Spring 2019 Archer Fellows
Samantha Acuña | UT Rio Grande Valley
U.S. Department of Education - Migrant Education Program Samantha Acuña is pursuing a Bachelor's of Arts in political science with a minor in business management from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. During her time as a student at UT Rio Grande Valley, Acuña has been involved in the Model United Nations Club and is also a Greater Texas Foundation and UT Rio Grande Valley Scholar. Previously, Acuña has worked as a legislative intern for the Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-27). Acuña hopes to become an immigration lawyer and advocate for those who are underrepresented in the area she grew up in — the Rio Grande Valley. 
Jose Aguilar Jr. | UT Austin
League of United Latin American Citizens Jose Roman Aguilar Jr. is a current student at The University of Texas at Austin double majoring in computer science and government. Aguilar plans to be an educator, passionate about education equality and youth mentoring. As a mentor for Project Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success (MALES), he works in East Austin schools to help guide boys and young men of color. On campus, he serves his community by being a member of the Texas Blazers and a leader to increase the advancement of Hispanics in STEM through the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Aguilar plans to one day be a leader in education reform and fix the education pipeline. 
Amahree Archie | UT Austin
Office of U.S. Senator Corey Booker (NJ) Amahree Archie is a student at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government and African and African Diaspora studies. On campus, she volunteered with UT Law’s Expunction Project and Austin Gentrification’s Research Project and currently holds the title as director of talent acquisition for the Gateway Scholars Mentor Program. Recently, Archie had the great honor of interning with Texas House Representative Eric Johnson (D-100) and soon after traveled to Beijing China to teach English to middle school students from underprivileged villages. Once graduating, she hopes to pursue a career in law and eventually run for public office. 
Alyssa Ashcraft | UT Austin
U.S. Department of Education - Office for Civil Rights Alyssa Ashcraft is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin studying government and humanities with a minor in Arabic and a certificate in public policy. Her interests include education and how related policies affect the rights of marginalized communities. On campus, she has served as the academic affairs director for the Liberal Arts Council, membership director of the Alternative Breaks Program, and the founder of the University’s Professional Clothing Closet. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a dual degree in law and public policy. 
Laura Cook | UT Arlington
Pay Our Interns Laura Cook is a student at The University of Texas at Arlington majoring in political science with a minor in French. On campus, Cook is a member of the Mock Trial team, Sigma Alpha Lambda and Alpha Chi Omega. Previously, she served as the vice president of intellectual development for Alpha Chi Omega, the senior Senator for the College of Liberal Arts for the previous Student Congress, and secretary for the Pre Law Society. After completing her undergraduate degree, Cook hopes to attend law school. 
Katherine Davidson |
UT Dallas United States Supreme Court Katherine Davidson is a Diversity Scholar at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in psychology and child learning and development. Upon completion of graduate work in psychology, she intends to practice clinically. Davidson’s fervent desire to diminish stigma surrounding mental illness and implement meaningful influence in the field has motivated her personal pursuits. 
Clisha D'Souza | UT Dallas
OneDC Clisha D'Souza is a pre-health track senior studying neuroscience and psychology at The University of Texas at Dallas. She is passionate about medicine, public health, immigration reform advocacy, and sustainability initiatives. On campus, she works as a student ambassador, serves as the vice president of Model United Nations and Rotaract, and researches at the Clinical and Integrative Neuroscience Lab. Off campus, she volunteers at the Collin County Adult Clinic, a community clinic for low-income patients. A traveler at heart, she has combined her love for service and adventure through carrying out a nutritional enrichment project in the Philippines, fundraised for and helped build a community shelter in Cuba, and has studied Spanish and volunteered at the Hermanos en el Camino migrant shelter in Oaxaca, Mexico. 
Nicholas Durand | UT Austin
Office of U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) Nicholas Durand is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government and history. Coming from a military family, Durand has always been interested in public service. Prior to being admitted to the Archer Fellowship Program, he interned for Texas House Representative Victoria Neave (D-107) and worked for the Texas Association of Consumer Lawyers. He hopes his fellowship experience will help him build the skills needed to practice and reform criminal law. Upon graduation, Durand plans to attend law school and to later pursue a career in criminal justice. 
