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2007 Cal in the Capital Interns

Environmental

Kealan Cunningham is a 3rd year student majoring in Political Economy of Industrial Societies. He is interested in immigration rights and policy, and Political Action Commitees (PACs) and the process of lobbying. He has worked on campus at the California Athletic Office and volunteered at a summer day camp ("Mateo Day Camp") and with Habitat for Humanity. He would like to intern for a Member of Congress or a PAC or advocacy organization that promotes environmental and public interest issues.

Mary Gossel is a third-year majoring in Mass Communications. She is interested in environmental issues, especially pertaining to sustainable living and natural food. She is the Administrator for the Berkeley Chapter of the Excursion Club, where she is working to get the new club off the ground and promote sustainable living through outdoor excursions. Mary has also served in many positions for Alpha Phi Fraternity, most recently as Vice President of Marketing. She would like to work for a group that supports environmental awareness and compliments her communications background, such as a magazine or government official/committee.

Kelley McKanna is a third year Integrative Biology major. She is interested in environmental issues ranging from sustainable city planning to reserve management but would really like to become involved in developing plans to incentivize and regulate environmentally sustainable industry. She has spent three years as an undergraduate research apprentice working in the King lab studying the evolutionary transition from single to multicellular life. She has also worked as an intern with Fish and Game monitoring water quality in accordance with the clean air and water act. Kelly would like to work for an environmental agency like the EPA but would also be interested in an internship with an environmental lobbying group or a senator especially involved with environmental legislation.

Lauren Stallard is a second-year majoring in Mechanical Engineering. She is interested in environment issues, particularly relating to nuclear energy. She was a student assistant at the California Department of Transportation, where she helped manage the day-to-day operations of a team of engineers. Lauren has a strong technical background, but has also cultivated her literary skills. She is interested in working for a think tank that focuses on environmental issues or in a laboratory or organization that does research in the nuclear energy area.

Natalie Kwan is a junior majoring in English and minoring in Environmental Economics and Policy. She is interested in Environmental issues, particularly research on how to improve the usage of resources in an economic perspective. She was an intern at the Santa Clara County Supervisor where she worked to research on the accessibility of health information and services in the county. She also worked as a supplementary instructor to tutor Geography. She hopes to work with an environmental advocacy group.

Mircea Raianu is a second-year majoring in History and minoring in Conservation and Resource Studies. He is interested in the relationship between economic development and sustainability in an international context, especially in the role the United States plays in developing global environmental standards. His experience growing up in a developing country, Romania, facing serious ecological consequences as a result of economic expansion, gave him firsthand awareness of the urgent need to confront resource pressures. He is currently pursuing coursework in environmental policy and law, and would most like to work with a policymaking body such as a congressional committee or advisory council, or with a research institute specializing in environmental regulation.

Education

Zeena Husami is a second-year majoring in Rhetoric. She is interested in education issues, especially the inequalities in America’s public school system. She has participated in undergraduate research, where she observed inner-city high school students in order to determine the positive mechanisms that are helping students graduate. She was responsible for presenting her findings to the president of the Oakland School Board as well as the directors and staff of the after-school program affiliated with Oakland High School. Zeena also has an academic background on the issues of inequalities that minorities face in the public education system and she has spent a lot of time tutoring and mentoring students from inner city high schools. She would like to work with education policy or a think tank that focuses on education issues.

Alexander Tennet is an exchange student from the UK with a major in Political Science. During Alex’s previous employment with local government in North East England, he contributed to the development of education policy for regional public schools, and assisted Councilors in their duties with regard to their constituents. His extensive background in electoral politics includes volunteer work on the 2004 Presidential race, the 2005 UK General Election and the successful 2006 McNerney for Congress campaign. Alex’s primary public policy concern is public education; particularly in early childhood, as this has proven to be an important predicate to enhanced learning capacity. He also believes strongly in education and training in correctional facilities; so that offenders of all ages can contribute to, and benefit from society upon their release. He hopes to be involved extensively in all the duties of a Congressional office, particularly in legislative matters, while working for a Senator committed to effecting real change in the face of powerful countervailing interests in Washington.

Carson Baucher - placed at HALT. Carson is a second-year, double majoring in Classical Languages and Rhetoric. Coming from a long line of educators, Carson is very interested in education policy and especially the way individualized, extracurricular programs are treated in the schools. As the president of The Classical Forum, Cal's undergraduate classics society, a member of the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, and the founder of Progressive Student of Faith, the campus's only interfaith student group, Carson attributes his wide range of interests and his academic success to the unique experiences he has outside the classroom. He has interned for a faculty member of the Berkeley German department and for an epidemiologist studying lung cancer. Carson hopes to work as an intern in education policy.

