Summer 2013 Graduate Program in Public Policy Fellows
Nika Akhavan | UT School of Public Health
Nika Akhavan is currently a graduate student at The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and a concentration in Global Health Studies. She completed her undergraduate degree in Public Health at The University of Texas at Austin, during which she also did an internship concerning Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease at the Texas State Health Department. Nika strongly believes that health is a human right, and aspires to one day help contribute in making it more easily accessible to all. This summer she will be interning at Special Olympics International in their Health, Research and Evaluation Department. 
Crystal Becerra | UT Austin
Crystal Becerra is a registered nurse with a passion for the health and advocacy of the growing senior population. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin to become an Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist. Crystal earned a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Texas Christian University in 2006. Before entering graduate school, she was the Director of Research in geriatric clinical research for a physician practice. She is a proud member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, American Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Association, and Association of Nurses in Graduate School. Crystal will intern with AARP this summer. 
Evan Carr | UT Dallas
Evan Carr is a graduate student at The University of Texas at Dallas where he is completing a Master of Public Policy this summer. Evan’s academic career has focused on the intersection between business, politics and culture which reflects his passion for entrepreneurship, policy and development. He has previously interned at the National Center for Policy Analysis as a Research Associate responsible for writing the Daily Policy Digest. At UT Dallas, Evan was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honors fraternity and was elected the first Student Vice-President. Evan also founded a chapter of the Pi Kappa Phi social fraternity and served as its first Chaplain. Evan is excited about the possibility of staying in Washington D.C., after the summer ends. Evan is looking forward to interning with Blended Profit this summer. 
Nita Clark | UT Arlington
Nita Clark is a doctoral student majoring in Urban & Public Administration at The University of Texas at Arlington and currently serves as a Teaching Assistant with the School of Urban & Public Affairs. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she developed a passion for protecting valuable environmental resources, leading to her graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Coastal & Environmental Science and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas. Nita has interned with the North Texas Tollway Authority and the North Central Texas Council of Governments, and is a 2007 Morris K. Udall Scholar and a member of Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society. This summer Nita will work at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Research and Evaluation Division. 
Dorain Cockrell | UT Arlington
Dorian Cockrell is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Certificate in Public Budgeting and Financial Management at The University of Texas at Arlington. He completed a Bachelors of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Social Work and Criminal Justice at The University of Texas at Arlington. Dorian has volunteered as a mentor and public speaker on the Champion Education Committee with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce (TX) for the past two years. He also works with a non-profit organization as an advocate, mentoring at-risk teenagers and assisting them with education and career planning. Dorian is also a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Alpha Alpha. He will be interning with the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities in the Innovation and Technology Policy division. 
Margaret Cook | UT Austin
Margaret Cook is in her second year of graduate school at UT Austin pursuing dual Master’s degrees in Environmental Engineering and Public Affairs. She is from Corpus Christi, TX and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from UT Austin in 2011. Margaret is interested in water and energy policy, particularly the interaction between the two. While in school, she works as a graduate research assistant studying water constraints on energy production and generation. In spring 2013, Margaret interned in the Texas House of Representatives through the Environment & Energy Internship Program of Texas as the Legislative Intern for the new House Energy Caucus. She spends much of her time outside of school and work volunteering with youth at church or through her research group. This summer, Margaret will intern at the U.S. Department of Energy. 
Adam Culver | UT Southwestern Medical Center
Adam Culver is a first year medical student at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Prior to attending medical school Adam completed a premedical post-baccalaureate program at the Drexel University College of Medicine and received a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Trinity University. In addition, prior to medical school, Adam held positions in pharmacy administration and health policy fields at Ben Taub General Hospital and M.D. Anderson Cancer respectively. His interests include health policy, urban health and closing health disparity gaps. At UT Southwestern, Adam is active in the Student National Medical Student Association, volunteering at North Dallas Shared Ministries and Calvert Place homeless clinics. Adam will be a health policy intern with Dialysis Patient Citizens this summer. 
Amanda Dossey | UT Arlington
Amanda Dossey is a graduate student at The University of Texas at Arlington pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work, with an emphasis on community and administrative practice. She also received a Master’s degree in History from UT Arlington and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Abilene Christian University. Amanda currently teaches at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas as an adjunct instructor of history. Amanda is an advocate for increased mental health services and is committed to reducing the stigma of mental illness. She will be interning with U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett’s office during the summer. 