Michelle Egbuna| UT Austin
United States Supreme Court Michelle Obiageli Egbuna is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government. She has been a part of organizations such as Model United Nations, Student Government, and Women of Excellence. Throughout her time at UT Austin, Egbuna has studied abroad in Spain and interned at an international law firm in Bangkok, Thailand. Egbuna is passionate about the intersection of human rights and global cultures, and plans to pursue a career in international law. 
Michael Everett | UT Austin
Council of Economic Advisers Michael Everett is a student at The University of Texas at Austin studying finance and government as a member of the Business Honors Program and the Forty Acres Scholars Program. On campus, he helped form the Longhorn Energy Investment Team and has been involved with the Center for Enterprise and Policy Analytics. Previously, Everett has worked at Statoil and RBC Capital Markets, and he plans to work in financial services following graduation. In the long-term, Everett hopes to join a think tank in Washington and become a thought leader in economic policy areas such as financial regulation and central banking. 
Richard Friedl Jr. | UT Dallas
The Federalist Society Richard Friedl is a student at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in political science with a minor in history. He is a member of the Collegium V Honors Program and a competitor on the UT Dallas Moot Court Team. Friedl is the founder and president of the UT Dallas chapter of Young Americans for Liberty on his campus, an organization which promotes individual freedom, limited government, free markets, and peace. During his time at UT Dallas, he has reviewed cases for the Innocence Project of Texas and studied abroad in Switzerland. Upon graduation, Friedl plans to attend law school to pursue a career as an attorney or public policy analyst. 
Matthew Gehrlein | UT Dallas
U.S. Department of State - Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Matthew Gehrlein is a senior majoring in biology at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is passionate about pharmacy and has worked in clinical, commercial, and research settings to understand the industry from multiple perspectives. He aims to enter pharmacy school in 2019 to earn a dual Pharm.D. and M.B.A. degree. Gehrlein hopes to work in a regulatory agency at the intersection of pharmaceuticals, addiction, and policy to help create better regulatory control for drugs and other habit-forming substances. When not at school or work, Gehrlein enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee and sand volleyball. 
Alejandra Gonzalez | UT Austin
The Truman Center for National Policy Alejandra Gonzalez is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government, with a minor in history, and a certificate in national security. She is a Clements Center of National Security undergraduate fellow and a Liberal Arts Honors student. She is passionate about helping people, especially minorities in Texas, and is studying Arabic to be able to help in humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. Alejandra is very interested in foreign policy and national security, specifically immigration and refugee policy, as well as nonproliferation and arms control acts focused in the Middle East. Her experience includes interning in the Texas State Legislature with Senator Jose Menendez (D-26), political action committee, Annie's List, the Beto for Texas campaign, and the Equal Justice Center. After graduating, Alejandra plans on attending law school to obtain her J.D. in international and immigration law, and enroll in a dual degree program to obtain her M.A. in global relations. 
Ana-Sofia Gonzalez | UT San Antonio
Refugees International Ana-Sofia Gonzalez is a senior at The University of Texas at San Antonio majoring in global affairs with a minor in Spanish. Gonzalez is passionate about issue advocacy on a local, national, and global level. She loves meeting new people, empowering others to make a change in their community, and learning about different cultures and religions. If given an excuse to travel, Gonzalez will never turn down the opportunity. As an Archer Fellow, she hopes to work for an NGO that focuses on promoting global education and advocating for human rights. 
Ann-Cathrin Guertler | UT Dallas
National Association of Community Health Centers Ann-Cathrin Guertler currently attends The University of Texas at Dallas with a major in neuroscience. Her area of focus is nutrition as it relates to public health and disease prevention. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school. 