Rui Cheng (Victoria) - placed at The Arlington Institute. Rui iis a first year double majoring in Political Science and Business Administration. She is interested in issues concerning the improvement of public education, especially primary education, how the quality of education one receives is related to wealth and social standing, and how that impacts one later in life. She was an intern for her United States House Representative during the summer of 2006, and through this experience she has discovered a love for and a dedication to serving the public. Victoria is also an eloquent, diplomatic, and persuasive public speaker, a fact proven by the numerous awards she has won at Model United Nations conferences. She would like to work with the Department of Education or any other organization or a Congressman involved with the issues above.

Jerry Sithiphone is a second-year undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley with an intended major in Ethnic Studies and Education minor. He is extremely passionate about public education and possible educational reforms. He is currently working with the Cal Corps Public Service Center with the BUILD (Bears United in Literacy Development) Program as a Student Director in charge of recruiting and training tutors to work effectively with students. Thus, Jerry would like to continue this work by interning with the Department of Education or a Congressperson who shares the same passion in public education.

Christine Cordova is a third-year Political Science and Psychology double major. In Washington, D.C. she would like to further her commitment to education policy and children's welfare. She has spent the 2006-2007 academic year as a policy intern at Children NOW, a non-profit organization based in Oakland, California. She would like to apply her research, organization, and mediation skills to her work. She would also like to have an internship at an organization whose goals include improving the education and welfare of children and young adults in the United States and internationally.

Jennifer Chen is a third year majoring in sociology and minoring in public policy. Her area of study has exposed her to the various types of inequalities that exist throughout American society, from the lack of access to education to unequal opportunity in the workforce. Resultantly, Jennifer has developed a strong interest in trying to find ways to curb disparities in people’s life chances. Jennifer has written a policy analysis paper concerning ways the Los Angeles School District can improve their passing rates on the California High School Exit Exam. Furthermore, she has also been actively involved with her community service fraternity, often volunteering as an after school tutor for kids in Oakland. On a more international level, Jennifer has interned abroad in Taiwan in a branch office of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working to increase human rights in Asia. With her involvement with these organizations, as well as working in the fundraising and gift administration department in the Goldman School of Public Policy, Jennifer has developed strong interpersonal and communication skills. Jennifer can bring to the table hard work, commitment, integrity, and a willingness to learn. She wants to intern in an environment where she can actively participate in improving quality of life for Americans.

Kelly Kirkpatrick will be graduating from UC Berkeley in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. She is interested in issues regarding civil rights, law, and public education. She has volunteered with non-profit organizations like the YWCA, specifically with their English in Action mentorship program and as a member of their Racial Justice Peer Advisory Board. She has taken numerous ethnic studies courses pertaining to social and economic inequality and classes in the sociology department concerning race, gender, and politics. A dedicated student, Kelly has received academic honors every semester at Cal, was a recipient of the UC Berkeley Alumni Leadership Award in 2003 and 2004, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the national sociology honors society. Kelly is currently interning for Berkeley City Council Member Gordon Wozniak and would like to continue her work in the public sector with a non-profit organization, in a Congressional office, or with the Departments of Justice, Labor, or Education.

Foreign Policy / International Relations

Jonathan Harder is a fourth year Political Science major especially interested in globalization and international relations. He has a BA in political science from the University of Copenhagen and is currently at Berkeley as a part of his Danish MA. He has volunteered for advocacy groups who work on issues such as EU's agricultural subsidies and has chaired a debate organization that covers international security and democracy promotion. As a student in the communications office in the Danish Ministry of Foods he worked with communicating agricultural policies and monitoring and handling the resulting media coverage. Jonathan would like to intern for members of Congress, think tanks, or NGOs who deal with issues of international security, democracy promotion or the effects of economic globalization.

Stephanie Wei is a second year at UC Berkeley intending on majoring in Political Science, Business, and Political Economies of Industrialized Societies. As the Vice-President of the Berkeley chapter of the nation's first student run think tank, the Roosevelt Institution, she has had first hand experience with researching and developing policy on economic, social, and political issues. She also serves as the Deputy Director of Non-Profits in the student government, utilizing her knowledge on policy making to connect the students on campus with her other passion, serving the community on a local, state wide, national, and international level. She has an enthusiasm for international development and the welfare of others that she has further developed as a chair in Alpha Beta Consulting, a student led organization that provides consulting and business advice for non-profit organizations. She recently completing a market guide to be sent to coffee farmers in Third World countries. Stephanie would like to explore issues on international development and foreign affairs this summer potentially working for a legislator, a think tank, or a non-profit organization.

Ritu Ghai - placed Senator Barbara Boxer's Office. Ritu is a second year undergraduate majoring in Political Science at UC Berkeley. She is interested in international and domestic humanitarian aid issues for conflict and disaster stricken areas. As an intern for Congressman Pete Stark, she worked on immigration cases with constituents and federal agencies. She also worked on John Dutra's campaign for State Senate and is a director in the Vice President’s office of the student government. Ritu would like to work with an organization that deals directly with aid issues or for a federal official who takes an interest in and is responsive to these issues.

