Fall 2016 Archer Fellows
Ariette Agnew | UT Austin
U.S. Department of Education Ariette Agnew is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin pursuing a degree in corporate communication studies in addition to a business certificate. Ariette is interested in providing educational equity and equal access to healthcare and social services. She previously interned at Children’s Defense Fund Texas, working to provide affordable healthcare to all Texans. In Austin, she was a City Hall Fellow where she worked to bring digital inclusion to low income Austin residents. On campus, she served as the president of Texas Gospel Fellowship and as a mentor to first-year communication students. 
Allison Ainsworth |
UT Austin U.S. House Judiciary Committee Allison Ainsworth attends The University of Texas at Austin and will graduate in Spring 2018 with a major in political communications and a minor in government. On campus, she has been highly involved in student government as First Year Representative, Moody College of Communication Representative and Chair of the Legislative Policy Council. In addition, she is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Allison has worked in the Texas Capitol as a legislative intern for Representative Scott Sanford, and as an intern for Lilly & Company, a political consulting firm. Allison loves D.C., and is very excited about her opportunity to intern on the Hill. She plans to further her education through pursuing law school. 
Annie Albrecht |
UT Austin National Women's Law Center Annie Albrecht is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin and is double majoring in Plan II Honors and communication studies with a certificate in international business. On campus, Annie has served as the vice president of Liberal Arts Council and as a representative in both Student Government and the Senate of College Councils. She has interned with Corcoran & Co., Strategic Partnerships, Inc., and Well Aware, a local nonprofit. Annie is passionate about equality for women, particularly in the workplace and in higher education. She hopes to pursue a career in advocacy, communication, and public policy. 
Madison Albrecht |
UT Austin U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) Madison Albrecht is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin from Boerne, Texas. She is a liberal arts honors student studying government. Madison previously worked at the Texas House of Representatives on the Pensions Committee and managed a campaign for a state representative. She was selected as the page from Texas to attend the 2016 Republican National Convention. On campus, Madison has been actively involved with College Republicans and Young Conservatives of Texas. This fall, Madison will be interning for U.S. Senator John Cornyn. In the future, she plans to pursue a law degree to follow her passion for constitutional law and public policy. 
Maral Arslanian |
UT Austin Akin Gump LLP Maral Arslanian is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in plan I honors government with a business & public policy certificate, and minoring in Spanish. Her academic interests include corporate political strategy and campaign finance. On campus, she has helped co-found the Liberal Arts Refugee Alliance, served as a Liberal Art Honors mentor. She also participated as an active member of Texas Crew, both as an athlete and as its vice president. After graduation this spring, Maral plans on attending law school. 
Charlie Bonner |
UT Austin NASA Charlie Bonner is a rising junior at The University of Texas at Austin double majoring in Plan II Honors and government with a minor in art history. At the age of 12, he began volunteering on the Obama campaign and has continued to volunteer in politics every year since. Through his campaign experience, Charlie gained a wider perspective of how the government interacts and works with everyday people. Most recently, he served as the Student Outreach Coordinator for Hillary Clinton's Texas campaign, as well as a Legislative Aide at the Texas Capitol. In his free time Charlie enjoys volunteering with Ten Thousand Villages, registering new voters, and listening to Beyoncé. 
Lauren Bowman |
UT Austin The Heritage Foundation Lauren Bowman is a at The University of Texas at Austin. She is a double major studying government and political communications with a minor in history. She will be interning this fall at The Heritage Foundation. In the future she plans to pursue a career as a policy analyst working to solve social security and terrorism problems. Lauren has a passion for history, especially the founding era and the 1960s. Also, she enjoys reading, traveling, binge watching Netflix, and scrapbooking. 
Kat Brough |
UT Rio Grande Valley National Endowment for the Arts, Public Affairs Department Kat Brough is a senior at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley pursuing a degree in mass communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in marketing. She has been involved as a student leader on campus by serving in multiple roles in the Student Government Association and with the UT System Student Advisory Council. She is passionate about communication methods and plans to work in the non-profit sector while working towards starting her own firm. She also plans to continue leading worship in churches throughout her life. Her pastimes include music, being outdoors, and experiencing new adventures. 
Dylan Campbell |
UT Austin Financial Services Roundtable Dylan Campbell is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin, studying government, business administration, and Liberal Arts Honors. Previously, he has studied political science at The University of Copenhagen and international business at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He also volunteered at a United Nations refugee camp along the border of Thailand and Myanmar to teach refugees English. Dylan will be interning with the lobbying firm, Financial Services Roundtable this fall. Interested in the interdisciplinary role of both government and business, he hopes to work in either lobbying or consulting after graduation while pursuing his master’s degree in business administration. 