Ariana Hadden | UT Dallas
Human Trafficking Institute Ariana Hadden is a 2015 Terry Scholar at The University of Texas at Dallas. She is aspiring to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and attend law school in 2019. In her spare time, she volunteers with the UT Dallas chapter of Camp Kesem, a non-profit organization that fundraises throughout the year to send children who have been affected by a parent’s cancer to camp free of charge. 
Melissa Hall | UT Austin
The Atlantic Council - Digital Forensic Research Lab Melissa Hall is an electrical and computer engineering and Plan II Honors student at The University of Texas at Austin. On campus, she was a Clements Center for National Security Fellow, served as a teaching assistant for two Civic Engagement courses, and is a member of Texas Orange Jackets. Hall has conducted research in a variety of domains, including collaborations with the US Army Research Laboratory and UT's Computational Media Lab. She interned for multiple summers at Facebook in data science and engineering organizations, and will work there upon graduation as a Software Engineer. 
Shezaz Hannan | UT Austin
The Brookings Institution - Center for Technology Innovation Shezaz Hannan is a senior chemical engineering student at The University of Texas at Austin. He previously studied abroad at The University of Edinburgh where he became interested in the interaction between technology and society and policy at that intersection. On campus, Hannan has served as a Camp Texas counselor, a member of Engineers for a Sustainable World, and as a science and technology reporter for The Daily Texan. He also serves as the writing editor for Vector Magazine, the Cockrell School of Engineering’s student publication. Upon graduation, Hannan hopes to pursue a career in business and engineering before attending law school. 
Ariana Hayaud-Din | UT Austin
The Obama Foundation Ariana "Ari" Hayaud-Din is a senior political communication student at The University of Texas at Austin. Previously, she worked with the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life on their youth focused New Politics Forum initiatives. She believes that an engaged, empowered, and inspired electorate is what creates a strong democracy. In her future career, she hopes to work for leaders who share that view in campaign consulting and other roles in electoral politics. Hayaud-Din is excited to make D.C. her home and have a front row seat to what the "Pod Save America" hosts are always talking about. 
Shelby Hobohm | UT Austin
Pay Our Interns Shelby Hobohm is a student at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in mechanical engineering and government. Previously she completed two years at The University of North Texas, beginning at age 16. Previous experience includes an internship at Y Strategy, a political consulting agency, EveryShave, a startup company, and for Lockheed Martin. At UT Austin, she served as an officer in University Democrats as well as 314 Action. In addition, she was the Student Government Housing and Transportation Policy Director and served on the Housing Conduct Board. She also helped build an electric formula car on the weekends. After she graduates, Hobohm hopes to attend law school, focusing either on civil rights or constitutional law. 
Courtney Joyner | UT Austin
The Heritage Foundation Courtney Joyner is a third year student studying journalism and government at The University of Texas at Austin. She worked as an editor and producer for The Daily Texan in the video department. Joyner also worked as a research associate in the Center for Tenth Amendment Action at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. During her time, there she published articles regarding various national policy initiatives. Over the past year, she worked as a field team coordinator for the Chip Roy for Congress Campaign. After graduating, Courtney will continue her education in law school to help her defend and uphold the founding principles of the constitution effectively. 
Madeleine Keith | UT Dallas
U.S. Department of State - Office of the Judicial Liaison Madeleine "Maddie" Keith is a senior political science major at The University of Texas at Dallas. On campus, she has been involved with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Moot Court as well as NEW Leadership Texas and The Mercury, UT Dallas' campus newspaper. Keith is particularly interested in international relations and the ongoing fight against human trafficking, which she intends to continue battling against following her graduation. After completing her degree, Keith intends to remain in Washington, D.C., to pursue a career in government service. |
Louisa Xie | UT Dallas
Human Rights Campaign Louisa Xie is a biochemistry major and member of the Collegium V Honors Program at The University of Texas at Dallas. She served as co-captain for the Women's Ultimate Frisbee team and as sports coordinator for the Filipino Student Association. During the 85th Texas Legislative Session, Xie interned with State Representative Eric Johnson (D-100), tackling pay equity and transparency. She also conducted bioengineering research at UT Dallas, focusing on the CRISPR/Cas9 system. After graduation, Xie plans to attend medical school and work as a primary care physician with a focus in public health and health care policy. 
