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The Archer Center is a non-profit entity supported by the generosity of its sponsors. Your support will ensure future generations of Texas students have the opportunity to take part in our programs. Donations can be made out to the UT Foundation and mailed to the Archer Center, attn: Katie Cook Romano, 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC, 20006. Please feel free to call 202.955.9091 with any questions.

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Contact information

The Archer Center
"Where Texas meets the world."
The University of Texas System
1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20006

202.955.9091 Phone
202.955.9039 Fax
archer@utsystem.edu

Archer Fellows Spring 2006

Nicole L. Monsibais – UT Austin

Nicole is a third year student from The University of Texas at Austin, double-majoring in Political Communications and Government with a minor in Mexican American Studies. She is a College of Communication Senior Fellow and is also participating in the Bridging Disciplines Program focusing on the Ethics and Leadership: Politics, Law, and Social Justice Strand. On campus, Nicole was active in the Torchlight Society, and as a result of her interest in community development, she became involved with the LBJ School's Latino Financial Issues Program where she most recently interned at Proyecto Azteca and La Union del Pueblo Entero in San Juan, Texas. While in Washington, Nicole will be drawing on her previous experience as an intern with the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations as she conducts research on the National Housing Initiative for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Angela McNair - UT San Antonio

Angela McNair is a senior from The University of Texas at San Antonio. She will graduate in December with a degree in Political Science and minors in Business and Legal Studies. After serving as an officer in Student Government, Angela was elected President of the Business Student Council. Last fall, she worked as a Resident Assistant at Chisholm Hall and completed her proposal for an honors thesis studying the impact of race and class on school finance reform. Her policy interests include education and socio-economic inequality. In her free time, Angela volunteers with middle school students and writes slam poetry. As an Archer Fellow, Angela will intern in the office of U.S. Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA).

Beth Andersen - UT Tyler

Born and raised in Minnesota, Beth has found a second home in Texas. She is currently a junior at The University of Texas at Tyler where she is majoring in Speech Communications. She is particularly interested in the non-profit sector and more specifically, with faith-based organizations. While in Texas, Beth worked with Teen Mania Ministries, a large multifaceted non-profit organization. In Washington, Beth will spend her semester as an intern for Concerned Women for America, working in their research and publication department.

Catherine Pepper - UT Austin

Catherine Pepper is a senior from The University of Texas at Austin. In May, she will complete a BS in Public Relations, a BA in Government with honors and a minor in Political Communication. She is also a member of the Bridging Disciplines Program in Ethical Leadership: Politics, Law, and Social Justice. Catherine spent her fall semester working at Applied Materials in the Austin Community Affairs office and will spend her Archer Fellowship working in Applied Materials' Government Affairs department. While an undergraduate, Catherine split her time between various internships and leading multiple student organizations, ranging from the Texas legislature and the Texas Conservative Coalition, to Media Relations Director of the Texas Union SEC Distinguished Speaker Committee and Director of Social Enrichment and Risk Management for Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.

Christine Olivia Nguyen - UT Austin

Christine is a junior from The University of Texas at Austin and is pursuing degrees in Business Honors, Marketing, Plan II Honors, and Government. On campus, Christine has striven to be a student leader, serving on the executive board of the Senate of College Councils, chairing the Judicial Commission of the Student Government, and representing undergraduates on the Presidential Student Advisory Council. Christine is a Goldman Sachs Global Leader and founder of the Southeast Asian Children's Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to bringing relief efforts to impoverished and endangered youth in the region. While in Washington, she will spend her semester interning for the International Justice Mission and U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX).

Chris Affolter – UT Dallas

Christopher Affolter is a third year McDermott Scholar from The University of Texas at Dallas. A Molecular and Cell Biology major, Chris devotes much of his time in Dallas to academic research in the lab of Dr. Juan Gonzalez. He also tutors students in reading and math in the Dallas Independent School District and volunteers as a docent at the Dallas Museum of Art. Chris is especially interested in science education and the role of science in society, especially in the context of global security. While in Washington, Chris will be working on biological weapon nonproliferation issues at the Arms Control Association.

