Dina Abdelfattah
Dina Abdelfattah is a junior at Rutgers University New Brunswick, majoring in public policy with minors in data science and critical intelligence studies. She serves as the legislative affairs chair for the Rutgers University Student Assembly and a Talking Across Difference student leader for the Eagleton Institute of Politics. She also teaches first-year undergraduate students as a peer instructor on law and leadership.
This past summer, Dina interned in the office of Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, contributing to the Advisory Committee on Immigration Reform. During the school year, she works as a court clerk at the Middlesex County Surrogate’s Court, assisting families with guardianship petitions and supporting the New Jersey Guardianship Monitoring Program.
Growing up as a first-generation Arab American in New Jersey has fueled her commitment to strengthening legal protections for vulnerable communities. She is interested in pursuing family and immigration law, with the goal of opening a pro bono domestic violence clinic, while also contributing to legal academia in constitutional law.
Nathania Adhisty
Nathania is a recent graduate of Oglethorpe University, where she earned a B.A. in politics with minors in psychology and philosophy as a Dream.US Scholar. At Oglethorpe, she served as senior class president, co-founded its first Asian American and Pacific Islander student organization, and was selected as the 2025 commencement keynote speaker.
Originally from Indonesia, she is passionate about advancing immigrant justice and labor rights and expanding access to education for undocumented students.
Nathania currently serves as a program coordinator at Common Power, where she organizes a political education program and mentors student organizers nationwide. She has coordinated with campaigns in swing states, helping mobilize volunteers. She was also a UCLA Labor Center Fellow with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and has collaborated with Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta to advance immigrant rights and labor justice. She intends to pursue a career in immigration and labor law to protect workers’ rights and empower immigrant communities.
Judy Akid
Judy Akid is a rising junior at Providence College, majoring in political science and minoring in Middle Eastern studies. On campus, Judy serves as secretary of the Arab Student Association, a member of Student Congress, and a student representative on various committees.
This past summer, Judy interned at the Workers’ Compensation Court, where she had the opportunity to observe arraignments, trials, and pleas in different courts, gaining insight into courtroom procedures. She also spent her summer researching how Arab-American children’s books affect political and social development, which connects to her job during the school year as a children’s associate at the library.
Judy’s family is from Syria, and observing the Syrian civil war sparked her interest in the legal field. She plans to attend law school to work in either international or human rights law, assisting those in conflict zones.
Aminata Ba
Aminata Ba is a junior at the University of Mississippi majoring in public policy leadership with minors in Spanish and economics. She currently serves as a University of Mississippi voting ambassador, propelling civic participation initiatives on campus and statewide.
This past summer, Aminata interned in Dublin with AkiDwA, Ireland’s leading national migrant women’s network, where she researched female genital mutilation (FGM) practices, authored survivor support manuals, drafted embassy proposals, and supported casework connecting migrant women with health and legal resources. She previously served as a policy & government affairs intern for Emerson Collective, a fellow with Mississippi Votes, a consultant for United Nations Women, and a youth delegate for the World Health Organization.
A daughter of the Mississippi Delta, Aminata draws inspiration from the region’s ever-present legacy of activism and spirit of hospitality. She hopes to attend law school to become a public interest attorney serving marginalized communities in the South.
Celine Bacily
Celine Bacily is a junior at the University of Southern California, where she is studying intelligence and cyber operations with a minor in occupational science. On campus, she has served as president of the Foreign Service Society and as under-secretary-general for USC’s Model United Nations conferences. She also works at the USC Center for the Political Future, supporting students in finding opportunities for political engagement.
This past summer, Celine concluded an internship with the U.S. Department of State, where she supported digital operations for international exchange programs. She has since focused on community efforts, helping students with disabilities stay safe online and gain greater access to assistive technology.
A native of Southern California, Celine is the first in her family to attend college. Inspired by her younger sister with autism, Celine aims to pursue law school to help families like hers by advancing accessible technology and cybersecurity policies that protect and empower people with disabilities.
Matthew Braun
Matthew Braun is an associate at Winning Strategies Washington, a bipartisan government relations and consulting firm in Washington, D.C., where he advocates for clients’ priorities before Congress and the executive branch.
Previously, he served as a training support consultant for the Rutgers School of Social Work, training rural addiction medicine practitioners and community leaders in organizing, advocacy strategies, and policymaking. He also interned for Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, where he contributed to health policy research and facilitated a roundtable discussion with NIH, RAND, and congressional leaders.
Matthew earned his M.S. in addiction policy and practice from Georgetown University and his B.A. in political science, magna cum laude, from Rowan University. His journey navigating barriers to higher education fuels his commitment to evidence-based policymaking and strengthening democratic institutions.
