Cruz Almonaci Vargas
Cruz is a staffer for Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin, where she primarily handles scheduling and constituent services. She recently graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in public policy from the University of Houston.
Cruz previously served as a Legislative Fellow for the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee; worked alongside attorneys to support Houstonians facing evictions as an intern for the University of Houston Law Center; and contributed to immigrant justice efforts as a UCLA Dream Summer Fellow.
For one of her academic projects, Cruz interned for the oldest and largest Hispanic press in the country, Arte Público, where she contributed to a digital collection documenting discrimination faced by Latinos in the U.S. in the early-to-mid 1900s.
Cruz’s experiences as a DACA recipient living in Texas fuel her goal of becoming an immigration and real estate attorney to make the American Dream more accessible to immigrants like herself.
Diego Andrades
Diego Andrades is a political appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration, where he serves as Special Assistant to the CEO of AmeriCorps.
Diego developed a strong interest in democracy reforms and election law during his studies at the University of Southern California (USC), where he earned a B.A. in political science (honors) and philosophy, politics, and law. Prior to his current role, Diego advanced these interests on Capitol Hill, serving as a legislative fellow in the Office of U.S. Rep Pramila Jayapal and as a policy fellow on the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
During his time at USC, Diego served as chief of staff in the Undergraduate Student Government. Here, he led all strategic communications responses on behalf of the Cabinet. Diego was also the president of Delta Omicron Zeta Leadership Society and a student body senator.
Diego plans to attend law school to further explore his passion for democracy and election law.
Brianna Bace
Brianna Bace is a Project Manager at the SUNY Research Foundation. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer at the University at Albany, SUNY, where she previously earned a Master of Public Administration with a focus on cybersecurity, as well as a B.A. in political science and emergency preparedness, homeland security, and cybersecurity. During her senior year, Brianna was a fellow in the Department of Defense’s Virtual Institutes for Cyber and Electromagnetic Spectrum Research and Employ Program.
Brianna has co-authored five publications on topics such as catastrophic cyber risk management, the applicability of international law on cyberattacks, and the cybersecurity of the space sector, serving as first author on four of them. With her legal degree, she hopes to tackle emerging issues in cyberspace and advocate for a safer, more secure, and more equitable digital landscape for all.
Hailing from the Adirondacks, Brianna loves the outdoors, playing soccer, reading, and spending time with her family.
Yasmin Behram
Yasmin Behram serves as the Special Assistant to the Maryland Secretary of Planning. She previously served in the Biden-Harris Administration as a White House intern in the Office of Public Engagement. She has also served on three active disaster deployments as an AmeriCorps volunteer in the Pacific Region FEMA Corps Cadre.
Yasmin obtained a master’s degree in international development and sustainability from the University of North Texas, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations.
Hailing from Laurel, Maryland, she is the daughter of Nigerian and Persian immigrants. With a legal education, Yasmin hopes to pursue international human rights law, specializing in creating more equitable structures for women and girls in the developing world.
Kaschondralynn (Kasi) Brown
Kaschondralynn (Kasi) Brown is a third-year student at the University of Southern California, double-majoring in political science and public relations. During the academic year, she is a trial attorney on the Mock Trial team.
Kasi is currently a Policy Fellow for Harris County (Executive) Judge Lina Hidalgo, advancing the Judge's policy agenda on immigration and juvenile criminal justice. This past summer, she interned for United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. in the Central District of California. Last year, she served as the Lead Intern for the City of Houston's Mayor's Office, spearheading initiatives for underserved communities that led to Houston's international designation as UNICEF's inaugural Child-Friendly City.
Hailing from South Park, Houston, Texas, Kasi is passionate about uplifting marginalized communities like her own. A first-generation college student of Creole descent, she aims to pursue a career in law and policy dedicated to pro bono civil rights work.
Noelia Calcaño
Noelia Calcaño is a Government Affairs and Strategic Partnerships Associate at Flix, where she works with local governments to improve transportation access in the Mid-Atlantic region and for rural communities in the South.
Noelia's professional experiences have strengthened her commitment to public service. In her previous role as the Grants and Communications Manager at the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, she managed outreach and fundraising for immigration legal services. She was also a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Teaching Assistant in Madrid, Spain, where she taught and engaged with immigrant communities. Previously, she was a Pre-Law Fellow for the Maine ACLU and a Legislative Fellow for the Office of Congressman Jared Golden, where she gained valuable insights into legal and legislative processes.
Noelia received her B.A. from Bowdoin College, where she double-majored in government and legal studies alongside Hispanic studies. She hopes to channel her passion for public service and immigration into her work within the legal field, advancing civil rights and civil liberties for underserved communities.
Andrew (Andy) Dareing
Andrew “Andy” Dareing serves as Legislative Director for Texas Representative Hubert Vo. A recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, he earned his B.A. in plan II honors.