Jeremy Cana | UT Austin
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Jeremy Cana is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a Presidential Achievement Scholar majoring in government and minoring in history with a certificate in business and public policy. Jeremy has previously interned at Battleground Texas and Project Vote Smart, and he has worked as a Resident Assistant at UT Austin. He has also served as a mentor for Longhorn Link and was a member of Longhorn Advocates, where he worked with state officials on behalf of the University. After graduating, Jeremy plans to pursue a career in law and public policy. 
Claire Christensen |
UT Austin Gingrich Productions Claire Christensen is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin. She is majoring in government and pre-law with a minor in English. She plans to attend law school after graduation. This fall, Claire will intern for Gingrich Productions, a performance company featuring the work of Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and his wife, Calista. 
Raven Douglas |
UT San Antonio America Votes Raven Douglas is a junior at The University of Texas at San Antonio majoring in political science. She has interned with MOVE San Antonio, a non-profit, non-partisan civic engagement organization focused on college students. As a student leader, Raven has served as a board member to the Honors College Advisory Board, the director of civic engagement for the Undergraduate Political Science Association, and president of MOVE UTSA. Raven’s work with voting rights and political participation among young adults has led her to pursue law school after completing her undergraduate education. 
Chase Eakins | UT Austin
Drug Policy Alliance Chase Eakins is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government with a minor in history. His passion is drug policy reform, believing that resolving the failed drug war will mend many of society’s ills. He plans to pursue a master's in international Relations upon graduation with a continued focus on drug policy reform. Chase hopes to work for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the future. 
Erica Esparza |
UT Permian Basin Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Erica Esparza attends The University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas, and is majoring in political science with a minor in criminology. Her career interests include government and criminal law. She aspires to be a criminal prosecutor and eventually a circuit judge. Erica is also interested in public service and would love to be governor of the State of Texas at some point in the future. 
Melissa Flores | UT Austin
World Resources Institute Melissa Flores is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in urban studies and economics. She is a Terry Scholar and Austin City Hall Fellow. Melissa’s interest in sustainability began with a passion for ocean conservation. Determined to reduce global carbon emissions, she shifted her focus to the built environment. To learn more about urban development, Melissa spent the past summer working in Singapore and traveling across Southeast Asia. She plans to pursue a career in environmental policy and urban planning. 
Abigail Griffin | UT Austin
U.S. Department of State Abigail Griffin is a junior studying government, Plan II Honors, middle eastern languages and cultures, and Arabic at The University of Texas at Austin. She is a Forty Acres Scholar and an Arabic Flagship Scholar pursuing a career in diplomacy and foreign service. After graduation, Abigail intends to travel to Morocco to complete her Capstone Year for Flagship and then work abroad or in Washington for a few years before pursuing a graduate degree. 
Adam Hamze | UT Austin
Huffington Post Adam Hamze is an Arab-American student and journalist studying international relations, middle eastern studies, and Arabic at the University of Texas at Austin. Focusing most of his coverage on race, culture, activism, and foreign affairs, he's worked for The Daily Texan, The Houston Chronicle, and VICE News, and will be writing for the Huffington Post politics team this fall. Additionally, he helps run UT Spitshine, the university's only poetry organization, and has had poems published in literary journals such as The Offing, Vinyl, Radius, and Shade. 
Hannah Hoke | UT Austin
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia Hannah Hoke is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in political communication and wishes to pursuing an interdisciplinary certificate through the Bridging Disciplines Programs. On campus, she is involved with the Bridging Disciplines Program as well as a women's spirit group, Texas Royals. Hannah loves politics and analyzing political speech. Hannah is committed to a law career in policy and public service, and will gain valuable experience in that field this fall as an intern for the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia. 
Jalen Johnson |
UT Arlington Washington Redskins, Business Development Office Jalen Johnson is in his last semester as a senior political science major at The University of Texas at Arlington. He has had the opportunity to work for both Texas Governor Greg Abbott and State Senator Kelly Hancock. On campus, he has served as president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Student Congress senator, & Student Service Allocation Committee chairman. He passionate about sports, and after graduating in December, he plans to pursue a career in sports law. 
Jeongsoo "Ron" Kim |
UT Dallas Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Jeongsoo “Ron” Kim is a senior majoring in international political economics at The University of Texas at Dallas. During his time at UT Dallas, Ron got his first taste of the political world while interning at the office of Texas Senator Don Huffines. He has also dedicated his time advocating legislation aimed at reducing global poverty through his work as a political affairs intern for the Borgen Project. Ron hopes to attend law school after graduation. 