Giancarlo Ceja
Giancarlo serves as a staff assistant for the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. His work and passion lie in environmental justice, striving to protect the marginalized communities most susceptible to the climate crisis. This pursuit was spurred by his upbringing, growing up in a low-income community in the Inland Empire of Southern California, which is disproportionately affected by environmental injustices.
He has previously served as a fellow in the Office of Environmental Justice at the Biden-Harris White House Council on Environmental Quality, helping to implement the administration's Environmental Justice and Climate Crisis executive orders. He also served as an intern in the White House Office of Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Giancarlo graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with two B.A.s in environmental studies and international relations.
Kenny (Kent) Chen
Kenny (Kent) Chen is an intellectual property resource assistant at Clark+Elbing LLP, supporting attorneys in strategically guiding clients through the development and protection of biological, chemical, and life sciences innovations.
Kent previously conducted research at Harvard Medical School on treatments for rare blood disorders while supporting patients undergoing clinical trials. He also interned at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Law, Brain & Behavior, developing neuroscience-based tools that translate research into actionable insights for juvenile justice cases.
A New York native, Kent graduated from Swarthmore College with a double major in biology and medical anthropology. His six years of biomedical, translational, and community-based health research have resulted in over five publications in peer-reviewed journals and an interdisciplinary perspective on the intersection of science, law, and policy. He is committed to safeguarding life sciences innovation while ensuring scientific discoveries translate into legal and regulatory protections that serve both patients and the public.
Ariana Clark
Ariana Clark is a Mellon Mvskoke Language Apprentice Fellow at the College of the Muscogee Nation, where she is mastering the Muscogee language. She is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, born and raised in western Massachusetts, and now lives in northeastern Oklahoma.
Prior to the fellowship, Ariana served as a database analyst and programmer for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Geospatial Department and Brownfields Program, where she applied data-driven insights to support tribal land and infrastructure planning. She earned her B.A. in computer science and critical Native American and Indigenous studies from Brown University, where she developed a strong interdisciplinary foundation in technology and Native American legal and cultural histories.
Ariana’s life is rooted in a deep commitment to Native sovereignty, cultural resilience, and justice. Her experiences, combined with her technical background and legal interests, has motivated her to pursue a career in federal Indian and tribal law. She aspires to support Native nations in reclaiming and protecting their land and knowledge systems.
Ting Cui
Ting Cui is a senior at Middlebury College majoring in political science. On campus, she is a research assistant for the Media Portrayals of Minorities Project (MPoMP), conducting large-scale text-as-data media analyses to examine how representation of marginalized groups shifts over time and across contexts.
This past summer, she was a policy intern with Run on Climate, researching local climate legislation for city councilmembers and local governments. She previously worked on immigration cases at Berlin and Associates, where her background as the daughter of working-class Chinese immigrants informed her approach to client intakes, discovery, and trial preparation.
Beyond academics, Ting is a Team USA figure skater. She was elected to serve on the Team USA Athlete Advisory Committee, advocating for athlete safety, representation, and wellness in governance processes. Her combined experiences fuel her commitment to protecting vulnerable communities through law and policy.
Brenden Garza
Brenden Garza is a recent graduate of Princeton University and a current Writing Fellow for the Princeton University Writing Center. In his capacity as a fellow, he collaborates with undergraduate and graduate students to sharpen their writing skills and develop their argumentation.
Before college, Brenden served in the United States Air Force as a cryptologic language analyst under a top secret security clearance.
Throughout his time at Princeton, Brenden has served in leadership positions on campus such as president of the Princeton Transfer Association and was awarded the Liman Undergraduate Fellowship for his commitment to public service.
As the first in his family to attend a four-year university and the first to pursue law school, Brenden aims to use his JD to practice public interest law and advocate for families just like his own.
Valeria Ibarra Gutierrez
Valeria currently works as a legal assistant at the law offices of Roxana Muro, where she provides immigration support to a broad range of clients. She is also a digital communications intern for the United Farm Workers of America.
Previously, at the Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, she assisted both legal and social service teams providing holistic services to unaccompanied minor children.
In college, she was heavily involved in community education as a staff member of the Central Valley Project and co-founder of the Semillas College Mentorship Program, created for children of farmworkers.
Valeria received her B.A. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles with minors in Chicana/o studies and community engagement and social change. Raised as the daughter of two immigrant farmworkers, her familiarity with the socio-economic disparities affecting the California Central Valley have shaped her as a fierce advocate for immigrant and farmworker rights.