Crystal Villarreal -UT San Antonio

Crystal Villarreal is a senior participating in the Honors Program from The University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a double-majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice with a minor in Legal Studies. At UTSA, Crystal devoted much of her time as a student tutor for the Tomas Rivera Center for Student Success and as a work-study for the Institute of Law and Public Affairs. She was named a Presidential Excellence Scholar and was featured in Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities. She is a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society, on the full-time Dean’s list at her university and recipient of numerous academic scholarships. During her time in D.C., Crystal will be interning with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. After graduation, she hopes to attend Law School, focusing on Social Justice and Civil Rights.

Emily Cadik – UT Austin

Emily Cadik is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin, double-majoring in Plan II Honors and Government. She is also in the Population and Public Policy Bridging Disciplines Program. While in Austin, Emily was the PR Director of University Democrats and was also involved in Voices for Choice, Project Opportunity and tutoring at the Salvation Army. This semester, she is the Public Policy intern at People for the American Way, and will spend her time focusing on civil liberties and reproductive choice issues.

Erin White – UT San Antonio

Erin White is a graduating senior from The University of Texas at San Antonio. In May, she will receive degree in Philosophy and plans to attend law school next fall. During her time in San Antonio, Erin was an active member of the UTSA debate team and president of the Debate Union. Erin is also a founding member of the UTSA Philosophical Honor's society and will graduate with Tier II Honors as a member of the UTSA Honor's College. While in Washington, Erin will be interning for the American Bar Association in the Media Relations Office.

Iris Kuo - UT Dallas

Iris Kuo is a Finance and Art & Performance senior from The University of Texas at Dallas. During her time at UTD, Iris led efforts to design and launch the Management Honors Program, which now enrolls over 100 students and serves the president of its student council. In addition to her experience at North Texas NPR station KERA 90.1, Iris will be drawing on experience as section editor of the UTD Mercury as she spends this semester covering stories daily for the national wire as a general assignment reporter at the Knight Ridder Washington Bureau.

Jessica Shepard - UT Arlington

This December, Jessica will graduate from The University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in Political Science/pre-law and a minor in business. While at UTA, Jessica balanced her time between competitive tennis and campus activities. She is a member of the University Democrats, University Catholic Community and Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. As Vice-President of Americans for Informed Democracy, she was involved in organizing informational events on foreign relations and helped facilitate collaborations with Student Peace Action Network and the Sierra Club on some events. Outside of school, Jessica was active in Tarrant County Young Democrats and spent time volunteering with Legal Aid of North West Texas. While in Washington, Jessica will be working in Congressman Lloyd Doggett's office (D-TX).

Justin Ulahannan – UT Dallas

Justin Ulahannan is a graduating senior from The University of Texas at Dallas. He is in the Management Honors Program at UTD, majoring in Finance with a minor in Criminal Justice. On campus, Justin was an active member of the Financial Management Association, having served as the Vice President of Marketing for one year. He is also a member of the John Marshall Pre-Law Society and the Indian Pakistani Student Association. During his time in D.C. Justin will be interning at the US-India Business Council primarily working on foreign direct investment, finance, business advocacy and trade issues with India.

Krista Anderson - UT Austin

Krista Anderson is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin where she has maintained a perfect grade point average while pursing degrees in business honors, humanities, and philosophy. At UT, Krista led campus activities such as Darfur Awareness Week and Rock the Vote and was chosen as Resident Assistant of the Year at her dormitory. Krista previously interned for a Houston-based organization that aids economically disadvantaged women and has studied abroad in China. As an Archer fellow this semester, Krista will be a constituent relations intern at International Justice Mission.

Luís González – UT Austin

Luís González is a graduating senior from The University of Texas at Austin, triple-majoring in Government, Latin American Studies, and Spanish & Portuguese. As a Public Policy & International Affairs Fellow, Luís completed the rigorous Junior Summer Policy Institute at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley last summer. While in Austin, Luís pursued student activities that span across the Forty Acres. In addition to his involvement with the Liberal Arts Council and Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, Luís was a Resident Assistant for two years, the student representative for the Department of Spanish & Portuguese's Undergraduate Studies Committee, and the Public Relations Director and co-founder of UT's G-Force Chapter, which mentors at-risk high school students. This spring, Luís will be working on the Brazil project at the Washington Office on Latin America. After graduation, Luís plans to work for a human rights organization before pursuing a graduate degree in Public Policy.

