Michelle Balderrama
Michelle Balderrama is a recent graduate of Harvard College, where she studied Government and Neuroscience. This year, she worked with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on a report examining civil rights enforcement in higher education. Last fall, she interned at the U.S. Supreme Court, providing procedural guidance to attorneys and litigants on the Court's rules.
Originally from Culpeper, Virginia, and a proud daughter of Bolivian immigrants, Michelle is committed to her home state. As a Presidential Public Service Fellow, she served her local county Commonwealth’s Attorney's Office as a Spanish interpreter, assisting with prosecutions involving juvenile victims; worked as a legislative intern for Abigail Spanberger; and expanded college access for first-generation and rural students through her work with Harvard Admissions and her own initiative, You Can College.
Michelle intends to pursue constitutional law and legal academia, aiming to write on jurisprudence that bridges legal theory with lived experience and expands educational and economic opportunity for all.
Andre Barajas
Andre Barajas is a Science Policy Fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, a federally funded research and development center, where he supports research and analysis on critical national science and technology policy questions in service of federal agencies.
He previously conducted research with the Alliance for Interdisciplinary Innovation in Computing Education, co-authoring publications at the intersection of technology, racial equity, and education. He also worked with Duke’s Tech Policy Lab, where he investigated barriers in the cybersecurity workforce in Latin America and mapped AI policies across U.S. universities. Last summer, he interned as a software engineer at Adobe, helping build generative AI-powered video tools.
Andre earned his B.S. in computer science and public policy from Duke University. A proud Mexican American from Minnesota, he aims to pursue a career in law to advocate for marginalized communities and advance equitable technologies that protect civil rights.
Ileane Barrera
Ileane Barrera is a recent graduate of Columbia University, where she earned her B.A. in Political Science and Public Health. She is currently an NYC Urban Fellow, supporting a city agency while participating in an intensive seminar series exploring current urban issues and their impact on public policy.
Her work has included establishing the inaugural Introduction to Law course at Columbia University’s Double Discovery Center (which works with low-income, first-generation college-bound youth from Harlem and Washington Heights), interning with the U.S. Senate and New York State Senate, and conducting qualitative research on neighborhood redevelopment and poverty in New York City as a research assistant.
Raised between Queens and Long Island, Ileane is a first-generation college graduate and the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants. She plans to attend law school to become a public interest attorney, working to ensure that no New Yorker’s tax bracket determines their access to quality education and opportunity.
Kaylin Casper
Kaylin Casper graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Sociology and B.A. in Humanities Pre-Law. Currently, Kaylin is researching U.S. Supreme Court Indigenous rights litigation patterns and building a publicly accessible database of cases spanning 1970 to 2025.
At MSU, Kaylin led advocacy initiatives, including advancing the creation of an official Native American student housing program and serving as a lead organizer of an immigrant justice protest that united more than 1,000 students. She has experience in community and political organizing, including field organizing for the Harris-Walz campaign and Abdul El-Sayed’s grassroots campaign, as well as decarceration advocacy supporting incarcerated students through writing initiatives.
Kaylin is Anishinaabekwe, a direct descendant of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Guided by the Seven Generations and Seven Grandfather Teachings (love, respect, humility, wisdom, truth, honesty, and bravery), Kaylin seeks to advance Indigenous justice through federal Indian law and equitable public policy.
Yvette Castañeda
Yvette Castañeda is a paralegal at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, where she supports the Housing Justice and Workers’ Rights teams. She recently served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Galicia, Spain. A first-generation college graduate, Yvette graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Law and a minor in Education Policy.
Originally from Southern California, Yvette has interned with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Children’s Defense Fund–California, and the Los Angeles Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department. At USC, she participated in Agents of Change, an undergraduate civil rights clinic, where she worked on projects related to criminal justice.
As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Yvette is passionate about serving underserved communities and advancing equity. She hopes to pursue a career in public interest law, with particular interests in education and criminal justice.