Riva Litman is a third-year student at the University of California, Berkeley. She has dedicated her studies to a double-major in Political Science and History and a minor in Jewish Studies. Her academic pursuits, coupled with her future career goals, have made her passionate about United States foreign policy and the future of US-Israeli relations. As a staunch supporter of Berkeley's pro-Israel groups, she has been a senior writer for the Berkeley Jewish Journal and a proud member of the Republican Jewish Coalition for the past three years. She plans to spend her senior year writing an honors thesis in Jewish History. Additionally, Riva works as the Undergraduate Assistant at the Center on Politics, serves as President of her fraternity, and competes across the nation as a member of the prestigious Cal Mock Trial Team. She would like to work with a political organization dedicated to United States law or foreign policy.

Moritz Deutschmann is a fourth year history major from Humboldt-University (Berlin, Germany) who is currently visiting UC Berkeley on a Fulbright travel grant. In Washington, he would like to further his knowledge of and practical experience in international politics, specifically in East European/Russian politics and EU-US relations. He has interned in the department for EU enlargement in the German Federal Foreign Office and participated in a student-led research project in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Moritz is interested in working with an organization concerned with foreign policy, such as the EU delegation in Washington, or a think tank.

Elissa Goldenberg is a fourth year student majoring in Political Economy of Industrial Societies with an emphasis in economic development. She is concerned with finding sustainable solutions to help developing countries in the areas of population control, education, health, and credit access. Elissa is a Student Guide for the Kaplan Test Preparation Center in Berkeley and has experience working in a fast-paced business setting. She has advanced skills in Spanish as a result of her study abroad experience in Spain and is always involved in multi-cultural programs on campus. Elissa would like to work with an organization that promotes development projects and analyzes international policies.

Sierra Neudecker entered the University of California Berkeley on an Alumni Scholarship for her outstanding leadership skills. She is in her third-year and majoring in Political Science with a special interest in international relations and communications. She has studied in Salamanca, Spain and Lund, Sweden and can speak both Spanish and Swedish. Sierra’s fascination with other cultures has inspired her studies in Latin American Relations and Border Disputes. She has also served her community as a bereavement counselor for Kaiser. Sierra would love to work for an organization that focuses on communication and dispute resolution between cultures.

John Southard is a junior transfer student majoring in Political Science with an emphasis in international relations and human rights issues. Before coming to UC Berkeley, he held a variety of leadership positions, both professionally and academically, most recently as president of the Political Science Student Association at Long Beach City College. During his tenure as president, he coordinated various events including panel discussions, debates, and weekly meetings. Additionally, John has over ten years of active work experience within a variety of settings, where his attention to detail, intensive organizational skills, and avid work ethic have been viewed as assets. While in Washington, DC John hopes to have the opportunity to work for a policy think tank or human rights advocacy organization in an effort to better understand the influence U.S. foreign policy has on affecting and promoting human rights issues within less developed and developing nations.

Artin Afkhami is a third-year majoring in Middle East Studies. He is interested in US foreign policy, especially in improving US-Middle Eastern relations. He is currently working with Iran-based faculty doing research on Iranian political culture. In the past, he has served as Co-President of the Model United Nations. He would like to work in a Senator's office or at a Middle East-focused foreign policy institute.

Siamak Kordestani is a senior at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Political Science. He is interested in international affairs, security studies, and the Middle East. As Managing Editor of Berkeley Jewish Journal, he has written about Middle Eastern security issues, prospects for democracy in Iran, and Israeli-Iranian and U.S.-Iranian relations. He has also written about U.S. intelligence-policy relations and prospects for intelligence reform. In the summer of 2005, Siamak interned at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in San Francisco, California. He would like to work at an institution that formulates security policy ideas - a think tank, advocacy group, or a non-partisan organization. He wants to partake in foreign policy formulation that aims to increase the security of America and its allies across the globe, especially in the volatile Middle East.

Krista Seiden is a motivated college sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley currently studying Political Science, Economics, and Business Administration. She is passionate about foreign policy issues, especially topics relating to Middle Eastern Affairs with an emphasis on Israel. She is interested in working for a government or non-governmental agency also dedicated to these issue and is excited to further her knowledge on the topic.

Alexander Tennet is an exchange student from the UK with a major in Political Science. During Alex’s previous employment with local government in North East England, he contributed to the development of education policy for regional public schools, and assisted Councilors in their duties with regard to their constituents. His extensive background in electoral politics includes volunteer work on the 2004 Presidential race, the 2005 UK General Election and the successful 2006 McNerney for Congress campaign. The lessons he has learned from these experiences in politics and government have guided his belief in changing the methods of campaign financing, to establish governments that are truly “for the people, by the people.” As a citizen with close ties to the United States and Europe, Alex cares deeply about strengthening ties between nation states, and the pursuit of internationalist foreign policies; with multilateral decisions on matters of global importance. He hopes to be involved extensively in all the duties of a Congressional office, particularly in legislative matters, while working for a Senator committed to effecting real change in the face of powerful countervailing interests in Washington.

