Fall 2019 Archer Fellows
Perla Aguirre | UT Austin
Office of U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) Perla Aguirre is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government. On campus, she has been involved with Minority Women Pursuing Law and the Student Conduct Board. Previously, she has worked at the Equal Justice Center and the Heman Sweatt Travis County Courthouse. Issues of inequity and injustice are of the utmost importance to her. After completing her undergraduate degree, Aguirre will be joining the 2020 Teach for America Corps in San Antonio. Afterward, Aguirre plans to attend law school to pursue a career in public interest law. 
Enrique Alvarado | UT Rio Grande Valley
Farragut Partners Enrique Alvarado is a senior at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley majoring in business administration. He was born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico and raised in Laredo, Texas. Alvarado has been recognized as the Management Student of the Year by the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Prior to the Archer Fellowship Program, Enrique completed the Robert C. Vackar Internship Program through an operations internship with H-E-B. His goals are to inspire others to keep looking for opportunities to become better versions of themselves, and to one day give back to the community. 
Bhaargavi Ashok | UT Austin
The Brookings Institution Bhaargavi Ashok is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in chemical engineering. For the past two years, she has worked as an undergraduate researcher in a biomaterials laboratory to understand the interplay between materials science and drug delivery. This past summer, she received an NSF-funded award to conduct research at the Johns Hopkins Institute of NanoBioTechnology. At UT Austin, she is also a member of the Student Engineering Council and a tutor in the chemical engineering department. Upon graduation, Ashok hopes to pursue an MD/PhD and later use her expertise to influence medical research policy. 
Fatima Azhar | UT Dallas
U.S. Representative Colin Allred (TX-32) Fatima Azhar is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in public affairs with a minor in public health. On campus, Azhar is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the Public Affairs/Administration National Honors Society, the student chapter of the International City Management Association (ICMA). She is also involved in many public health organizations including the Public Health Initiative and UNICEF. Azhar is passionate about public health, civil rights issues, public policy, and women rights. After graduation, Azhar hopes to work in the federal government focusing on public health policy to help reduce health disparities in marginalized communities. 
Addis Bedilu | UT Arlington
German Marshall Fund Addis Bedilu is a senior at Addis Bedilu is a senior at The University of Texas at Arlington majoring in political science with a minor in English. On campus, Addis is a member of the Mock Trial team, Pre-Law Society, and the Liberal Arts Constituency Council (LACC). Previously, he served as the president of the LACC, and secretary for the Pre-Law Society. Recently, he completed an internship with the White, Wiggins, and Barnes law firm. After graduation, Bedilu plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a public defender. 
Caroline Briscoe | UT Austin
Office of U.S. Representative Van Taylor (TX-03) Caroline Briscoe is a senior from The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government. During her time as a student, Briscoe has been involved in Texas Baseball Diamonds, Phi Sigma Alpha Honor Society, and Inside Books Project. For the past two and a half years, Caroline has worked in Texas politics as a staffer in the Texas State House during the 85th Legislative Session and for an education and health lobbyist. She became passionate about addressing the inequities in the public education system as a result of her involvement in education policy. In her free time, Briscoe enjoys cheering on the Longhorns. After graduation, she plans to work in Texas politics. 
Nery Chavez | UT San Antonio
America Votes Nery Chavez is a senior global affairs major with a minor in anthropology at The University of Texas at San Antonio. At UTSA, Nery has served as the president of Texas Rising, a member of Model United Nations, and Sigma Iota Rho Honors Society. In San Antonio, Chavez also served as a congressional intern for U.S. House Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), and an Issue Advocacy Fellow at MOVE Texas, where he engaged in city policy and state legislation around voting rights, immigration reform, LGBTQIA+ equity, and other progressive issues. After graduation, Nery plans to pursue policy work at the state, national, and/or international level. 
Trip Davis | UT Austin
Office of U.S. Representative LLoyd Doggett (TX-35) Trip Davis is a senior communications studies major from The University of Texas at Austin. He has previously interned as a Legislative Aide for Texas State Representatives Ina Minjarez (D-124) and John Turner (D-114). Additionally, he has worked at the Texas International Education Consortium as a Business Development Intern. He is interested in Education Policy, and how we can learn from other countries to find the best practices for educating a new generation of students. 