David Daniel Treviño | UT Austin
Twenty-First Century Group, Inc David Daniel Treviño is a senior government student at The University of Texas at Austin. He served as a Texas Future Farmers of America state vice-president in 2014. He worked in the Texas legislature as an agricultural policy analyst for House District 31 during the 85th Legislative Session, as an attorney's assistant, and is a research assistant for the UT Austin Government Department. After graduation, he plans to attend law school to study oil and gas law and real estate law. His hobbies include vintage cars, carpentry, welding, and playing jazz drums. 
Cristian Villegas | UT Arlington
Office of U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (TX-8) Cristian Villegas is a student at The University of Texas at Arlington pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science. While at UT Arlington he has worked two part-time positions. Villegas aspires to attend Harvard Law School and to serve in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps after earning a law degree. Upon finishing military service, Villegas hopes to work with the U.S. Federal Government in the Legislative or Executive branches, using his professional work experience and policy knowledge to help improve the nation. 
Lehkya Kintada | UT San Antonio
Public Citizen - Access to Medicines Program Lekhya Kintada is a senior honors college student majoring in biology at The University of Texas at San Antonio. She is part of UT San Antonio Ambassadors, GlobeMed at UT San Antonio, American Medical Student Association (AMSA), and the Honors Dean's Student Leadership Council. She aspires to be a physician, not only to cure people, but to also make healthcare more accessible to all Americans. As a physician, she hopes to promote global health equity to reduce health disparities around the world, especially for women and children. 
Anna Lazenby | UT Austin
Habitat for Humanity International Anna Lazenby is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin pursuing a degree in architecture. On campus, she participated in Texas 4000 for Cancer as a Sierra Rider and on the Media and Public Relations Committee. Lazenby recently completed a six month professional residency at an architecture firm in Chicago and hopes to bridge the gap between design and public policy, addressing issues of housing affordability and urban development. 
Connor Madden | UT Austin
United States Supreme Court Connor is a Plan II Honors, business management, and history major from Dallas, Texas. While at The University of Texas at Austin, he has been actively involved in the Tejas Club, Student Government, Longhorn Advocates, Camp Texas, PlanTutoring, and The Spirit of Shakespeare. He also participated in the Normandy Scholar program, which allows for intensive study of the Second World War on campus followed by a summer trip abroad. After graduating, Madden hopes to pursue a career in law. 
Priyanka Mara | UT Austin
U.S. House Judiciary Committee Priyanka Mara is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in government and humanities, an interdisciplinary major that allows her to study her academic interest: understanding the ways that laws and policy have been used to institutionalize discrimination in our legal system. On campus, she is part of Texas Orange Jackets and has founded a number of diversity-building organizations. Off campus, she has previously worked with numerous organizations including Annie's List, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Office of State Representative Celia Israel, and EMILY's List. After graduation this spring, she hopes to work in a research capacity on the 2020 election before earning a law degree and practicing appellate litigation. 
Nicholas McHenry | UT Arlington
Office U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry (TX-13) Nicholas McHenry is a student at The University of Texas at Arlington pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in history. McHenry was the vice president of the Pre-Law Society for UT Arlington. Additionally, McHenry was the founding president for the Liberal Arts Constituency Council for UT Arlington, which reaches out to student in the Liberal Arts Majors to help their needs reach Student Government and the University Administration. After graduating from UT Arlington, McHenry plans to attend law school. 