Valentina Castro
Valentina Sophia Castro is a paralegal at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd., where she manages more than 300 active matters across immigration, civil rights, employment, and constitutional litigation. A first-generation Argentine Latina born and raised on Chicago’s Southwest Side, she graduated with honors from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Public Policy and a minor in Human Rights. Her undergraduate thesis on educational inequities affecting Chicago Public School students navigating pathways to elite universities was selected for publication in the Chicago Studies Annual, a journal published by the University of Chicago that features exceptional undergraduate research.
Valentina previously interned with the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, the Orleans Public Defenders Office, and the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. At UChicago, she served as co-president of the Organization of Latin American Students, worked at the Center for Identity + Inclusion, and mentored fellow students through the UChicago Mentoring Program.
Grounded in a belief that access to legal representation and understandable information can change lives, Valentina is interested in civil rights and employment litigation, immigration, and the ways compliance, health, and technology systems shape people’s access to information, protection, and opportunity. She plans to attend law school and pursue a career combining advocacy, pro bono service, mentorship, and long-term teaching. Outside of work, she is an avid runner and active member of Chicago’s run club community.
Priya Chainani
Priya Chainani is a program coordinator and research assistant at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, D.C. She works with its Global Health Policy Center on the HIV, routine immunization, and trust in science portfolios to advance health policy through data-driven research and convening stakeholders across government, private sector, academia, and advocacy organizations.
Priya grew up in New York and earned her B.A. in Medical Humanities from Columbia University. Beginning college during the COVID-19 pandemic and interning at Pfizer after the development of the vaccine were pivotal experiences in developing her interest in health policy.
During her time at Columbia, Priya served as President of the Class of 2024 and President of Symposium, an organization that promotes cross-cultural dialogue through teaching humanities-based seminars abroad.
Priya plans to attend law school to work at the intersection of global health, biotechnology, and policy.
Angelina DeMarco
Angelina DeMarco is a senior at Cornell University studying Government and Sociology with minors in Inequality Studies and Law & Society. She currently works at the Tuohy Law Group, where she has had the opportunity to work closely with attorneys and gain meaningful exposure to litigation and client advocacy. Previously, Angelina interned in the U.S. House of Representatives with Congressman Tom Suozzi, where she contributed to the bipartisan SHARE Plan Act, legislation focused on expanding employee ownership and creating greater economic opportunity for working Americans.
At Cornell, Angelina founded and directs Cornell Upward Bound, a college-access initiative that provides free advising and programming to hundreds of first-generation and underrepresented students. As a first-generation college student herself, her experiences navigating higher education have shaped her commitment to making opportunities more accessible to others.
Angelina plans to attend law school and is particularly interested in education law, corporate law, litigation, and intellectual property law.
Allister Dias
Allister Dias recently graduated summa cum laude from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where he received the Nevada Centennial Medallion for academic and leadership achievement. He currently serves as Global Development Analyst for UNLV Global and Legal Assistant for Raich Law PLLC.
In college, Allister served as student body president of the university’s Student Government, Editor-in-Chief of the Scarlet & Gray Free Press (the university’s student-run, independent newspaper), president of the Honors College Student Council, and lead consultant for the UNLV Writing Center. This past spring and summer, he studied in China as part of the 50,000 Americans in Five Years program and interned with the Las Vegas District Attorney's Office.
Originally from Goa, India, Allister immigrated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005, after his mom got a nursing job. He is interested in attending law school to advance housing and tenant rights and advocate for public resources to combat food insecurity.
Fausto Flores Alvarez
Fausto Flores Alvarez is a senior at Colgate University, double majoring in Educational Studies and Africana and Latin American Studies. He is interested in issues related to citizenship and belonging, particularly in educational spaces.
As a first-generation college student, Fausto's interest in the legal field stems from the systemic challenges and limited access to representation he has observed within his own family and community. This interest deepened over the summer of 2025 when Fausto interned with Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, an immigration nonprofit in El Paso, Texas, committed to serving the local community.