Barbara Di Castro | UT Dallas
League of United Latin American Citizens Barbara Di Castro is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in international political economy. On campus, she has served as the Vice President for the League of United Latin American Citizens, chair of the volunteer committee of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and is an active senator of the UTD Student Government academic affairs committee. Her hobbies include participating in Model United Nations simulations and teaching ESL classes to the working staff of UT Dallas. Di Castro is interested in international relations, foreign policy and immigration reform advocacy. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, Di Castro will be pursuing a law degree in the fall of 2020. 
Alexandro Dominguez | UT Permian Basin
The Lone Star Project Alexandro "Alex" Dominguez is a senior majoring in geology and computer science at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. His study focuses on seismic activity, information security, and statistics. On campus, he has served on the executive board of the Student Senate, which gives students the opportunity to develop their professional skills through leadership and public service. Upon graduating Alex will be pursuing a degree in law with plans on forming a career as a legal consultant for environmental conservation organizations around the world. 
Gavin Downing | UT Tyler
The Brookings Institution Gavin Downing is a senior at The University of Texas at Tyler majoring in political science. His experiences in the Tyler Junior College honors programs inspired him to pursue a terminal degree after graduation. After attaining a Ph.D., Gavin seeks to become employed at a university or a research institute. His research interests include race and ethnicity, philosophy, and political behavior in the United States. 
Omar Elnomrosy | UT Dallas
U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources - Office of the Majority Omar Elnomrosy is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in mechanical engineering. On campus, Elnomrosy has served as a senator on the UTD Student Government where he focused on engaging students in legislation that affects higher education. Omar also served as the vice president of the Model United Nations team and enjoyed traveling and competing on an international level. He has interned in the Dallas renewable energy market and is focused on the social impact of sustainable engineering solutions. Elnomrosy looks forward to a career in national energy policy. 
Melanie Escobar | UT Tyler
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Melanie Escobar is a senior at The University of Texas at Tyler majoring in history and psychology. She was a member and officer for Delta Gamma’s Campus Activities Board, and the National Society of Leadership and Success. During her time as a participant in the Model United Nation Conferences, Melanie developed her interest for improving climate resilience and human rights. Upon graduation, Melanie plans to pursue a career in crime scene investigation while continuing to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves. 
Blaire Evans | UT Dallas
The White House - Office of Public Liaison Blaire Evans is a junior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in international political economy and minoring in economics. In addition to her studies, Evans has devoted her time to serve on the Discipline Committee for UTD, volunteer in her community, intern for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, and pitch for UTD’s softball team. After graduation, she plans to attend law school and eventually pursue a career in politics. Evans has a deep interest in policies that impact women and the human condition. 
Christopher Fierro | UT Dallas
Office of U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert (TX-01) Christopher Fierro is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in economics with a minor in political science. Fierro has been involved with Mock Trial, Powerlifting Club, The Pre-Law society, Focus on Teens, Moot Court, Mediation, No Labels, UTD Weightlifting Club and as an employee for UTD. After graduation, Fierro plans to attend law school. He is interested in pursuing a career in corporate or criminal law, with a long-term goal of becoming a judge and seeking election to Congress. 
Kiyanoush Forough | UT Dallas
The White House - Council of Economic Advisors Kiyanoush Forough is currently a junior at The University of Texas at Dallas, majoring in finance and economics with a minor in political science. Last semester, he interned with the Office of U.S. Representative Colin Allred (TX-32) to help the new Congressman establish his office in his home district. On campus, he sits on the Davidson Management Honors Program Advisory Council to work with faculty and steer the direction of the honors program. As an individual committed to public service, he spent a year serving as the chapter director of the Ability Experience to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities. After his undergraduate career, Kiyanoush plans to attend law school. 