While in college, Andy dedicated himself to several legislative positions with key policymakers, including Texas Senators Judith Zaffirini and Nathan Johnson, as well as Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Owing to his family’s interactions with the indigent healthcare system, Andy’s primary legal interests lie in health insurance financing and standards of care.
Andy originally hails from the small town of Mertzon, Texas. A firm believer that “y’all means all,” Andy hopes to attend law school to inform smart and compassionate policymaking that works for every Texan.
Dipita Das
Dipita Das recently graduated from Fordham University with a B.A. in philosophy and is currently a Litigation Legal Assistant at Milbank LLP, where she supports attorneys on a broad range of litigation matters.
During her undergraduate studies, Dipita interned for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and Witness to Mass Incarceration. In these roles, she developed a profound interest in the intricacies surrounding sentencing and the systemic challenges within the carceral system. Dipita was also the Diversity Intern for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Sponsors for Educational Opportunity - Law, where she championed the inclusion of diverse voices across the legal field.
As a first-generation South Asian immigrant from an underserved background, Dipita’s experiences have fueled her passion for empowering historically marginalized communities through education of their legal rights. She aspires to attend law school to ultimately become a litigator, advocating for criminal justice and prison reform.
Andy Flores
Andy Flores is a Voter Protection Associate on the North Carolina Democratic Coordinated Campaign, where he is helping to mobilize and protect the rights of voters across the state’s higher education community.
Prior to the campaign, Andy was Special Assistant to the Director at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator and a FirstGEN Fellow at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, where he supported the team of attorneys and advocates who defended race-conscious admissions before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Born in Mississippi to Mexican and Afro-Panamanian parents, Andy received his B.A. in public policy leadership (PPL) and philosophy from the University of Mississippi. He is Mississippi’s first-ever Latino to receive the Truman Scholarship (MS 22) and is a proud first-generation, low-income (FGLI) graduate. An aspiring movement-builder at the nexus of politics and education, Andy is interested in becoming a civil rights attorney and legal academic who challenges structural barriers to higher education, particularly in the Deep South.
Anthony Fosu
Anthony Fosu is an Admissions Officer at Dartmouth College, where he works on access programming for prospective undergraduates. In his role, he also assists senior leadership to engage community-based organizations in providing support to underrepresented students in navigating the college application process.
Anthony received his Bachelor of Arts in government at Dartmouth, where he served as President of the Dartmouth Chapter of the NAACP, President of the Minority Pre-Law Association, and Chief of Staff for the Student Government. He was also a Student Policy Researcher examining parental incarceration in Vermont and a First-Year Fellow at the Department of Education through the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center.
Alongside his work in Admissions, Anthony volunteers as a restorative justice program facilitator for Vermont Courts and as a Secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s African American Caucus. He is also a national organizer for International Central Gospel Church Omega Gen’s Youth Programs and an outreach fellow for the Wheelock Society. A proud New Jersey native, he hopes to attend law school to become a legal advocate for public education.
Elia Gil Rojas
Elia Gil Rojas is a Program Manager at the Justice Action Center, where she manages the Border Advocacy Training Project, a pilot program arranging advance parole trips for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to volunteer at migrant shelters in Tijuana, Mexico.
Elia has years of experience in immigration legal services. She previously worked for the Vera Institute of Justice and the Acacia Center for Justice as a Program Analyst on the Legal Orientation Program and Legal Orientation Program for Custodians of Unaccompanied Children.
Elia received her B.A. in public policy analysis with a concentration in politics from Pomona College. Originally from Mexico, she is interested in attending law school to become an immigrant and human rights advocate.
Danika Grieser
Danika Grieser is a Class of 2026 McCabe Scholar at Swarthmore College, where she studies honors economics and political science.
Through the Lang Opportunity Scholarship, Danika is pursuing a multi-year project to address Indigenous education access in her home state, Montana. Seeking to promote the democracy her parents protected as U.S. Army veterans, she is engaged with civic organizations that amplify voting efforts and legislative policy against closed primaries. On campus, she is an active leader in the Swarthmore Indigenous Student Association, the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility, and previously served as the student government Vice President.
Concluding her summer at the University of Chicago Becker Friedman Institute, Danika is exploring the impacts of economic policy and understanding discrimination through quantifiable measurements. She aims to integrate this economic analysis and framework into legal applications to promote fair land agreements for Native Americans and address ongoing inequities.
Niajah (Nia) Hyppolite
Niajah (Nia) Hyppolite received her B.A. in sociology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Commonwealth Honors College and works as a Coordinator at the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy.
During her tenure at UMass Amherst, Nia aimed to expand opportunities for students with underrepresented backgrounds through her work as a Social and Behavioral Sciences in D.C. Fellow, a volunteer tutor for Upward Bound, and a peer advisor.