Brenna Larkin |
UT Austin American Enterprise Institute Brenna Larkin is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin double majoring in international relations and government with a minor in middle eastern studies and Arabic. Her love for studying national security and foreign policy put the Archer Center on her radar, and she is very excited to be studying in the nation’s capital this fall. It is her dream to work with the government on foreign and defense policy, a dream that was strengthened by her recent study abroad in London that focused on the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. 
Makenzie Lohman |
UT Austin American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Makenzie Lohman is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in philosophy and government. Her past experience is with Do512, the Travis County Intergovernmental Relations Office, the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee, and the Texas Fair Defense Project. She is especially interested in criminal justice reform, as she spent her junior year working with the Travis County Justice Planning Department to improve inmate health care and decriminalize truancy. After graduating, Makenzie hopes to work with a nonprofit or advocacy group focusing on prisoner’s rights before pursuing a master’s in public policy. |
Meridith McDonald |
UT Austin U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights Meridith McDonald is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin. She is majoring in government and minoring in English and communication studies. Meridith has pursued internships in the Texas State Legislature as well as in the legal field. On campus, she has served as the vice president of the University Preparatory Outreach Program and the director of public relations for Not On My Campus. She is interested in secondary and post-secondary education policy. After graduation, Meridith wishes to attend graduate school and pursue a career in public service or in higher education administration. 
Jorden Meneghetti |
UT Austin U.S. Supreme Court Jorden Meneghetti, originally from San Francisco, is a fourth-year Plan II Honors and history major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has served as the chairperson of campus events and entertainment distinguished speakers committee, and as an At-Large Representative in the Senate of College Councils. Additionally, she was selected for the Normandy Scholars Program. She is also a student representative on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Learning Technology Advisory Committee, and is a member of Texas Orange Jackets. After graduation, Jorden plans to attend law school and pursue a career in public service and policymaking. 
Ginny Montalbano |
UT Austin The Heritage Foundation Ginny Montalbano is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, double majoring in corporate communications and government. She is a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and the Texas College Republicans. This summer she interned in U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s regional office in Houston. She has also completed an internship working on campaign finance with Texans for Greg Abbott. Her career goal is to be a political analyst and commentator, but she has a variety of interests including media, politics, and entertainment law. Ginny is excited to pursue a law degree after graduating from the University of Texas. 
Katrina Moore | UT Dallas
Media iQ Digital Katrina Moore is a junior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in global business with a minor in political science. At UT Dallas, she is an active member of Residential Life, the Davidson Management Honors Program, and the Dean's Council. This past summer, she interned with the Small Firms Association in Dublin, Ireland, and fell in love with new cultures and travel. After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate school with the goal of joining the U.S. Foreign Service. 
James O'Brien |
UT Austin U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) James O'Brien is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government, and pursuing a business certificate from the McCombs School of Business. He has worked his way through college, all while attending University full-time, and holding two different internships in the Texas State Legislature. On campus, James was a member of the College Republicans and in Washington, D.C., he will be interning for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell. His career interests are directed towards energy and transportation, along with obtaining a juris doctorate after graduating from The University of Texas at Austin. 
Andrea Perez |
UT Rio Grande Valley Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Andrea Perez is a senior at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and will graduate with honors, attaining a degree in mass communication and a double minor in business administration and English. Andrea served as president of Eta Omicron Nu, a student organization offshoot of the Honors College. She has studied abroad in two countries and has interests ranging from reading and baking to reporting news around her community. She wrote for The Monitor daily newspaper in McAllen where she focused on a variety of topics. After graduation, Andrea plans to pursue a career in print journalism. 
Rohan Ramchand |
UT Austin The White House, Office of Science and Technology Policy Rohan Ramchand is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in computer science, mathematics, and government. Rohan is a member of the Turing Scholars Honors Program in computer science and is a computer science ambassador. Over the last three summers, Rohan interned at Bloomberg in New York, Apple in Cupertino, and Palantir in Washington, D.C. In addition to software engineering, Rohan is interested in using technology to inform policy, and is particularly interested in studying the impact of technology on privacy and civil liberties. He also directs the Texas Songhorns, UT Austin's all-male a cappella group. 
Sarahí Rojo |
UT Austin Washington Office on Latin America Sarahí Rojo is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in social work. Growing up in a border city alongside Mexico, she has always been interested in empowering and building strong Latino communities. Her interests in public affairs and advocacy led her to intern with non-profit organizations such as Annunciation House, Casa Marianella and Con Mi Madre. After graduation, Sarahi plans to serve in the peace corps as a volunteer before pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs. 