Aisleen Menezes | UT Austin
The Democracy Fund Aisleen Menezes is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in political communication and minoring in government and philosophy. Passionate about expanding democratic access and strengthening American elections, Menezes has served as a member of Communication Council, a Texas Civic Ambassador under the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life, and a member of Texas Votes. In these roles, she has worked to educate the public regarding voter registration and systemic issues preventing certain populations from participating in the democratic process. As an Archer fellow, Menezes will be interning for The Democracy Fund, started by the founder of eBay, which invests dollars in organizations that strategically improve democratic access for disenfranchised communities. Menezes hopes to pursue a master’s in economics and eventually attend law school. 
Delia Mensah | UT Dallas
The American Bar Foundation Delia Appiah Mensah is a biomedical engineering and Collegium V Honors senior at The University of Texas at Dallas. Mensah has served on the Collegium V Honors Council and participated in scientific research at UT Dallas, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and The University of Pennsylvania. On campus, she works with the Innocence Project of Texas, participates in Moot Court and works as Chemistry Team Leader for the Student Success Center. Mensah plans use her skills gained from research experience along with her drive for advocacy to further the efforts of organizations seeking to make positive social changes. After graduation, she will pursue a law degree. 
Caleb Morrison | UT Tyler
The Heritage Foundation Caleb Morrison is a senior political science major and pre-law minor at The University of Texas at Tyler. He enjoys research and analysis and hopes to someday become a legislative counsel, helping representatives and senators craft quality legislation. 
Brandon Nam | UT San Antonio
U.S. Department of State - Office of Communications and Information Policy Brandon Nam is a senior at The University of Texas at San Antonio majoring in economics. Prior to his participation in the Archer Fellowship Program, Nam interned with the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney's Office and Sojong Partners, located in Seoul, South Korea. On campus, Nam worked as a supplemental instruction leader at the Thomas Rivera Center and as a private tutor for military veterans. Nam plans to pursue a law degree to prepare him for a career as a legislator. 
Carleigh Newland| UT Austin
Center for American Progress Carleigh Newland is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in government and theatre performance at The University of Texas at Austin. Her passion is empowering women through storytelling and political activism. She has worked as an advocacy assistant for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, a Health Programs intern at The Women's Fund for Health Education and Resiliency, as well as an intern for The Refugee Project in Houston. In 2017, she wrote and directed a play called "A Singularity" which premiered at The University of Texas Cohen New Works Festival and focused on the humanity of refugees. 
Julia O'Hanlon | UT Austin
The Brookings Institution - Office of Communications Julia O'Hanlon is a fourth year student at The University of Texas at Austin studying political communication and humanities with a minor in government. Her humanities thesis focused on documenting the passage and implementation of ethnic studies in Austin Independent School District and their effects on Latinx students. Previously, O'Hanlon has interned for Texas State Senator Kirk Watson (D-14), the Equity Center, and the Children's Defense Fund of Texas, fueling her interest in equity policy and in using communication as a democratizing tool. Post graduation, O'Hanlon plans to remain in Washington, D.C. and work in communications for think tanks and interest groups. 
Mayowa Grace Oyenubi | UT Austin
Center for American Progress - Legal Process Archives Mayowa Grace Oyenubi is a third-year student studying social work at The University of Texas at Austin. Oyenubi hopes to work for a Non-Governmental Organization in a Spanish-speaking country. She then hopes to attend graduate school under a joint degree program for her Masters in Social Work and Juris Doctorate. Ultimately, she aspires to work in the field of International Human-Rights Law 
Beatriz Reynoso | UT Rio Grande Valley
Office of U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-35) Beatriz Reynoso is a senior at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley pursuing a degree in Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies. She hopes to attend law school after graduation. Reynoso is interested in a career of public service in the state of Texas. 
Veronica Roitberg | UT Dallas
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee Veronica Roitberg is a student at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in biology with a minor in political science. She is a member of the Collegium V Honors Program and a captain on the Mock Trial team as well as a former vice president of administration and finance for the Residential Housing Association. She is interested in patent law as it relates to genetics and biochemical innovation. She hopes to spend her career focusing on the intersection of American patent law, international law and scientific development. After graduation, Roitberg plans to attend law school and become a patent attorney. 