Emi Lee is a Junior at University of California Berkeley intending to major in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations and a minor in Gender and Women's Studies. As an immigrant, Emi was exposed to the disparities between the developed and developing nations at an early age, which triggered her passion to pursue a career in international law and development. In Washington D.C., Emi would like to expand her knowledge on the influential capabilities of international institutions in the progress of development in the 'Third World'. Her general knowledge on human rights, globalization, gender inequality, and environmental issues will be useful in working with institutions that advocate collective security on all these global issues.

Kiira Johal is a first-year at the University of California, Berkeley planning to double-major in History and Political Science. She is interested in United States foreign policy and to what extent human rights are or are not compatible with the assertion of American global dominance. Her participation in student government throughout her four years in high school culminated with her acceptance of the position of Senior Class President. She was a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House of Orange County, a member of her high school Amnesty International club, and a Red Cross Orange County Chapter member. Kiira would like to work with an institution involved in researching, analyzing, and proposing policy recommendations to United States decision-makers. Kiira would like to work with members of Congress and/or institutions to better understand the foundations and implications of legislation that is implemented.

Rachel Friedman is a sophomore at U.C. Berkeley. She is an intended double major in Mass Communication and Political Science, with a focus in international relations. The issue she anticipates to explore in DC is the effort for sustainable development in Third World countries. Coming to Berkeley opened her eyes to the widespread discrepancy between wealth in the United States and developing countries and how the latter are poverty ridden, heavily indebted, technologically backward, and industrially challenged. Working in an internship in Washington would help her to inform more people about this issue affecting millions of people all over the world. Rachel would like to work at an institution that deals with international relations, with a US Representative who deals with foreign affairs, or with a public relations firm working on these issues.

Nam Nguyen is a junior at the University of California, Berkeley and is double majoring in Economics and Political Science, with an emphasis on International Relations. One topic Nam is particularly interested in is how the United States is promoting economic development around the world. As the only remaining super-power and with that comes the responsibility to stand up for values that Americans hold to be just, such as living wages, fair trade, economic equality, equality of opportunity, and gender equality. Nam has his eyes set on organizations such as The Council of Economic Advisors, The Agency for International Development, The US Trade Representative Office, Federal Trade Commission, and the Brookings Institution. Beyond his interest for economic analysis, Nam has a strong passion for immigration policy. He believes that the typical American nativist sentiment and fear of immigrants is somewhat dumbfounded, and believes that a strong initial investment in training and assimilating an immigrant workforce into the mainstream is more beneficial to society than the xenophobic policies that exist today. He would like to explore immigration issues at the US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Thomas D. Owens is a second-year student at U.C. Berkeley. He majors in History, perhaps with an emphasis on modern European or modern American studies. He intends to explore many political issues in Washington, most especially the ideological framework for the spread of free, fair, and competitive democratic elections around the world. He is open to many institutions or organizations, but would most like to work for a think-tank or for a Senator or Congressman who strongly believes in the importance of the aforementioned issue.

Katriyani Ito is a senior Political Science major at the University of California, Berkeley. Growing up in Indonesia, Japan, Guam, and the United States, she has seen different levels of ethnic conflict and poverty. While most Japanese and Americans are fortunate to have peaceful and prosperous lives without aid from other countries, many Indonesians need assistance to find freedom from conflict and poverty. Through her life experience, she has learned that nowadays people can no longer think that other countries’ problems are not their problems. Local conflicts can become international. People must build strong bridges among different countries in order to solve global and sometimes local problems. Immigrants also play a significant role in the international system, introducing a diversity of population around the world and serving as source of income for developing countries. Because immigrants are changing the ethnic composition of many parts of the developed and developing countries, we need to find better ways to accommodate ethnic diversity. She looks forward to getting hands-on experience in international relations, immigration issues, and conflict resolution in Washington, D.C.

Prashant Reddy is a sophomore with a double major in Economics and Political Science. He would like the opportunity to utilize his understanding of macroeconomics, microeconomics, and political economy to aid federal and intellectual organizations specializing in these areas in Washington DC, which would prove invaluable to stimulating his own skills. Prashant is interested in working with federal bureaucrats and congressional officials responsible for decisions about the trade deficit, tariffs, foreign direct investment, property rights, and intellectual capital in order to gain an understanding of the top-down decisions that shape the global economic system and the United States’ changing role within that system.

Natalie Kwan is a junior majoring in English and minoring in Environmental Economics and Policy. She is interested in language-related work. She interned at the Santa Clara County Supervisor where she worked to research on the language accessibility of health information and services in the county. She was also a supplementary instructor which made her sensitive of communication. Being fluent in both English and Chinese, she has been exposed to various opportunities of translation, especially having lived in Hong Kong for some years. Natalie hopes to work with a firm where translation or writing is involved.

David Reder is a second year Political Science major and Asian Studies minor. He is interested in international relations, specifically concerning East Asia, as well as in issues concerning government accountability and wasteful spending. He has previously worked in the LA Mayor’s Office and as a student government director in the ASUC Office of the President he has worked on expanding the use of the campus card system. He would like to work for a think tank or policy group concerning international relations or government accountability.