Mark Walser – UT Dallas

Mark Walser is a junior historical studies major from The University of Texas at Dallas. His extensive travels to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific led him to an internship with Amnesty International in the Asian Advocacy department here in Washington, D.C. Among his favorite activities are traveling, athletic activities, playing his violin and guitar, and enjoying the outdoors. Eventually Mark plans to teach high school within the public school system; however, upon graduating, he plans on volunteering in West Virginia for a non-profit focused on home repair and community building. Mark’s hope is that time in Washington will shed valuable insight on working for a non-profit organization.

Meg Scholz - UT Austin

Meg Scholz is a graduating senior from The University of Texas at Austin. She is majoring in Political Communication with a concentration in Ethics and Leadership. Meg enjoys reading and going out with her friends and family and is planning to begin law school this fall. Meg’s previous internship experience with Texas State Senator Jon Lindsay and with the Texas Senate's Nominations Office will undoubtedly prove invaluable this semester as she works in the Communications Department of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Ricardo Salazar – UT Pan-American

Ricardo Salazar is a University of Texas Pan-American senior majoring in Finance. During his time on campus, Ricardo was an active member and treasurer of the Financial Management Association. Outside of campus, Ricardo interned and later became part-time staff in the office of Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX 15th). He also participated in a competitive summer program for law school preparation and worked with tutoring high school seniors. While in D.C., Ricardo hopes to improve his understanding of finance through his internship with the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crime within the Department of the Treasury. After graduation, he plans on working in the financial sector of the entertainment industry.

Shelby Knox – UT Austin

Shelby Knox is a second-year Government major with a minor in Political Communication from The University of Texas at Austin. While at UT, she was active in Student Senate, University Democrats, and Voices for Choice. However, Shelby spent much of her time away from campus, traveling to speak about the importance of sex education and to promote a documentary film about the subject entitled, The Education of Shelby Knox. While in Washington, Shelby is interning in the public policy department of Advocates for Youth, working for the passage of legislation supporting better sex education. After graduation, Shelby plans to continue her own education with a dual program that will allow her to obtain both a law degree and an M.A. in Public Policy.

Edward Adrian Sandoval - UT Pan-American

This May, Edward Adrian will be graduating from The University of Texas-Pan American. He is currently double majoring in Philosophy and Political Science and hopes to attend law school in the fall. During his time at UTPA, Edward Adrian worked for the Office of Residence Life as a Resident Assistant/Community Advisor. In addition to working, he was involved in multiple campus organizations, ranging from President of the University Program Board to serving as President of the Student Government Association. He is a Graduate of the inaugural class of the UTPA Student Leadership Academy and continues to be involved with leadership development at UTPA. While in Washington, Edward Adrian will be working with Congressman Lloyd Doggett's (D-TX) office.

Mairi-Jane Fox – UT Austin

Mairi-Jane, a native of Scotland, is pursuing a humanities degree from University of Texas at Austin. Passionate about corporate social responsibility, she is currently writing an honors thesis about business ethics education. During her final undergraduate semester, Mairi-Jane will be interning at The Washington Campus here in Washington, D.C., where her interests in business, government, and education intersect.

Nathan Taylor – UT Tyler

Nathan Taylor is a Senior Political Science student at The University of Texas at Tyler. In 2004, he served as a delegate to the Texas Democratic Convention and worked on the John Kerry presidential campaign. He was also the President of UT Tyler’s College Democrats. His memberships include the Π Σ Α Political Science Honor Society, Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union. In weak moments, Nathan watches vintage presidential television campaign commercials on the Internet, or tunes in to C-SPAN to watch floor speeches. He can also occasionally be found onstage in local theatre productions. This semester, Nathan is interning for the Congressional and Legal Affairs section of the Embassy of Canada.

Nick Bacarisse – UT Austin

Nick Bacarisse is a third year student at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Government, History, and Middle Eastern Studies. In Austin, he has worked in the State Senate, the State House, the lobby, and as a researcher for various campaigns. More recently, his interests have shifted towards foreign policy, with a particular emphasis on the Middle East. This semester, Nick is working in the Federal Government Relations Office of Marathon Oil.