Her passion for education and the law began with her experience as a student in Massachusetts’ voluntary school bussing program. This experience inspired her involvement as a volunteer at Harvard Law School’s Tenant Advocacy Project, an education policy intern for the U.S. Senate HELP Committee (Majority), and a legislative intern for Congressman Tony Cárdenas in Washington, D.C.
As a first-generation college graduate, Nia aspires to become an attorney and open avenues for marginalized communities within education and housing law.
Carsyn Loncke
Carsyn Loncke is a junior at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, majoring in political science and global studies, with minors in English, Spanish, and human rights and humanitarian affairs. She currently serves as a Research Assistant in the School of Global Integrative Studies.
This past summer, Carsyn spent a month at the University of Alabama School of Law’s Summer Scholars Program, where she gained valuable insight into the legal field and the law school experience. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Carsyn has worked part-time as an Administrative Assistant at Berry Law Firm, developing a practical understanding of legal processes.
Originally from Springfield, Nebraska, Carsyn aims to attend law school in order to become an immigration attorney. She is dedicated to supporting immigrants through the citizenship process and advocating for systematic reform to address the exploitation of immigrants for cheap labor in Nebraska's agricultural sector.
Lidya Niguse
Lidya Niguse is a fourth year student at the University of Virginia, majoring in government with a concentration in American politics and minoring in leadership and public policy. She serves as a Research Assistant for the Public Engagement in Looking, Listening, and Learning Laboratory (PEGLLLLab) in UVA’s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
This past summer, she interned at DLA Piper, where she assisted attorneys by conducting legal research, drafting summary documents on client matters, and shadowing legal proceedings.
Hailing from Alexandria, Virginia, Lidya hopes to pursue litigation in regulatory and government affairs, and is dedicated to protecting public interest amidst a rapidly evolving legal landscape.
Shayra Nunez
Shayra Nunez is a senior at Franklin & Marshall College (F&M), majoring in business and government. She serves as senior class president and co-president of S.I.S.T.E.R.S., a women's empowerment organization.
This past summer, Shayra interned at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where she contributed to legal recruitment efforts and supported pro bono clinics focused on employment authorization and wage theft for low-income clients. Throughout college, Shayra has actively engaged in advocacy, working closely with the Movement of Immigrant Leaders in Pennsylvania and Church World Services, where she mentors refugee students navigating the college application process. She also serves as a Legal Intern for F&M’s Office of General Counsel, conducting research and reviewing college policy.
Growing up in a low-income, Dominican family, Shayra is profoundly committed to social justice, with a particular passion for immigration law and supporting underrepresented communities.
Kimani Panthier
Kimani Panthier is a recent graduate of Harvard College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in government and completed a secondary in history. Following graduation, Kimani returned to Long Island to serve as a community organizer with the New York State Democratic Committee, where he focuses on civically engaging Black voters and communities of color.
A first-generation college graduate from Hempstead, N.Y., Kimani is dedicated to educational equity and public service. During his undergraduate years, Kimani explored his interests in the public and private sectors, serving as a legislative intern for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and a summer associate at Boston Consulting Group. He also held leadership roles in several student organizations including Harvard’s student government, the Institute of Politics, and the Leadership Institute at Harvard College.
Driven by his passion for advancing racial justice and educational equity, Kimani is eager to attend law school and pursue a career in education and administrative law.
Logan Pineda
Logan Pineda is a rising senior at Rutgers University with majors in political science and criminal justice and a minor in Spanish. This past summer, he interned with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the Majority Staff, where he worked with the Western Hemisphere subcommittee on U.S. foreign policy in the region.
On campus, Logan serves as Vice President for the Latinx Pre-Law Society. Through the Lloyd C. Gardner Fellowship at Rutgers, Logan completed a major research project analyzing criminal gangs and violent crime in El Salvador under the Nayib Bukele administration. He is also an active member of the Eagleton Institute of Politics as an Undergraduate Associate and Editor-in-Chief of the Eagleton Political Journal.
A first-generation student born to Central American immigrants, Logan aspires to attend law school to explore careers in immigration reform, U.S. foreign policy, and national security.
Francesca Romero
Francesca is currently a senior at Occidental College majoring in diplomacy and world affairs. She is the president of the First-Gen and Low-Income Student Union and an Involvement Program Coordinator at Occidental’s Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement. Additionally, she was one of only eight students selected for the Barack Obama Scholars Program, which trains students for a life and career committed to the public good.
Francesca is a Digital Equity Fellow at Michelson Philanthropies conducting research on the internet as a public utility in Los Angeles. Francesca has also served as a policy intern with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and a Housing and Communities Intern at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA).