Kim Tran is a 1st-year student with junior-standing, majoring in political science. He is interested in security studies and U.S. polices regarding the South Asian region. This summer, he hopes to engage in an internship that focuses on the foreign affairs of the United States and in particular, issues related to India. His last position held was Student Trustee, the highest student government position in his community college district, while still in high school. Kim represented 33,000 students within the district at the college's Board of Trustees and was responsible for coordinating four separate student executive administrations across three cities. He has gained extensive leadership experience and is able to adhere to stressful deadlines, while still remaining accurate in his work.

Max Reyes is a junior at the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Political Science. He has a strong passion working with those who are underrepresented and has a broad number of interests he wishes to advocate on behalf of. He hopes to someday represent the American people as a Federal Congress Member. Examples of his interests include subjects within international affairs and higher education issues. In terms of international affairs, he wishes to contribute towards strengthening international law among nations to reduce international problems. He feels that the current state of “international law” (or lack thereof) is not working and hopes to contribute to fixing it (he believes working with/influencing US Foreign Policy can certainly help). And with college student issues, Max hopes to make public education more accessible to the common individual. Max has worked extensively with issues such as high (and rising) educational and textbook fees through his involvement in student government at the community college and university levels. In Washington DC, Max hopes to intern for a Senatorial or House of Representative’s office.

Leigh Loper is a second-year double majoring in Political Science and interdisciplinary field studies, focusing on food politics. She is interested in sustainable development and American food culture, as well as women's issues. Leigh would like to work with a sustainable development advocacy group or with an international organization focused on development.

Lee Siu Yau is an all- rounded, creative and out- going 3rd year Political Science student who has outstanding performances in both academics and extracurricular activities. He has developed great interests in as well as critical thoughts on global and social affairs through professional training in the studies of politics and active participation in community services.

Lisa Xu is a second year student majoring in International Political Economy. She is interested in exploring such issues as human rights, international trade and development, domestic politics, and environmental justice. She would like to work at a human rights NGO, a progressive think tank, or the legislative office of a US Senator or Representative.

Samihah Azim will be graduating in May 2007 from the University of California at Berkeley. She will be finishing her undergraduate program in three years having taken an accelerated course of studies. She is double majoring in mass communications and political science with a deep interest in civil and human rights issues. She also has a keen interest in American and international politics, and the U.S. legal system. Having served as the director of public relations for the Undergraduate Mass Communications Association, and as an active member of the California Alumni Association’s undergraduate branch helping to plan the senior’s commencement and Chairing the boat cruise, she has gained valuable experience in organizational and leadership skills. Samihah is also very active in the National Legal Sanctuary for Community Advancement (which primarily works to protect the rights and due process of the law for Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Muslims living in the United States in the post-9/11 environment). In summer of 2006 Samihah interned at a PR firm in San Francisco getting first hand exposure to public relations and advocacy. She is eagerly looking forward to an opportunity to work in Washington D.C. in the areas of civil and human rights, the legal system, or foreign affairs.

Yaou Dou is a first year with sophomore standing and is extremely interested in a global career;he is therefore considering a major in Economics, Area Studies, or Peace and Conflict Studies with a double major in Chinese. He is also interested in helping shape future government policy that will ensure a greater emphasis on human rights and improved international relations. Furthermore, by drawing on his current responsibilities as a Building Representative in the Area Association and as a Personality for UC Berkeley's CALTV, Yaou hopes to gain more experience interning for organizations that focus on national policy making and international diplomacy.

Economics

Yi-Wei (James) Li is a second year majoring in Economics and Statistics. He is strongly passionate about his studies and how fluctuations in a national economy can affect events and matters well outside of the realm
of economics. He is currently the Marketing Director for the California Investment Association, where a motivated group of individuals evaluate and analysis stock options and the market overall. James is fluent in
speaking and writing Mandarin and had previous experience translating official documents into and from Mandarin. Being an Eagle Scout of America, he is also very disciplined and keeps himself extremely organized. James would like to work with a government agency that deals extensively with economic policies or a business consulting firm.

Daniel Hedblom is a third year economics and Political Science major. He is interested in the relationship between the state and the market, as well as how broader macroeconomic factors affect domestic economic policy. He has also a special interest in econometrics and economic statistics. He is an exchange student from Lund University in Sweden, where he has held higher positions in the Student Union as well as in the Economics- and Political Science Association. Daniel would like to work with a policy think-tank, an economic oriented research institute or a public/governmental institution involved with economic issues.

Media

Irene Ho is a third year at UC Berkeley double-majoring in Mass Communications and Political Science. She is most interested in media issues and how the mass media influences our perceptions and decisions, especially with regard to the political system. She was a campaign intern for a California State Senate race where she experienced firsthand the way media is manipulated in politics, and currently works as an Advertising Account Executive for The Daily Californian, UC Berkeley's independent student-run press. Irene would like to work with a broadcast news station or a political research institute.