Elisabeth Foster | UT Austin
Office of U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18) Elisabeth a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government and sociology. She has an interest in courses on terrorism, criminal justice and advocacy. During her time at UT she founded Lasting Empowerment for Teen Success (LETS), a student organization which leads student mentors to work with incarcerated youth in Austin. She previously worked in the law office of Alexander Dubose Jefferson & Townsend, where she collaborated on a Texas capital punishment case. She also interned at Lone Star Justice Alliance, where she researched and managed case files of juvenile lifers. Foster is the author of Raspberry Colored Scars, a book of poetry which focuses on a personal account of sexual assault and the healing process that accompanies trauma. It is set to be published in December 2019. 
Nikolas Fotinos | UT Austin
American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Nikolas Fotinos is a senior from San Antonio at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government with a minor in philosophy. He has been actively involved as a member of the Student Conduct Board which allows him to shape and maintain a fair system for students involved in the student conduct process. He previously worked for Texas State Representative Eddie Rodriguez as a legislative intern. Fotinos plans to continue his education in law school with a focus on government relations. 
Over Garcia | UT Rio Grande Valley
STG Results Over Garcia is a senior at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley majoring in political science. He has spent the last five years working as an organizer for political campaigns in Houston, San Antonio, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Garcia is motivated by the science and numbers behind campaign operations and aspires to become a national political strategist following graduation. 
Sherin George | UT Dallas
U.S. Department of Justice - Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Sherin George is a junior studying political science and Spanish at The University of Texas at Dallas. She is a passionate advocate on behalf of vulnerable communities. Some of her most formative experiences have been working as a student researcher for school violence projects funded by the National Institute of Justice, a forensic intern for the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, and an undergraduate case analyst for the Innocence Project of Texas. She intends to pursue a legal career serving at-risk populations and will work to ensure that these communities receive equitable and meaningful justice outcomes. 
Rebecca E. Gutierrez-Riera | UT San Antonio
Akin, Gump. Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP Rebecca E. Gutierrez-Riera is a senior from The University of Texas San Antonio majoring in global affairs. Having lived in five countries and three continents, Gutierrez embodies what it means to be a global citizen. During her time at UTSA, she has participated in UTSA Model United Nations Conferences and served as Vice President of UTSA’s Human Trafficking Awareness Organization. She also recently completed a semester as a McClendon Scholar, where she interned in the Office of Texas State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer. She aims to integrate her international upbringing and broad academic experience to develop her professional goals and interests. 
Luis Hernandez | UT San Antonio
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) Luis Hernandez is a senior at The University of Texas at San Antonio majoring in business management with a minor in psychology. Since high school, Hernandez has been working to promote civic engagement. He was selected to represent district 7 in the San Antonio Youth Commission and worked with the San Antonio city council to galvanize the youth into active engagement. Hernandez plans to attend law school and eventually work in the public sector. 
Shelby Jacob | UT Austin
United States Supreme Court Shelby is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in government, international relations & global studies, and Asian cultures and languages. Curious about the migrant condition, her research interests fall under the umbrella of security/development, but her current project pertains to climate change's impact on South Asian foodways. She interned with immigration law firm RAICES, where she assisted survivors of human trafficking and undocumented minors in their legal journey. When not volunteering for her local refugee services, you can find this bibliophile attending art exhibits and hosting dinner parties for her friends. |
Jordan Joiner | UT Arlington
The John W. Kluge Center at the U.S. Library of Congress Jordan Kerry Joiner is a senior at The University of Texas Arlington majoring in political science and German. Joiner, who plans to be a lawyer, has a passion for law, history, world affairs, and foreign languages: German and Mandarin. Jordan greatly enjoys travelling, which he inherited from his grandma, and has both lived and studied abroad. He has served for several years in the Student Government and recently finished his term as Chief Justice of the Student Government. Jordan, known as Kerry to his friends, is an Eagle Scout from Lucas, Texas, who loves nature, reading, running, debate, and music. 
Ragya Kaul | UT Dallas
Alliance for Justice Ragya Kaul is a junior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in international political economy with a minor in public health. In the future, they hope to research public policy and provide solutions to racial and socioeconomic disparities in domestic policy. UT Dallas, they were a member of the Policy Debate team, as well as a Radio DJ at RadioUTD. After graduation, Kaul plans to pursue a graduate degree in political economy. 