As a Honduran immigrant, Fausto intends to attend law school to become a public interest attorney and an advocate for immigrant rights.
DeJanae Harges
DeJanae is currently a Client Advocate at a Public Defender’s Office in Pennsylvania as a Partners for Justice Fellow. She connects clients to necessary social services and writes mitigation reports to aid legal outcomes.
Originally from Indianapolis, DeJanae earned her B.A. in African American Studies and Politics from Lake Forest College. She interned in a range of justice-based and legal internships, including the Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative with the Office of the Illinois Lieutenant Governor, the Lake County Public Defender's Office, and Greater Chicago Legal Clinic.
With her background in community development, direct services, and policy, DeJanae plans to become a public defender and community lawyer. Overall, she aims to change systems and build loving communities centered on care and healing.
Yauri Hatcher
Yauri Hatcher is a junior at Appalachian State University, majoring in international business and minoring in Spanish. She serves as student body vice president and president of the Omicron Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.
As the youngest member of the 2026 Holland Fellows cohort, Yauri traveled to Hong Kong, Cambodia, and Vietnam to examine challenges in technology, sustainability, and global business strategy. Working across cultures, she helped develop and present recommendations to Kontoor Brands’ executive team. She also participated in the Duke Pre-Law Fellowship, where she studied property law, criminal law, and legal analysis and writing, among other areas. Yauri works in Academic Affairs under the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, supporting confidential matters involving tenure, personnel decisions, and university policy.
A first-generation college student and third-generation Liberian American from Charlotte, North Carolina, Yauri is passionate about connecting people and ideas across cultures. She plans to pursue international corporate law and create opportunities through global growth.
Anthony Hoang
Anthony Hoang is a senior at the University of Southern California majoring in Intelligence and Cyber Operations with a minor in Cultural Diplomacy. At USC, he served as president of the USC Foreign Service Society and worked as a research assistant at the USC Gould School of Law where he analyzed court records and transcribed forensic interviews to support child abuse investigations in the Los Angeles dependency courts.
This past summer, Anthony worked for Paramount as a privacy analyst intern where he audited digital properties and advanced consumer protection requirements under domestic and international privacy regulations. He is now continuing his work within the entertainment world as a cybersecurity intern for NBCUniversal for the academic year.
Raised in the Deep South as the son of Burmese and Vietnamese-Chinese refugees, Anthony aspires to advance privacy rights, strengthen protections against surveillance and data brokerage, and promote greater government accountability.
Staël Kpetsu
Staël Kpetsu is a third-year student at the University of Minnesota, double majoring in Global Studies and Sociology of Law, with a minor in Spanish. She currently serves as a Violence Prevention Educator at The Aurora Center (a campus resource for those impacted by stalking, relationship violence, sexual assault and harassment) and is the Founder and President of the Collective Against Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (a student-run organization focused on gender-based violence prevention).
This past summer, Staël conducted research at the University’s Human Rights Program. Additionally, she collected data as part of Amnesty International USA’s upcoming report on human rights violations that occurred during Minnesota’s recent immigration surges. Last year, she interned with The Advocates for Human Rights, where she observed criminal trials to document patterns related to the criminalization of gender-based violence survivors.
Originally from Togo, West Africa, Staël moved to the United States to pursue higher education. Influenced by her country’s cultural emphasis on gender norms, she developed a strong interest in women's rights, driving her commitment to a career in international human rights law.
Christian Loredo-Durán
Christian Loredo-Durán was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by his parents, who immigrated to the United States from Guanajuato, México. He is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and is currently a paralegal with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
As a first-generation college graduate, he recognizes the importance of creating spaces that welcome all stories and cultures. His passions center on immigration, education, and human rights law, interests he has advocated for through his work with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez, and the White House Hispanic Initiative through the U.S. Department of Education.
Christian is also the co-founder of Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to guiding high school students as they build their path toward higher education and the workforce in Michigan.