Jennifer Chen is a third year majoring in Sociology and minoring in Public Policy. She is interested in media relations. She currently works in the development department for Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, where she is responsible for writing press releases about current events. Jennifer is interested in working in the media relations department for the government, an institute, advocacy group, or news source.

Kiira Johal is a first-year at the University of California, Berkeley planning to double-major in History and Political Science. She is interested in United States foreign policy and to what extent human rights are or are not compatible with the assertion of American global dominance. Her participation in student government throughout her four years in high school culminated with her acceptance of the position of Senior Class President. She was a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House of Orange County, a member of her high school Amnesty International club, and a Red Cross Orange County Chapter member. Kiira would like the opportunity to better understand the relationship between the media and United States policymakers and how that relationship influences public opinion.

Jessica Ravenna is a UC Berkeley junior double-majoring in political science and mass communications. She is very interested in the relationship between government and the media and in studies of how each affects the other. She currently works at the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, where she has gained exposure to academic studies of government and has observed and participated in the interaction between political scientists and journalists. She is also the spokesperson and media relations representative for Alumwire, LLC, an online professional network that consolidates the most important career resources for college students and alumni. Jessica would like to work in public relations or in a media organization that deals with political or governmental topics.

Public Health

Yang Cao is a freshman who intends to double major in Molecular and Environmental Biology and Economics. She is interested in medicine, specifically the affordability of current healthcare services and the issue of genetic engineering. Yang has volunteered at a local food pantry for three years and has become especially interested in the population that she serves there, a group of people who strive to make a living without success. She has also shadowed at a community health center, where she observed how health professionals can help underprivileged people realize a healthier life style through nutritional counseling. Yang would like to work for a healthcare reform advocacy group or a research institute.

Pompa Debroy is a third-year student majoring in Public Health and minoring in Spanish. She is interested in developing policy for Public Health organizations, specifically related to mental health issues. Pompa was an undergraduate research apprentice where she worked with faculty researching mental health needs in the Asian American student population by conducting focus groups and extensive interviews. Pompa has tutored Asian American elementary school students in Oakland for the past two years and is fluent in Spanish; she also spent a semester studying abroad in Madrid. She would like to work for a Public Health research or policy organization.

Art

Rebekah Randle is a third year majoring in History of Art. Her interests include the distribution and accessibility of art and how that affects those who study it. Through her experiences abroad, she has come to realize the value of studying art in front of the physical piece. Working in an environment where art is appreciated would help introduce her to the professional art world.

Jennifer Chen is a third year majoring in sociology and minoring in public policy. After completing a course on arts policy, she is interested in the administrative aspect of museums, especially museum funding. She currently works in the development department for Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, where she works on tasks geared towards gift administrations. She is interested in interning at the Smithsonian.

Civic Participation

Maria Henderson is a fourth-year majoring in Political Science. She is interested in voter turnout and civic participation in the United States, with specific interest in researching options to reverse the decreasing turnout rates among young American voters. She was a former volunteer for Music For America where she worked registering citizens to vote, particularly 18-30 year olds, and discussed political issues directly affecting young Americans such as education, health care, and the war in Iraq. She has served as President of the Undergraduate Political Science Association with the objective of making politics an accessible venue for young college students to engage themselves in the political process. She would like to work with a political education advocacy organization, a Congressperson, or a public policy think tank.

Monica Porter is a sophomore at Cal majoring in Social Welfare with minors in Public Policy and Disability Studies. She is interested in civic learning and engagement issues, especially focused on empowering youth. In high school, she was a Respect Commissioner for her Student Government. As a Respect Commissioner she coordinated activities surrounding the 2004 presidential election such as lunchtime discussions/debates, which included video clips of recent presidential and vice presidential debates, and a mock vote on Election Day. Monica would like to work for an organization that educates citizens, especially youth, about the political process, importance of voting, and difference each vote can make.

Casandra Salgado is a second year majoring in peace and conflict studies with a minor in Spanish. She is interested in public policy, especially those affecting minorities. She was a student activist for the AFT Student Mobilization Campaign lobbying in Sacramento for college opportunities and organized forums encouraging youth to vote and to become politically active. She was a volunteer on the Campaign for College Opportunity, where she was involved in high school outreach efforts to bring awareness to Californians on the issue of the lack of college access to primarily students of color. She was also an intern for the Office of State Senator Gloria Romero, where she assisted the senator on her campaigns and learned about pertinent policies which affect the state of California. She would like to work with a civil rights and advocacy organization or a congressional representative.

Julia Gitis is a graduating senior at UC Berkeley, majoring in Science Policy & Society through the Interdisciplinary Studies Field Major. She is interested in issues of civic engagement and research in the public interest. Julia worked as a research apprentice in a neuroscience lab for two years and has served as both President and Treasurer for three years of the Cognitive Science Students' Association. She served on the National Editorial Board as Executive Literarey Editor of the The Triple Helix: Science, Law, and Society, an international student-run journal. Her passion for community initiative stems from her three-year involvement as Director of the Program for Democratic Education at Cal, which supports 3000 students per semester with student-initiated classes. Julia looks forward to working in DC on a science policy or civic engagement project, as well as gaining exposure to politics on the Hill.

