Friends of The Archer Center Trust - 2015 Alumni Scholarship Recipients
The 2015 Friends of The Archer Center Trust voted to fund an initiative that allows The Archer Center to support alumni as they continue to pursue their professional and academic goals. Through the initiative, The Archer Center provides six $1,000 scholarships to alumni pursuing advanced degrees, public service fellowships, or study abroad experiences. Recipients are selected through a competitive application process.
Whitney Allen, Fall 2012 Archer Fellow
Whitney's commitment to public service was instilled in her by her parents, both public servants. As a student at UT Arlington, she took part in a variety of different experiences in other countries including studying in England and volunteering in China. She completed her Bachelor's degree in the Fall of 2012 and is currently serving in the Peace Corps in the Republic of Georgia. She anticipates entering graduate school in the fall of 2016 and earning an MPA in International Energy Policy.
Whitney's commitment to public service was instilled in her by her parents, both public servants. As a student at UT Arlington, she took part in a variety of different experiences in other countries including studying in England and volunteering in China. She completed her Bachelor's degree in the Fall of 2012 and is currently serving in the Peace Corps in the Republic of Georgia. She anticipates entering graduate school in the fall of 2016 and earning an MPA in International Energy Policy.
Raheel Ata, Spring 2014 Archer Fellow
Raheel is a medical student at Stanford University School of Medicine. A Eugene McDermott Scholar and UT Dallas alumnus, Raheel is interested in all intersections of technology, medicine, and policy. Specifically, Raheel is working on projects involving medical device cybersecurity, regulation and ownership of health data, and translation of brain-computer interface devices. Ultimately, Raheel wants to pursue a career in medicine focused on translating health care innovations from industry and academia to patients.
Raheel is a medical student at Stanford University School of Medicine. A Eugene McDermott Scholar and UT Dallas alumnus, Raheel is interested in all intersections of technology, medicine, and policy. Specifically, Raheel is working on projects involving medical device cybersecurity, regulation and ownership of health data, and translation of brain-computer interface devices. Ultimately, Raheel wants to pursue a career in medicine focused on translating health care innovations from industry and academia to patients.
Marlee Burns, Spring 2015 Archer Fellow
Marlee is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant working in Bilesuvar, Azerbaijan where she teaches English to 7th-11th grade students while also conducting research and assisting with projects for the Central Bank of Azerbaijan. Prior to arriving in Azerbaijan, she graduated with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Plan II Honors, International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies. During her Archer Fellowship, she interned at the White House with the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. In her free time she enjoys stress baking, trying to learn Azerbaijani, and bragging about Texas.
Marlee is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant working in Bilesuvar, Azerbaijan where she teaches English to 7th-11th grade students while also conducting research and assisting with projects for the Central Bank of Azerbaijan. Prior to arriving in Azerbaijan, she graduated with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Plan II Honors, International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies. During her Archer Fellowship, she interned at the White House with the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. In her free time she enjoys stress baking, trying to learn Azerbaijani, and bragging about Texas.
Brett Cease, Summer 2015 Graduate Fellow
Brett Cease is pursuing his doctorate in Public Policy & Political Economy with a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certificate at The University of Texas at Dallas. He received his Bachelor's in Psychology from Augsburg College and his Master's in Education at Bemidji State University. Passionate about civic engagement especially around environmental policy-making, Brett serves as a graduate teaching assistant as well as a student senator, heading a committee seeking to integrate sustainability principles across the UTD campus. As an Archer Center Graduate Fellow, Brett served within the EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics on research with modeling the social cost of carbon. He looks forward to working with government, non-profit agencies, and community stakeholders in finding common solutions within the intersection of environmental and economic issues.
Brett Cease is pursuing his doctorate in Public Policy & Political Economy with a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certificate at The University of Texas at Dallas. He received his Bachelor's in Psychology from Augsburg College and his Master's in Education at Bemidji State University. Passionate about civic engagement especially around environmental policy-making, Brett serves as a graduate teaching assistant as well as a student senator, heading a committee seeking to integrate sustainability principles across the UTD campus. As an Archer Center Graduate Fellow, Brett served within the EPA's National Center for Environmental Economics on research with modeling the social cost of carbon. He looks forward to working with government, non-profit agencies, and community stakeholders in finding common solutions within the intersection of environmental and economic issues.
Matthew Trevino, Fall 2014 Archer Fellow
Matthew is a philosophy major at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Though most of his days are spent in his hometown of San Antonio, he is working his way towards a career in international service. His interest in service was piqued by Harvard Kennedy School’s Public Policy and Leadership Conference during his freshman year. As an Archer Fellow, Matthew interned at Jhpiego, a global health non-profit.
Matthew is a philosophy major at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Though most of his days are spent in his hometown of San Antonio, he is working his way towards a career in international service. His interest in service was piqued by Harvard Kennedy School’s Public Policy and Leadership Conference during his freshman year. As an Archer Fellow, Matthew interned at Jhpiego, a global health non-profit.
Mark Walser, Spring 2006 Archer Fellow
Mark Walser is a Chicago native who graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in Historical Studies. As an undergraduate, travels in Southeast Asia influenced his participation in the prestigious Archer Fellowship, during which he interned for Amnesty International as an East Asian human rights specialist. Mark currently teaches music within Durango's public school system and is pursuing his M.Ed. with a focus on teacher leadership. He is passionate about bringing Project Based Learning into Colorado classrooms and was a founding teacher of a public charter, Mountain Middle School, where he designed and implemented the eighth-grade science, pre-algebra & algebra curricula.
Mark Walser is a Chicago native who graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in Historical Studies. As an undergraduate, travels in Southeast Asia influenced his participation in the prestigious Archer Fellowship, during which he interned for Amnesty International as an East Asian human rights specialist. Mark currently teaches music within Durango's public school system and is pursuing his M.Ed. with a focus on teacher leadership. He is passionate about bringing Project Based Learning into Colorado classrooms and was a founding teacher of a public charter, Mountain Middle School, where he designed and implemented the eighth-grade science, pre-algebra & algebra curricula.