Katarina de la Rosa | UT Austin
U.S. Library of Congress - Congressional Research Service Katarina de la Rosa is a student at the University of Texas at Austin studying economics and government with a double minor in sociology and sustainability studies. de la Rosa plans to pursue a career working on economic development through one of the United Nations agencies after working two years as a consultant. 
Payal Sampat | UT Dallas
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Payal Sampat is currently a junior at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in finance and political science. Sampat is interested in going to law school, and she has pursued this interest through activities at UT Dallas such as Mock Trial. Sampat is also a part of the Davidson Management Honors Program Advisory Council, a student government style body for the Business Honors Program. In the future, Sampat hope to explore the intersection between business and law throughout her career. 
Steven Santoyo | UT Austin
Office of U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (TX-33) Steven Santoyo is a communication studies major, government minor, and Moody College of Communication Honors senior from Dallas, Texas. He is a first-generation college student at The University of Texas at Austin with involvements in UT Austin Student Government, The Communication Council, and The Friar Society. In 2016, he founded Type Texas, the first student organization at UT-Austin aimed at connecting, inspiring, and empowering students living with Type-1 Diabetes. Additionally, he works on campus as a resident assistant and campus tour guide. Following his semester in Washington, D.C., Santoyo plans to attend law school in the fall of 2019. 
Austin Scheibmeir | UT Austin
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Austin Scheibmeir is a fifth-year student at The University of Texas at Austin pursuing degrees in neuroscience and government with a certificate in business and public policy. His favorite undergraduate experiences include cycling from Texas to Alaska with his 2017 Texas 4000 for Cancer team, studying abroad at the University of Granada in Spain, completing an Ironman, and living in a housing cooperative. He previously interned for U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), worked at a law firm, and served as both a resident assistant and lab mentor on campus. He has also been involved with Student Government, Texas Triathlon, the Gender and Sexuality Center, and the North American Students of Cooperation. Following graduation, Scheibmeir plans to join the Peace Corps before going to law school to pursue his interests in intellectual property law and social equality advocacy. 
Shruti Sinkar | UT San Antonio
U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Shruti Sinkar is a student at The University of Texas at San Antonio majoring in biology. After graduation, Sinkar aspires to go to medical school and pursue M.D. and M.P.H. degrees. In the future, Sinkar hopes to work on preventative healthcare with focus on access to access to vaccinations, health screenings and education on lifestyle changes to prevent diseases. 
Jack Sollows | UT Dallas
U.S. Department of Justice - Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Jack Sollows is an honors student at The University of Texas at Dallas majoring in economics, with a minor in Spanish. He is vice president of Spanish Club and of the UT Dallas Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. Sollows has competed in the Mock Trial, Moot Court, and Mediation teams. In the past, he has worked at a microfinance firm in Oaxaca, Mexico, and a human rights museum in Mexico City. Currently, he holds a leadership role in the UT Dallas Peer Tutoring program. After graduation, Sollows plans to attend law school and eventually pursue a career in appellate law. 
Jason Taper | UT Austin
The Brookings Institution - Center for Effective Public Management Jason Taper is a senior Plan II Honors and government major at The University of Texas at Austin. He is passionate about criminal justice reform, especially ending mass incarceration, and seeks to devote his professional life to this advocacy. He has been involved in political campaigns since high school, and somehow enjoys the work of knocking on doors in the Texas heat. When not on a soapbox, Taper enjoys being active in the Jewish community, hiking, and complaining about Texas football. 
Lauren Thomas | UT Austin
The Atlantic Council - Global Energy Center Lauren Thomas currently studies international relations and global studies at The University of Texas at Austin. Her major includes a focus on international security, particularly in the region of Europe, with a minor in the German language. After taking a gap year between high school and college to studying abroad in Germany, Thomas developed a passion for understanding how to make effectual national and international security policy. Following her graduation in May of 2019, Thomas intends to pursue a J.D./M.B.A. to attain practical knowledge and skillsets that will carry her forward in a career in foreign policy. |