Women’s Rights

Rui Cheng (Victoria) is a first year double majoring in Political Science and Business Administration. She is interested in issues concerning women's rights, both its history and its progress now. She was an intern for her United States House Representative during the summer of 2006, and through this experience she has discovered a love for and a dedication to serving the public. Victoria is also an eloquent, diplomatic, and persuasive public speaker, a fact proven by the numerous awards she has won at Model United Nations conferences. She would like to work with any group dedicated to the advancement of women's rights.

Emi Lee is a junior at University of California Berkeley intending to major in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations and a minor in Gender and Women's Studies. As an immigrant, Emi was exposed to the disparities between the developed and developing nations at an early age, which triggered her passion to pursue a career in international law and development. In Washington D.C., Emi would like to expand her knowledge on the influential capabilities of international institutions in the progress of development in the 'Third World'. Her general knowledge on human rights, globalization, gender inequality, and environmental issues will be useful in working with institutions that advocate collective security on all these global issues.

Jennifer Chen is a third year majoring in Sociology and minoring in Public Policy. She in labor issues, especially labor policies concerning women in the workforce. She has in the past interned abroad in Taiwan promoting human rights in Asia. Jennifer would like to work with a women’s rights advocacy group or any group that advocates on behalf of laborers.

Law and Civil Rights

Breeanna Fujio is a second-year majoring in History. She is interested in working in a law practice or policy research setting. She has served for over a year on the Peer Review Board for the residence halls and was recently trained in campus policy to serve for the Student Judicial Affairs Board. She enjoys coordinating events for two scholars’ associations of which she is a member (Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholars and Alumni Leadership Scholars). She works as an undergraduate research apprentice for the Regional Oral History Office, which is a part of the Bancroft Library where she also works in the Acquisitions department. As a recipient of the Library Prize for Undergraduate Research last year, she would be very comfortable performing research in many different areas. She would like to work with a legal or policy group.

Sarah Kagan is a third year Political Science and Legal Studies double major. She has devoted her undergraduate career to studying the American legal system and has done extensive research in areas including: constitutional law, adversarial litigation and sentencing practices. Sarah served as the Executive Vice President of the University's College Panhellenic Association, where she acted as the chairwoman of Panhellenic's judicial committee. She has worked in the School of Social Welfare's Center for Social Services Research for two years aiding researchers in areas including child welfare, elder care and policy reform. Sarah would like to gain experience in the American legal system working in a federal office or with a public policy group.

Julia Laskorunsky is a graduating senior majoring in Sociology. Currently she is passionate about advancing drug reform laws based on reality, compassion and justice. She is currently employed by the Drug Policy Alliance, where she works as a legal intern. She is ultimately interested in pursuing a legal career and will be applying to various law schools this year. Her general occupational interests include public policy, status based discrimination issues and animal rights. She hopes to gain legal and public policy experience in Washington DC by working with a progressive non-profit or within the judicial branch of the government.

Divya Musinipally is a freshman majoring in political science. She is interested in women’s rights issues and places great importance on the principle of equal justice under the law. She is a member of the UC Berkeley Mock Trial team, playing the role of opening attorney. She is also a member of the Undergraduate Political Science Association and received the Alumni Association Leadership Award. As a senior in high school, Divya was the Student Board Member on the San Jose Unified School District Board of Education. She was also the president of the Oratory Speech and Debate team, and Editor-in-Chief of her school newspaper. Divya is interested in learning more about the legal system and justice in the United States.

Ryan Rezaei is a driven, third-year student at the University of California, Berkeley. He currently studies Rhetoric and aspires to obtain a joint J.D./M.B.A. degree after his studies at Berkeley. He has interned for both Merrill Lynch and Lincoln Financial Advisors and has been a Resident Supervisor in the university’s residence halls for the past year. He seeks a Washington, D.C. internship that involves politics of any sort – international or domestic. Ryan is especially interested in helping people. It is this interest that motivates him most and it is this interest that will compel him to work extremely hard in Washington.

Lechuan Zhou is a third-year student double-majoring in Political Science and Legal Studies. He is interested in exploring issues in two areas. First, he is interested in the protection and enforcement of civil rights and liberties, whether they originate from the Constitution or a specific statute. In this area he would like to work with organizations that either directly advocate civil right protection or those that research the current state of civil rights in America. Second, he is interested in the interaction between the judiciary and other governmental branches and how that interaction contributes to national policy-making. In this area he would like to work with political representatives who interact frequently with the judiciary, either indirectly or directly, in formulating policies; or a research institute that studies this interaction.