Mrinalini Shah |
UT Austin The Brookings Institute Mrinalini Shah is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, where she studies government and communication studies. She is interested in the nexus of human rights and national security. In Austin, she volunteers with vulnerable immigrant groups, including refugees, asylum seekers, and detainees. Mrinalini has spent her summers interning in Peru conducting political science research, and participating in the American Enterprise Institute’s Summer Honors Program. This summer, she studied at King’s College in London. Mrinalini plans to attend graduate school and work in Washington upon graduation. 
Katherine Stadler |
UT Austin Marathon Petroleum Corporation Katherine Stadler is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin pursuing a finance degree with a minor in government. On campus, she has been an active member of student government where she served as a Longhorn Legislative Aide and Clerk of the Assembly. Currently, she sits on The University of Texas Supreme Court as a justice. Additionally, she is involved in Delta Gamma sorority and the McCombs School of Business. Katherine has previously worked for Texans for Lawsuit Reform where she advocated for a balanced civil justice system within the state of Texas. Katherine is excited to explore her interest in both the public and private sector as an Archer Fellow this fall. 
Jacobo Tabora |
UT San Antonio The Perry Institute Jacobo Tabora was born and raised in Queens, New York, by his parents who immigrated from Colombia and Honduras. From a young age Jacobo expressed his willingness to serve in the armed forces, and after earning his high school diploma he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Jacobo is a veteran of the Iraq War and is now medically retired and married with two beautiful children. He is an honors student studying criminal justice at The University of Texas at San Antonio and will graduate this December. Jacobo seeks to bring much-needed reform to our criminal justice system in order to better serve all American citizens. 
Katrina Tilaon | UT Tyler
Family Health and Birth Center - Community of Hope Katrina Tilaon is an international senior honors student at The University of Texas at Tyler pursuing a nursing major and a political science minor. Throughout her undergraduate career, she has held leadership positions in the Asian Student Association and LOGOS. She was also heavily involved in research in the fields of entomology and nursing, and has presented her findings in different conferences. She is passionate about global public health and wishes to deliver culturally competent health care services to vulnerable children and families. After graduation, she plans to pursue a dual master's degree to become a family nurse practitioner and a public health advocate. 
Rebecca Tjahja |
UT Dallas The White House Rebecca Tjahja is a Eugene McDermott Scholar at The University of Texas at Dallas studying finance and political science. She is set on attending law school for her postgraduate studies, specifically in the area of technology and privacy law. Rebecca hopes to work for a large corporation right out of school, acquire a master’s in business administration, and then transition into politics later in her career. In her free time, Rebecca loves traveling the world. Having backpacked to 15 countries in Europe this past summer, she hopes to continue her travels every chance she gets. 
Samuel Vallejo | UT Dallas
The White House, Council for Environmental Quality Samuel Vallejo is a junior at The University of Texas at Dallas, majoring in biomedical engineering. On campus, he is involved in the bipartisan political organization No Labels, and also conducts research studying Vagus nerve stimulation and microfluidic cell squeeze channels. He plans to use his experience as an Archer Fellow to explore options concerning current public policy. Upon graduation, Samuel hopes to use his technological background to pursue a career relating to STEM educational outreach, science and technology policy, and biomedical ethics. 
Luis Veloz | UT Austin
The White House Luis Veloz's interest in policy started when his family was not able to pay medical bills because of a lack of health insurance, forcing Luis to leave school and take on a full-time job. Soon after, Luis became the head of a statewide healthcare campaign and made a national healthcare documentary with Univision. After graduating from community college, Luis interned for the mayor of Dallas and was named a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar, receiving one of the largest scholarships for Dallas Community College students. Luis is currently studying government at The University of Texas at Austin and plans to work in federal consulting. 
Kristian Villegas |
UT El Paso U.S. Department of Education Kristian Villegas is a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public administration and service, with a minor in legal reasoning, at The University of Texas at El Paso. Kristian plans to go to law school and focus on criminal or constitutional law. He aspires to become a district attorney and hold public office one day. Kristian worked with the Student Government Association as a Traffic Court Justice and is a member of the Chicano Pre-Law Society. Recently, he worked as an intern at Aaronson Law Firm. 
Sean Walker | UT Austin
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Sean Walker is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin. He is majoring in government with career aspirations in the political field, specifically with policy interests in reducing gun violence. 
Fatima Youssef |
UT Austin Karamah Fatima Youssef is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government and middle eastern studies with a minor in Arabic. She also completed a year at the University of Texas at Arlington where she studied Spanish translation. After graduation, Fatima plans to finish studying Arabic and pursue law school. She would like to become an immigration lawyer where she can help the members of the Latino and Arabic community. |