Christine Duchouquette | UT San Antonio
Christine Duchouquette is a graduate student at The University of Texas at San Antonio where she is pursuing her Master in Public Administration degree and a Certificate in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership. She is a proud alumna of the Honors Program at St. Mary’s University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in English. Christine has dedicated her career to educational reform and opportunities as a 2010 Teach for America Colorado Corps Member, a student mentor for Aim Truancy Solutions, and a dual credit district liaison for Northwest Vista College. She also volunteers her time as Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority’s Collegiate Membership Recruitment Advisor at her alma mater. She looks forward to putting her passion to work this summer with the Center for Public Education, an initiative of the National School Boards Association. |
Laura Gorecki | UT Dallas
Laura Gorecki is pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Dallas. She is interested in Environmental Policy, specifically water-related issues and legislation. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in Environmental Studies and foundations in Sociology and Psychology. She participated in internships at The City of Frisco, TX in the Water Efficiency department and at Operation Kindness no-kill animal shelter in the Donor Relations and Development department. Prior to returning to college Laura worked in management and training for twelve years. She loves nature, animals and travel, and is looking forward to a career in Environmental Policy. She will be interning this summer at the United Nations Environment Programme. 
Mahogany Hanks | UT School of Public Health
Mahogany Hanks is a first year Master’s student at The University of Texas School of Public Health where she is pursuing a major in Health Services Organization. After a life changing experience of losing her father to cancer, she was inspired to pursue a career in Public Health. Currently, she is a graduate research assistant for the Health Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research. She is participating in projects addressing young adult Testicular cancer and Sickle Cell Anemia. Mahogany received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Spelman College in 2012. She will intern at the Health Resources and Services Administration branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 
Monica Hernandez | UT School of Public Health
As a Hispanic of Colombian heritage with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology, and currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at The University of Texas School of Public Health, Monica Hernandez is eager to bring a unique public health perspective to global health policy. Monica’s previous public health experiences locally in a community-based nutrition program, statewide at the Texas State Health Department, and internationally in an HIV pilot study in Cali, Colombia have been critical in shaping her understanding of preventative public health work. These experiences have fueled her desire to acquire new knowledge, skills, and understanding to improve health standards on domestic and international platforms. Monica is looking forward to interning with the Pan American Health Organization and Management Sciences for Health. 
Jared Hooks | UT Southwestern Medical Center
Jared Hooks is a third year PhD student in cancer biology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He is a born and raised Texan with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Genetics from Texas A&M University (he says this doesn’t make him a traitor). Jared became interested in science policy due to its underrepresentation in politics and a love of learning and speaking about science. He is a volunteer at the North Texas Cancer Support Community and an active member of Colleges Against Cancer for UT Southwestern. He also said that he knows how to work cattle, which might come in handy if he pursues a career in policy. This summer Jared will intern with the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. 
Clare Magee | UT Austin
Clare Magee is a graduate student at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Prior to studying energy policy at The University of Texas at Austin, she worked in Washington D.C., for three years at the U.S. Green Building Council, where she helped coordinate advocacy for LEED adoption and related energy efficiency initiatives at the state and municipal levels across the country. Clare is presently employed at the Austin Technology Incubator in the Clean Energy division. She is president of the university-wide Longhorn Energy Club, and is chairing UT Austin’s 2014 energy conference. Clare holds a Bachelor’s degree in Politics & Government from the University of Puget Sound. She will intern with American Electric Power this summer. 
Ana Martinez | UT School of Law
Ana Martinez is a first year law school student at The University of Texas School of Law. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at El Paso where she double majored with honors in Political Science and English Literature. She was also named one of the University’s Top Ten Seniors. Ana worked for the El Paso Independent School District as second grade tutor and with the El Paso City Council as a legislative assistant to City Council Representative Robert “Beto” O’Rourke. She was selected as a Spring 2011 Bill Archer Fellow and interned at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. During her time in law school she has been involved with the Law School Pro Bono Program and the Chicano Hispanic Law School Association. Ana is looking forward to being a legislative intern in Congressman Robert “Beto” O’Rourke’s Washington, D.C. office. 
Michael Odum | UT Pan American
Michael Odum is pursuing his Master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus in Non-Profit Management at The University of Texas Pan American. Michael also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology at The University of Texas Pan American. He has interned and volunteered for Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid in assisting low-income individuals access legal means. Currently, he is working as a graduate research assistant with a specific focus on developing minority outreach programs in the Rio Grande Valley. He has a passion for international politics and hopes to pursue a career in international labor relations. Michael will intern in the Office of the United States Trade Representative this summer. 
Esmeralda Sanchez | UT Dallas
A Dallas native, Esmeralda Sanchez is a Master of Science student in Applied Sociology at The University of Texas at Dallas and a research associate for the Center for Child and Community Development at Southern Methodist University (SMU). At the Center, Esmeralda manages research and programmatic activities for two federally funded projects designed to connect research, pedagogy and curriculum in school settings. An advocate for underrepresented students, she served as the director for the Hispanic College Fund’s largest Hispanic Youth Institute, a college empowerment program for underserved youth, overseeing all programmatic efforts for the State of Texas. Esmeralda earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs and Spanish with a minor in French from SMU. Esmeralda is looking forward to interning with The Education Trust in Washington, D.C. |