Madison Lockett | UT Austin
U.S. Department of State Madison Lockett is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in international relations with a certificate in computer science. Lockett's studies focus on international security, with a particular interest in the intersection of cyber capabilities and advancements with traditional diplomacy, warfare, and security. She is an Undergraduate Fellow at the Clements Center for National Security at UT Austin. Additionally, she participated in a language immersion program in Spain, and had the privilege of joining the Clements Center Maymester in London. Outside of academics, Lockett volunteers with teen moms and is known for her baking abilities. After graduation, she hopes to work in the public sector and pursue a graduate degree. 
Matt Maldonado | UT Austin
American Foreign Policy Council Matt Maldonado is a senior studying government and Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. Matt has completed immersive Russian language programs, and conducted research in Irkutsk, Russia, and Kyiv, Ukraine, in addition to time spent in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Odessa, and Lviv. His interests include comparative politics, Russian foreign policy, and Russian and Ukrainian area studies. During his time on campus Matt has served as a Texas Civic Ambassador, a member of the Housing Conduct Board, and as an alumni-volunteer for Texas Law Related Education. After graduation, Maldonado plans to pursue a graduate degree in public policy. 
Marco Mascorro | UT Dallas League of United Latin American Citizens Marco Mascorro is a student at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in political science and minoring in finance. He is a member of the Model United Nations and Moot Court team on campus. Mascorro is a former civil engineer and current business owner who hopes to pursue a career in law. Following graduation, Mascorro plans to earn a joint J.D. and MBA degree in order to pursue a career at the intersection of business and law. In his spare time, Mascorro enjoys honing his craft as an amateur boxer and exploring the city for good picture locations. 
Rylee Matousek | UT Austin
Emily's List Rylee Matousek is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government and a certificate in ethics and leadership in law, politics, and government. Matousek has worked for the campaign for Texas State Representative Sheryl Cole, Annie's List, and the office of Texas Senator Beverly Powell. On campus, Rylee is involved in Texas Spirits and spends her free time volunteering for The Austin Parks Foundation and as a scuba diver at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Rylee is passionate about environmental and nuclear energy policy and plans to research the intersection of climate change and issues that predominantly impact women. 
Holly McDonald | UT Austin
Office of U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Holly McDonald is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government and minoring in communication studies. Over the last year as a fellow in the J.J. Pickle Research Fellowship in the UT government department, she had the opportunity to conduct and present her own research on the relationship between Congress and mental health policy. She also spent the fellowship working as a research assistant for two doctoral candidates. Since moving to Austin, Holly has worked closely in Texas state politics and is particularly interested in mental health and education policy. She has worked as a policy research intern with an Austin lobbying firm, as a campaign field fellow on a State House race, and most recently as the Deputy District Director and Scheduler for Texas State Representative James Talarico. After graduating in May, Holly plans to continue to work in Texas politics. 
Fabiha Mobin | UT Austin
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations - Office of the Minority Fabiha Mobin is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, studying International Relations and Global Studies with a concentration in International Security and a regional study of the Middle East. She was part of the Peace, War, and Social Conflict Lab as a research affiliate with Innovations for Peace and Development and the Urgent Action Coordinator with the UT Austin chapter of Amnesty International. Last summer, she interned with the International Rescue Committee and was a facilitator with the Fort Worth Sister Cities’ International Leadership Academy. In the fall, she studied abroad in France and attended Sciences Po, Paris campus de Reims. She is passionate about human rights and hopes to work in diplomacy and ultimately pursue a master’s degree in peace and conflict studies. 
J. Edward Moreno | UT Rio Grande Valley
Texas Tribune J. Edward Moreno is a student at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley majoring in mass communication with minors in environmental sciences and political science. While at UT Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), Moreno was treasurer of the Environmental Awareness Club for four years and worked as a reporter for his student newspaper and as a staff writer at UTRGV's News and Internal Communications office. He plans to become a journalist covering politics, energy and the environment. 