Hadi Kamara
Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, Hadi Kamara is a senior at Princeton University concentrating in politics with a focus on international relations. He has pursued a global academic experience, studying abroad at Maseno University in Kenya, the University of Sydney in Australia, and the University of Oxford in England.
A proud U.S. Air Force veteran, he served four years as a C-130 crew chief, supporting global missions that deepened his interest in international affairs. This past summer, he worked at the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Policy as an intern with the Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI), gaining hands-on experience in defense policy.
Hadi’s background in military service and public policy has shaped his ambition to pursue a career in international law with a focus on the legal frameworks that govern global relations and conflict.
My La
My La is a senior at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, majoring in criminal justice with a minor in sociology. She is an undergraduate teaching assistant for the Moot Court course and serves as co-president of the competitive Moot Court Team.
The summer before her junior year, My provided Vietnamese translation support at a personal injury law firm. This experience inspired her to research how language barriers impact interactions with law enforcement. She further explored the legal field during an internship at Dill Law Firm, where she gained experience in trucking defense litigation.
As a Vietnamese immigrant raised in Louisiana, My is deeply passionate about bridging cultural and language gaps within the legal system. She plans to attend law school with a focus on family and immigration law.
Paola Landeros
Paola Landeros is a junior at Tufts University majoring in community health. She serves as the vice president of Tufts’ Pre-Law Society and a teaching assistant for the Tufts University Prison Initiative (TUPIT), where she helps formerly incarcerated students pursue higher education.
This past summer, as a Laidlaw Scholar, she conducted research on sustainable workflow reforms for electronic health records (EHRs) in resource-constrained environments and will apply her findings next summer in Malaysia. In addition, she was appointed as a Legal & Policy Fellow for the Whitestone Legislative Advocacy, where she will work to promote comprehensive medical resources for survivors of gender-based violence.
Having witnessed healthcare inequities firsthand in El Paso, Texas, and being intimately aware of the femicide crisis in neighboring Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Paola is committed to a career in health law to ensure patients have access to care and their rights are protected.
Arturo Marrero-Riera
Arturo Marrero-Riera is a senior at Florida International University majoring in international relations, philosophy, and political science. On campus, he currently serves as an Intelligence Fellow and as a student ambassador for the Veterans and Military Affairs Office, where he leads initiatives to expand opportunities and a sense of community for fellow student veterans. This past summer, he interned for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida as a judicial intern.
Prior to his undergraduate education, Arturo served for four years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a machine gunner, holding both squad and section leader positions. His experiences in the military combined with his family's immigration story have pushed him towards public service.
Recognizing the critical role that security has in safeguarding life in the United States, Arturo is committed to pursuing a career in national security.
Vivian Morales
Vivian Morales is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she earned both her B.S. and M.S. in Urban & Regional Planning, with a minor in Cities: Environment, Design, and Society. She is currently the Lowell L. Richards Fellow at the Massachusetts Port Authority, where she supports the Real Estate & Asset Management Department in development strategy and community engagement initiatives.
Her prior experiences include interning with the Senate Joint Economic Committee through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, conducting qualitative research on farmworker housing conditions as a graduate research assistant, helping launch an affordable housing urban agri-community in southwest Lansing, and serving as a legislative intern in the Michigan House of Representatives.
Originally from the Chicagoland area, Vivian is a first-generation college graduate and the daughter of Mexican immigrants. She plans to attend law school to pursue a career in real estate law with a focus on housing advocacy.
Elshaddai Muchuwa
Elshaddai Muchuwa is a senior at Franklin & Marshall College double majoring in cognitive science and government. He serves as senior advisor and former president of the Black Student Union and works as an intern in the General Counsel’s office, where he supports legal research and policy review.
Elshaddai is involved in research through the CARES Lab, where he has dedicated the past two years to co-creating a machine ethics course aimed at making technology, AI, and ethics more accessible to diverse audiences. His research explores how non-Western ethical frameworks can inform practical applications of AI.
Originally from Zimbabwe, Elshaddai’s interest in the intersection of technology, law, and ethics is grounded in Ubuntu (a philosophy of shared humanity and interdependence) and a vision where Africa develops her own computing power to shape the Age of AI. He plans to pursue a career in law, focusing on technology, international, and data privacy law and their societal impact.
Angel Palazuelos
Angel Palazuelos works as a certification program implementation consultant with First Gen Empower, helping design and deliver programs that expand access for first-generation students. He also serves as chair of Aliento’s Leadership Council, where he leads non-partisan initiatives at the intersection of immigration and education policy. He graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College with a B.S.E. in biomedical engineering and a minor in transborder studies, earning recognition as an ASU Tillman, Dream.US, and Golden Door Scholar.