Originally from California, Francesca hopes to become a movement lawyer and advocate for affordable housing while working with community-based organizations. Above all, she believes in the power of community, human rights, and leading with compassion. When not working, she enjoys crocheting, hiking, and baking.
Mason Shaver
Mason is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis, double majoring in political science and educational studies.
This past summer, Mason interned with the City of St. Louis government as a policy intern in the Office of the President of the Board of Aldermen. In this role, he wrote a formal policy brief on economic mobility, which recommended that the Mayor’s office establish a city-funded tuition assistance program for city employees.
Mason is a College Preparatory Program Assistant to high schoolers, a peer mentor to freshmen, and a volunteer basketball coach for fifth- and sixth-grade boys. He is also a grant writer for A Red Circle, a non-profit that leads and promotes substantial investment in North St. Louis County.
As a first-generation college student from a low-income background, Mason aspires to attend law school to advocate for racial equity and eliminate educational barriers so every child can succeed.
Rohan Singh
Rohan Singh is a recent graduate of The American University (AU) in Washington, D.C. with a B.A. in international studies (magna cum laude). He is currently a Merger Clearance Assistant at Latham & Watkins LLP.
During his time at AU, Rohan served as the President of the Rotaract Club and was a member of the Outreach Committee of the Pre-Law Society. He also interned at the White House under the Biden-Harris Administration and at the U.S. Mission to the UN Human Rights Council.
Rohan is passionate about the intersection of international law, business, and public service. He believes that businesses have the power and responsibility to aid in the achievement of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Rohan is a native of the Washington D.C. metro area.
Choetsow Tenzin
Choetsow Tenzin is a recent Fulbright Scholar who served as Ren Ai Bilingual School’s inaugural English Teaching Assistant in Taipei, Taiwan. She graduated from Harvard University with a joint concentration in social studies and East Asia studies, and a secondary in educational studies.
At Harvard, Choetsow was an elected Class Marshal and worked as a student coordinator for the undergraduate admissions office. As a proud first-generation Tibetan American, she co-founded Harvard’s first Tibetan Cultural Association, dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and educating the community about the “Roof of the World.”
Originally from Charlottesville, Choetsow is passionate about human rights, corporate social responsibility, education, and financial literacy. Her experience includes supporting non-native English speakers; lobbying for mental health legislation; supporting college education for first-generation, low-income students; and writing educational policy proposals. She plans to pursue a career in law, focusing on international law and corporate accountability regarding human rights, with the goal of advocating more effectively for marginalized voices.
Omar Uddin
Omar Uddin is the Principal of Uddin Development Consulting (UDC), a consulting firm he founded to assist small-scale and emerging real estate developers with technical assistance services. Through his work, he also works closely with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and other industry consultants.
Prior to UDC, Omar was the Executive Assistant and Feasibility Analyst at Equitable Ann Arbor (EA2), a nascent non-profit which aims to promote quality affordable housing in Ann Arbor, MI. In this role, he met with various stakeholders to catalyze potential housing projects. He currently serves on the EA2 Board of Directors.
Omar is a Metro-Detroit native, and he received his B.B.A. from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. His personal interests include running, exploring the outdoors, and traveling. He plans to attend law school in order to develop affordable housing projects with multi-layered financing stacks primarily in his hometown of Detroit.
Kalvin Verner Jr.
Kalvin Verner Jr., a Kansas City native and third-year student at Yale University, is pursuing a degree in American studies with a certificate in Spanish.
Kalvin’s upbringing has fueled a passion for public interest law and advocacy for marginalized communities. At Yale, Kalvin co-founded and presides over the Black Pre-Law Association, leads BlackOut (Yale's Black Queer Affinity Organization), and serves as Outreach Director for the Yale Human Rights Journal. Their commitment to social justice extends beyond campus through volunteer work and internships with nonprofits such as the ACLU of Missouri and Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, where they work to protect LGBTQ rights in their home state and pursue justice for asylees.
A Gates Foundation Scholar, Kalvin balances academics with diverse interests, including creative writing, art, and dance as a member of Sabrosura, Yale’s premier Latin dance team. Kalvin plans to attend law school to leverage their experiences and skills to effect meaningful change as a public interest attorney, as well as pursue grassroots activism in their community.
Marlyn Zuno
Marlyn is a Client Advocate with Partners for Justice at the San Diego Primary Public Defender Office, where she works alongside attorneys to provide holistic representation. As a member of the Juvenile Justice Division, she connects youth and their families to resources and services that align with their personal goals and criminal case needs.
A first-generation college student, Marlyn graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley with a double major in political science and comparative ethnic studies. Her family’s immigration story, along with her upbringing in the border region of San Diego and Tijuana, shaped her interest in law. Marlyn aspires to attend law school and pursue a legal career in public defense or immigration law.