Summer 2010 Graduate Program in Public Policy Fellows
Alejandra Barraza-Correa | UT Austin
Alejandra is a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education. She teaches fourth grade in the San Antonio Independent School District and has a passion for the education of inner city children. While in D.C., she will be interning at the Department of Education. 
Karen Bassett | UT Dallas
Karen will complete her master’s degree in Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Dallas in August. As part of her degree, she is working on a certification in program evaluation. She has worked with both Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Dallas Arboretum on program evaluation projects. This certification merges her love of research with her passion for public interest. Her work experience includes 15 years as an in-house consultant in design of research, with twelve years spent at Frito-Lay. Karen is looking to a career in the federal government as a way for her to serve the public interest. 
Kristine Gloria | UT Austin
Kristine Gloria is a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin and is pursuing her master's in media studies.Tapping into her interest and experience in technology, her focus centers on communication policy, specifically copyright and information policy. Prior to returning to school, Kristine worked for Waggener Edstrom Worldwide representing several Fortune 500 technology organizations. She has also written for Austin 3.0 and The Republic of Austin covering the tech and start-up community in Austin. Additionally, she has presented at Austin Music Foundation Technology Bootcamp (2008), Social Media Club (2008) and a SXSW video submission (2008). While in D.C., Kristine will intern for the New America Foundation on their Media Policy Initiative. 
Jake Maguire | UT Austin
Jake Maguire is a student in the American Studies PhD track at UT Austin. Before coming to Texas, he spent several years working in Democratic politics in Boston and New York. He has also worked with the New York-based, homelessness non-profit Common Ground Community and the growing Student Volunteer Foundation. Jake is excited to intern in the Communications Office at the Center for American Progress. He graduated from Amherst College in 2007 with a dual degree in American Studies and Black Studies. 
Leslie McCormick | UT Austin
Leslie is a first year graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, pursuing a Master of Arts in Journalism. Originally from Nebraska, she has written and edited articles for the Burt County Plaindealer, the Midlands Business Journal and for Boys Town, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the care of at-risk children. For the past few years she has worked on public affairs initiatives for the National Guard Bureau, the U.S. Army and the Department of Homeland Security. She has served as a member of the Austin Kiwanis Young Professionals, the public relations director of the Nebraska Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and a media coordinator for the Omaha Metropolitan Medical Response System. 
Stephanie Phillips | UT Austin
Stephanie M. Phillips is a third year Higher Education Administration doctoral student in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. Phillips earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in Social Work from Texas Southern University and UT, respectively. Her research interests include equity and access in higher education, the role of context in education policy implementation, the impact of social and cultural context on college readiness, the intersection of race, gender, and class on student achievement, and implications for institutional fit for African American undergraduate students. Phillips is currently serving as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Meadows Center for Educational Risk at UT. She will be interning with the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 
Sarah Sayles | UT San Antonio
Sarah Sayles is a graduate student of Public Administration at University of Texas San Antonio. She is an active member with the American Humanics Association volunteering with nonprofits in the community. Prior to the Archer Fellowship, she interned with the U.S. Department of State in Paris. After graduation, Sarah aspires to work in international affairs. She is also a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society. During her free time she enjoys studying language, traveling, and attending art events in the city. While in D.C., Sarah will intern in the office of Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23). |
Kaela Smith | UT Dallas
Kaela is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Dallas. During her time as an undergraduate at UTD, she worked as an Advisor for the Public Service living learning community. Kaela represented the university as a member of the Orientation Team for two years and served as a Peer Advisor for residential life for a year and a half. For the past four years, she has spent her spring break vacation volunteering for Dear Neighbor Ministries in Wichita, Kansas. In Spring of 2008, she was nominated for student leader of the year. This summer, Kaela will be interning for the office of Congressman Ted Poe. 
Daniel Spikes | UT Austin
Daniel received a B.A. in English from The University of Texas at Austin and a M.A. in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. He is a former seventh grade English/Language Arts teacher and high school assistant principal. Daniel is currently a second year doctoral student in the Educational Policy and Planning Program at UT Austin and will be working as an intern for the U.S. Department of Education this summer. For the 2009-2010 academic year, Daniel served as the president of the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA). 
Meghan Vail | UT Austin
Meghan is pursuing a dual Master's degree in Latin American Studies and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her BA in Hispanic Studies and History from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006. Her research interests include human rights in Latin America, immigration, and U.S.- Cuban relations. She is currently conducting her Master's research on post-Revolutionary Cuban migration to the U.S. and Operation Pedro Pan. Meghan is working as a Cuba Intern at the Center for International Policy this summer. 
David Walls | UT Dallas
David Walls is a graduate student at the University of Texas at Dallas and will graduate with a Masters of Arts in Political Science – Legislative Studies in August 2010. Since the fall of 2009, David has worked as the Deputy Regional Director of Texas for Business Executives for National Security (BENS), a Washington, D.C., based organization that is the primary channel through which senior business executives work to help enhance the nation's security. He received his undergraduate degree in Management Science from Southern Methodist University, and he also has an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington. This summer David will intern with the Family Research Council. 
Tyler Weiland | UT San Antonio
Tyler Weiland is a Graduate Student at the University of Texas at San Antonio where he is pursuing his Master’s Degree in International Politics with a specific concentration on government affairs within the European Union. While in D.C. Tyler will be interning with Marathon Oil in their department of government affairs. In the past, he has worked with the Texas House of Representatives, held the position of a constituent representative for Governor Rick Perry’s re-election campaign, and has accepted an internship with the State Department in Brussels, Belgium for the Fall of 2010. 
David Wogan | UT Austin
David Wogan is a third year dual degree student at UT Austin pursuing masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Public Policy. His research interests lie in the potential production of low-carbon fuels in Texas, particularly algae-based biofuels. David chose the dual degree program because he believes many challenges our society faces are multidisciplinary in nature and we must improve communication between the technical and policymaking communities. David is originally from Austin and received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin before working at National Instruments. This summer, David will be an intern in the White House Council on Environmental Quality as a member of the Energy and Climate Change team. 
Alesia Za Gara | UT El Paso
Alesia Za Gara is a Graduate student at The University of Texas at El Paso, where she is majoring in Communication Studies with a focus on Environmental Communication. She has been involved in multiple school organizations including Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, NCA, and Golden Key International Honor Society to name a few. In 2009, she spent her summer studying the use of social marketing as a way to promote environmental conservation in Indonesia. Currently, Alesia is a student lecturer and teaches Public Speaking at UTEP in addition to being the Marketing Coordinator for a local Financial Planning Firm in El Paso. While in D.C., Alesia will be the Marketing/Communication intern for The National Parks Foundation. |