Angel has advanced immigrant justice as a UCLA Dream Summer Fellow, with the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and through the Home Is Here coalition. His research spans collaboration with Mayo Clinic physicians on thermoregulation technology for insomnia and menopause and biotechnology innovations such as agro-biotech and organ preservation systems. He has published his work in The New York Times and USA Today.
A first-generation Dreamer, Angel plans to pursue a career in patent law, leveraging both engineering expertise and advocacy to expand access to legal, educational, technological, and healthcare opportunities.
Lex Renkert
Lex Renkert is a rising junior at Bowdoin College, where they major in molecular biology and environmental studies. Currently, they act as the program coordinator for the America Reads tutoring program and serve as a board member for the Athletes of Color Coalition.
This past summer, they interned at the Senate where they gained first-hand exposure to federal policymaking and helped to streamline constituent contact. In previous years, they have enjoyed working in various public services roles for local conservations and nonprofits, including managing land as a summer steward in Maine and acting as a caregiver through community services in New Hampshire.
As a New Hampshire native and an outdoor enthusiast, they are interested in attending law school to help protect vulnerable environments and communities.
Andrea Rivera Conte
Andrea Rivera Conte is an international trade specialist at Cassidy Levy Kent, where she assists in trade remedies proceedings before the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission.
She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in economics and policy studies from Lafayette College, which she attended as a Posse Scholar. During this time, she was also a Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University.
Born in the U.S. and raised in Panama, Andrea returned to the U.S. in 2016. Her upbringing in Panama inspired her to pursue a legal career as a means to foster transparency and accountability. Andrea aspires to become a federal prosecutor and work in matters related to financial and government corruption. During her spare time, she volunteers as a teacher and academic coordinator for the ESL program at her local parish.
Alex Santiago
Alex Santiago is a junior at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she is majoring in politics and Latin American studies. On campus, she co-founded La Sociedad for Latine Pre-Law Students, served as director of Lobby Corps in the Office of the External Vice President, and is a member of the Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid.
This past year, Alex worked as a student organizing intern for AFSCME Local 3299, advocating for a new contract for service workers across the UC campuses. She also served as a Dolores Huerta Legislative Fellow in the California State Assembly, where she developed her passion for making government more accessible and advancing tenant rights.
Raised primarily in California as the proud daughter of immigrants, Alex plans to attend law school to pursue housing law, provide legal defense for low-income tenants, and advocate for policies that create lasting housing solutions.
Janae Steggall
Janae Steggall is a project associate at States United Democracy Center, a nonprofit dedicated to the rule of law and free and fair elections. In this role, she provides direct support to state officials and combats election disinformation in battleground states.
Janae earned her B.A. in government with honors from the University of Texas at Austin. While at UT Austin, she served as president of TX Votes, registering and educating thousands of student voters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her love of voting began in high school, when she ran a one-woman voter registration and education drive so her classmates would not be disenfranchised in the upcoming local election.
Janae hails from Fort Worth, Texas, and is devoted to making voting more accessible. As a first-generation college graduate from a low-income background, Janae plans to attend law school to defend the right to vote for all, especially marginalized voters in the South.
Haley Thomas
Haley Thomas is a third year student at the University of Chicago, double majoring in Law, Letters & Society and Human Rights.
During the school year, she serves as co-president in her school’s Ethics Bowl team and advocates on the Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention committee. As a member of Kappa Alpha Pi and the student board of Law, Letters & Society, she also works to increase access to legal education by coordinating a network of over 200 students interested in law and hosting relevant monthly events.
This past summer, Haley worked as a research assistant for UChicago Law while working year-round as a paralegal with Teamwork Englewood, breaking barriers for previously incarcerated populations in the South Side of Chicago.
As a first-generation, low-income college student from rural Florida, Haley is passionate about advocating for marginalized populations and is eager to pursue a career in constitutional and human rights law.
Jalen Woodard
Jalen Woodard is a policy fellow at the Alameda County Office of Education, where he helps shape the agency’s legislative platform and drafts position letters on state bills and budget proposals before the California Senate and Assembly.
Previously, Jalen was a Fulbright English teaching assistant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where he promoted language learning and cultural exchange through teaching, coaching the English Reader’s Theater team, and organizing community events. He has also secured grants to expand mentoring programs for low-income youth and conducted policy and market research with two education consulting firms.
A native of Lancaster, South Carolina, Jalen earned a B.A. with honors in sociology and Black studies from Amherst College. At Amherst, he served on committees shaping admissions, financial aid, and faculty diversity, and supported underrepresented students by leading fundraising and community-building initiatives. He plans to attend law school to protect youth rights and advance equity in education.