Marilyn Martinez
Marilyn Martinez is a Program Coordinator at the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Community College Partnerships. She creates and facilitates transfer preparation programming to increase the competitiveness of California community college students.
Marilyn graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a B.A. in Sociology and Chicana/o Studies and was awarded College and Departmental Honors. During her time at UCLA, she worked two on-campus jobs, as a peer counselor and student admissions representative. Further, she interned as a research assistant and conducted a year-long independent research project on undocumented garment workers and their role in the informal labor market. Prior to UCLA, she transferred from Pasadena City College with three A.A.s in Sociology, Psychology, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
As a proud first-generation college graduate and working professional, Marilyn is empowered to attend law school and continue to champion access for marginalized communities.
Winnie Pham
Winnie Pham is a global trade consultant at Deloitte, where she advises multinational corporations on their international trade and tariff strategies.
During college, Winnie was a Provost’s Research Scholar, where she conducted research with Dr. Kei-Mu Yi on Vietnam’s long-term GDP growth as a result of the country’s post-1975 trade and economic policy liberalization.
Winnie previously served as a legislative fellow for the U.S. House of Representatives; volunteered with AmeriCorps for Iowa Legal Aid; tutored civics with The Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center (a nonprofit integrating Burmese refugees into the United States); worked as a risk management intern at Wells Fargo; and founded the Houston Undergraduate Law Review.
Winnie received her B.S. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Houston. Her experience as the daughter of Vietnamese refugees informed her interests in ASEAN economic policy and international trade law, and she hopes to contribute to policies that expand opportunity for developing economies and their people.
Lauren Proby
Lauren Proby is a summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Spelman College, where she earned her B.A. in English with a Pre-Law focus. Most recently, she worked as the Policy Manager of a national civil rights organization, where she focused on advancing disability rights through policy analysis, public engagement, and strategic advocacy.
Lauren’s advocacy has spanned government, nonprofit, and research spaces, including representing students with disabilities on her state special education advisory council, developing policy recommendations for government officials to protect existing disability services, and engaging organizations and community members on key disability rights priorities such as equitable access to education and community-based services that support independent living.
Ultimately, Lauren’s goal is to use her academic and professional background to create a more just and joyful world for those who are often marginalized in our society.
Teresa Salazar
Teresa Salazar is currently a third-year student at American University in Washington, D.C., pursuing a B.A. in Justice and Law with a concentration in Criminology. On campus, she currently serves as the vice president of the First-Generation Student Union and co-president of the BIPOC Scholars in the AU Honors Program.
This past summer, Teresa worked as an undergraduate law volunteer with the City of Chicago’s Law Department, assisting attorneys with pre-hearing matters. Previously, she interned with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Children’s Legal Center in Chicago, gaining experience working on issues currently affecting Latino communities and families.
As a first-generation college student, Teresa plans to attend law school to pursue a career as a public interest attorney. She hopes to use her legal career to advocate for the Latino community while pursuing her interests in civil rights, immigration, and criminal justice.
Emily Santiana
Emily Santiana is a researcher exploring the prosecution of children in Florida’s carceral system.
Her passion for this project grew from her time as a Mitigation Specialist in the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. Emily began as a Partners for Justice Advocate, but upon seeing the impact of leveraging community-based resources with mitigation, collaborated with attorneys on creative strategies to prevent the transfer of children to the adult court system.
Previously, Emily served as the Education Director for Children Beyond Our Borders and a Servant Leader Intern for Central Florida’s inaugural Freedom School. In June 2026, she co-authored a chapter in LatCrit and Education.
Emily received B.A.s in Political Science and Education Sciences, and a minor in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Florida.
Driven by a belief in a more developmentally informed and humane system, Emily aspires to pursue a career in juvenile defense that prioritizes holistic advocacy and reform.
