the inequity inherent in our current systems. They are putting themself through school and are the first of their siblings to attend college. Zane is currently working on a thesis that investigates and subverts recent legislative attacks on the queer community. In 2023, they were awarded the Brennens Summer Research Fellowship from the University of Vermont in order to study how to make queer history more accessible to demographics impacted by recent legislative bans on it being taught in schools. They are currently interning at the Vermont Statehouse for a state senator, and are a Dru Scholar and a Pedro Zamora Scholar. Zane enjoys yoga, gardening, and curating inclusive social settings.