Emily Moussa | UT Austin
Science Applications International Corporation Emily Moussa is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government and economics with a minor in Arabic. Her policy interests center on intelligence and national security. Emily has served as an officer for Coptic Students of Texas, an organization that serves the Coptic Orthodox youth population in Texas. She was a member of the inaugural cohort of the Texas Intelligence Academy. She also worked as a legislative intern in the Texas Senate for State Senator Judith Zaffirini during the 86th Legislative Session. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in national security. 
Frida Murga | UT El Paso
Office of U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16) Frida Murga is a junior at The University of Texas at El Paso majoring in political science with a minor in environmental science. Frida is employed at the Office of the Provost as a student assistant, where she has dedicated her time to advocating for UT El Paso's student success mission. Previously, Frida has served as the student-elected secretary for the University's Environmental Advocates organization, which focuses on educating the community as well as promoting volunteerism. After graduation, Murga plans to attend law school and pursue a career in the environmental law and policy field. 
Kellie O'Brien | UT Austin
United Nations Information Center Kellie O’Brien is a third-year student at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government and history. While completing her degree, she interned for the Houston Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs and for Texas State Representative Abel Herrero (D-34) in the 86th legislative session. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend graduate school and then pursue a career in foreign policy and national security matters. 
Carla Ramazan | UT Dallas
NARAL Pro-Choice America Carla Ramazan is a Eugene McDermott Scholar at The University of Texas at Dallas where she studies political science and Spanish. She is passionate about women's issues related to sexual violence and reproductive justice. As Vice President of Student Government, Ramazan spearheaded an initiative to integrate affirmative consent into University orientation programs. Additionally, she served as a fellow for the Colin Allred congressional campaign and established the UTD campus chapter of Deeds Not Words, a political advocacy organization focused on women's empowerment. After graduation, Ramazan plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a public interest attorney. 
Kaycie Reynolds | UT Permian Basin
The Sheridan Group Kaycie Reynolds is a senior at The University of Texas Permian Basin majoring in political science with a minor in economics. Reynolds was born and raised in Gillette, Wyoming and moved to Texas in her sophomore year of college. She will be using her experience from the Archer Fellowship Program to choose a career in law or political advocacy. Kaycie would like to pursue a career where she is able to improve the policies and laws of our country. 
Benny Rubanov | UT Dallas
Albright Stonebridge Group Benny Rubanov is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in physics. He is a McDermott Scholar at UTD where he is the co-founder and Consulting Director of 180 Degrees Consulting at UT Dallas, a student-run consultancy that provides pro-bono consulting services for non-profits in the DFW area. Additionally, he worked at Qorvo, Inc. this past summer as a Product Analyst. He plans to pursue a career in consulting, both in the public affairs and management consulting sectors. 
Aakshi Sanchorawala | UT Dallas
The Melanoma Research Foundation Aakshi Sanchorawala is a junior in the Collegium V Honors Program at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in biochemistry with a minor in political science. She’s passionate about health advocacy and its effect on public health policy. Prior to being an Archer Fellow, Sanchorawala worked on the TX-32 campaign for U.S. Representative Colin Allred. On campus, she has been a Peer-Lead Team Learning Leader for calculus, an undergraduate research assistant, and the Public Relations Chair of the American Medical Student Association. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career as a physician that advocates for the well-being of her future patients. 
Mya Scott | UT Arlington
Emily's List Mya Scott is a senior at The University of Texas at Arlington majoring in political science with a minor in English. On campus, Scott completed her term as an Allan Saxe Fellow, where she conducted original research with professors in the political science department. While on campus, Scott was a member of the Legislative Relations committee in Student Government and has been heavily involved with the Leadership Center. After graduation, Scott plans to pursue a master’s degree in public affairs. She is passionate about women's health issues and wishes to use her experiences to generate positive change in the world. 
Thomas Sipp | UT Austin
Office of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) Thomas Sipp is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government. Sipp was born and raised in Japan. At UT Austin, he has been involved in organizations such as the Liberal Arts Honors Program, the University Boxing Club, Innovations for Peace and Development, and the Texas Undergraduate Law Review. Sipp has worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant for an honors level writing course. In the summer of 2018, he interned at the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network in Washington, D.C. He is planning to attend law school in the fall of 2020. 