Maria Sarango
Maria Sarango is a senior at Dominican University, majoring in Finance and Economics with a minor in Pre-Law. She is a Mazzuchelli Scholars Honors student, serves as President of the Undocumented & Immigrant Alliance, and sits as Student Trustee on Dominican University’s Board of Trustees.
This past summer, Maria was a UCLA Dream Summer Fellow with First Gen Empower (a nonprofit organization that helps first-generation, low-income, and immigrant students thrive in their college and career journeys). She is passionate about contributing to research and educational access for all, regardless of status, and continues her work with First Gen Empower supporting research and resource development. She has also gained legal experience through Beyond Legal Aid Chicago (a nonprofit providing free legal support to low-income and marginalized communities) and corporate finance experience through an externship at Mayer Brown.
As a first-generation college student, Maria is dedicated to expanding access to education, economic opportunity, and legal resources. She plans to attend law school and pursue a career in immigration and business law. .
Alden Stafford
Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Alden Stafford recently graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, where he studied history with a minor in creative writing. He is currently a voting rights fellow with OutVote HQ, where he promotes civic engagement among young LGBTQ+ and disabled voters.
After spending his childhood watching his family fight for Social Security benefits and healthcare access, Alden discovered the importance of legal disability advocacy as an intern for Disability Rights Maryland. He hopes to spend his career improving legal protections for people with disabilities, especially in the area of mental health care.
Winner of the Samuel Shellabarger Memorial Prize in Creative Writing, Alden is currently negotiating a publication contract for his undergraduate creative thesis, which explores the ways in which growing up a Preacher's Kid shaped his family's experiences with mental health.
Lera Bachoy
Lera is a Civic Engagement Fellow at Wesleyan University’s Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life, where she supports student-led civic engagement initiatives, builds community partnerships, and develops programs connecting students with opportunities for public service. She graduated from Wesleyan with Honors as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, earning a B.A. in Government, Psychology, and Human Rights Advocacy.
Originally from Belarus, Lera’s experiences with political repression and displacement shaped an early commitment to democracy, human rights, and advocacy. At Wesleyan, she pursued these interests through research on democratic resistance under authoritarian regimes, work on international human rights advocacy projects, and internships with organizations working to advance democracy and human rights.
Drawing on her lived experience and academic and professional work, Lera hopes to pursue a legal career at the intersection of law and public service, with particular interests in immigration and human rights.
Aishwarya Swamidurai
Aishwarya Swamidurai serves as a Legal Assistant at Democracy Forward, a national legal organization focused on advancing democracy and social progress, where she supports case teams with pro bono public interest litigation across a wide range of issues. A recent graduate of Princeton University, she earned a degree in Public and International Affairs with a minor in History and the Practice of Diplomacy. Her experiences include internships with the U.S. Department of Justice - Voting Section, the U.S. Senate, and the Brennan Center for Justice, which have bolstered her passion for election law and democratic accountability.
While in college, she served as Student Body Vice President and successfully advocated for expanded mental health services, delivered policy research to the United Nations on the U.S. criminal justice system, and served as a peer mentor.
Hailing from Oklahoma as the daughter of Indian immigrants, Aishwarya is passionate about fostering inclusive and responsive democratic institutions. She hopes to pursue a career in civil rights law and policy advocacy built on lived experience.
Malik Taylor
Malik Taylor graduated summa cum laude from Maryville University with a B.S. in Accounting and a minor in Political Science. He currently serves as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with the Missouri State Public Defender, helping develop tools and systems that strengthen holistic defense for clients navigating the criminal legal system.
At Maryville, Malik served two consecutive terms as student body president, where he led a restructuring of student government and drafted a new constitution. He was also selected to deliver the business school’s commencement address. His experience includes Big Four accounting internships and work with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and the ACLU of Missouri, where he researched voting rights restoration and proposed a targeted change to Missouri law.
A first-generation college graduate and St. Louis native, Malik’s experiences in legal services, policy advocacy, and public defense have shaped his interest in constitutional and civil rights law, as well as expanding access to justice.