Margaret Siu | UT Austin
Center for Strategic and International Studies Margaret Siu is a senior majoring in the Plan II Honors Program at The University of Texas at Austin. Siu holds certificates in Managerial Economics, Business Analytics, and Financial Accounting from Harvard Business School and Advanced Mandarin Chinese from the National Taiwan Normal University (國立臺灣師範大學). She is also the founder and Editor Emeritus of Apricity, the official literary and arts journal of UT Austin. Apricity, which has published new and established artists from across the world, has been recognized by British Vogue, the American Academy of Poets, and National Public Radio. Siu's writing has been recognized by institutions such as the Dallas Morning News, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Paragon Press, the George H. Mitchell Award for Academic Excellence, and the James F. Parker Poetry Prize. Siu has been a guest lecturer at UT's History of Social Entrepreneurship program at Beijing Foreign Studies University (北京外国语大学) and a keynote speaker at the Texas Leadership Society. She has a long-term interest in working to strengthen international relations between the United States and China. 
Pablo Christian Soenen | UT Austin
Organization of American States - InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights Pablo “Christian” Soenen is a student at The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in economics, government, and Plan II honors. His primary academic interests involve international security and public policy. Soenen is interested in finding effective solutions to the expansive problems created by organized crime in Mexico and Central America, particularly where the state has played a role in perpetuating conflict. He has worked with an Austin-based immigration attorney over several years on asylum cases. He also spent his freshman year researching violent drug trafficking organizations and gangs in Baja California, other transnational criminal groups, as well as migration. At UT, he participated in the Texas Intelligence Academy and is a Clements Center Undergraduate Fellow and a member of the Tejas Club. 
Samantha Sparber | UT Austin
NBC News Samantha “Sami” Sparber is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in journalism with the Moody College Honors Program. She is also pursuing a minor in political theory through the Jefferson Scholars Program. Recently, Sami reported on the 86th Texas Legislature as an intern in the Austin Bureau of the Houston Chronicle. She was the news editor at The Daily Texan, and previously reported on politics for the student-run campus newspaper. After graduation, Sparber plans to return to Washington, D.C., and cover Congress and the White House. 
Nabiha Syed | UT Dallas
Office of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05) Nabiha Syed is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in Information Technology and Systems. Nabiha’s interest in Health Care Information Technology Policy stems from her experiences working as a software developer intern at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. At UT Dallas (UTD), Nabiha served as the president of the internationally competitive UTD Model United Nations team and worked in the UTD Admissions Office. Post-graduation, Nabiha plans to pursue a career focusing on increasing coordination in the American health care system. 
Maria Villegas Bravo | UT Austin
U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary - Office of the Majority Maria Villegas Bravo is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology and distinguished college honors. As a UT student, Villegas has volunteered in Austin with Women of Excellence, and with Texas Performing Arts. She has also assisted UT Austin professor Dr. Marlone Henderson with social psychology research. Villegas also interned with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, assisting the immigration team by interviewing clients and compiling a database of Central American country conditions for the attorneys. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a law degree. 
Vladyslav Wallace | UT Dallas
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Vladyslav “Vlad” Wallace is a senior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in global business and international political economy. Wallace is a member of the Diversity Scholars Program and has been actively involved in Model United Nations. He was a research and advocacy fellow with Transparency International in Riga, Latvia where he studied the ramifications of institutional corruption in the post-Soviet realm. Wallace has also interned with the United States Department of State at the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan. Wallace plans to pursue a career with the Foreign Service after completing his undergraduate and graduate education. 
Sofia Wicks | UT Austin
The Vogel Group Sofia Wicks is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government with a certificate in ethics and leadership in law, politics, and government. Wicks has interned with Texas Star Alliance, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Texas State Representative Poncho Nevárez and the Peavler Group. On campus, she is a member of Ignite, a woman's leadership group. Upon graduation, she plans to attend law school, and pursue a career in human rights law. |