Lindsay Bailey is a second-year Political Science major interested in pursuing a career in either politics or constitutional law. She has been actively involved in both city and state politics, holding a seat on the Homeless Commission of the City of Berkeley as well as serving as a student liaison to California State Congressmen in her position as Director of Cal Lobby Corps within the ASUC. She is looking forward to working as an intern with either the Department of Justice or a Senate office this summer.

Christopher Cadena is a third year History major with a focus on modern Europe. He is interested in the policy making process, affordable housing, and family law. Christopher worked with the Los Angeles County Counsel,
where he assisted attorneys with housing issues and prepared their reports for the Board of Supervisors. He has also worked with a private family lawyer and interacted with several cases of divorce and custody. Having
worked with local government, he hopes to work for the offices of an elected official to gain exposure to policy making a federal level.

Guillermina Garcia is a third-year double-majoring in Political Science and Development Studies with a focus on Latin America. She is interested in immigration issues, especially in current immigration legislation, and
agencies that advocate for immigrant rights. She was recently voted the Diversity Chair for the San Francisco District for California National Organization for Women and is the Consciousness Raising Chair for the Berkeley Chapter. She is also a Resident Assistant for the Office of Student Development and works as a Community Health Worker through the University Health Services. She has been involved in activism and community organizing around immigrant issues. As a Mexican-American and fluent Spanish speaker, Guillermina believes that with her familiarity of immigration issues, experience with activist work, and commitment to education she can help create positive change. Now that she has been exposed to grassroots organizing within her local community, she would like to have some exposure to organizations that directly lobby or are involved in shaping immigration legislation in one way or another. An internship in Washington DC would not only allow her to work with professionals who are working to ensure social justice, but it would transform her passion into an action or service that can benefit immigrant communities at large.

Monica Porter is a sophomore at Cal majoring in Social Welfare with minors in Disability Studies and Public Policy. She is interested in human rights issues, especially concerned with the disabled and LGBTIQQ communities. Monica is passionate about disability advocacy and policy issues, especially concerned with accommodating individuals who have disabilities. In high school, she spent a year preparing her Senior Exhibition focusing on Dyslexia which she presented to parents, students, and teachers. As an undergraduate at Cal she has studied under the Disability Studies department and served as a Note-taker and Academic Aide for the Disabled Students Program. She also was a member of Gay/Straight Alliance and a Respect Commissioner for her Student Government. As a Respect Commissioner she organized Black Balloon Day, a day of awareness focusing on hate crimes directed towards others as a result of their race, religion, sexual preference, or (perceived) disability. Monica would like to work with an organization that supports and advocates for members of the disabled community and their families or for a human rights-focused organization that supports and advocates for members of minority groups as well as educates others in an effort to end discrimination.

Andrea Kramar is a first-year student at UC Berkeley majoring in Peace and Conflict Studies and double-minoring in Asian Studies and Chinese. For the past few years, Andrea has been working with and serving as a mentor to underprivileged, abused, and autistic children. In Washington D.C., she would like to further her interest and commitment to children and the underprivileged by ensuring that their voices are heard and are fairly represented by society. She specifically wants to help represent those who lack access to proper legal and social services and seeks to promote equal justice for all. Andrea has previously interned for the Donna Rosenstein Casting Agency, and is currently interning in the Academic Affairs Office of the Associated Students of California, helping run programs that enrich the educational experiences of Cal students by advocating on behalf of student’s needs. She has an innate love for learning and is proficient in Chinese, Spanish, and Hebrew. Her tenacity, commitment, and compassion for others have earned her numerous recognitions, including the Regents and Chancellor’s Scholarship at Berkeley as well as the Cal Alumni Leadership Scholarship.

Government Reform

Andrew Slater is a third-year history major with a 3.8 GPA. He has been politically active since he entered high school, working and volunteering in a number of campaigns. He is interested in doing serious analysis of social problems, particularly through the lens of examining concentrated, unaccountable power. He would like to "follow the money" — that is, uncover the connections between corporate influence on the government, and then governmental policies that favor corporate interests. In particular, he would like to examine the connections between defense contractors and the way billions of dollars are allocated in the defense budget with very little oversight. He is interested in doing real analysis and investigation, with real facts.

Alexander Tennet is an exchange student from the UK with a major in Political Science and considerable experience in campaign politics in both the US and Great Britain. During Alex’s previous employment with local government in North East England, he contributed to the development of education policy for regional public schools, and assisted Councilors in their duties with regard to their constituents. His extensive background in electoral politics includes volunteer work on the 2004 Presidential race, the 2005 UK General Election and the successful 2006 McNerney for Congress campaign. The lessons he has learned from these experiences in politics and government have guided his belief in changing the methods of campaign financing, to establish governments that are truly “for the people, by the people.” He hopes to be involved extensively in all the duties of a Congressional office, particularly in legislative matters, while working for a Senator he particularly admires for their commitment to effecting real change in the face of powerful countervailing interests in Washington.

Publishing

Jennifer Bowyer is a third year Anthropology major and Creative Writing minor. She would like to work on issues regarding the relationship between the publisher and the writer, the government, and the consumer. She is most interested in the issues of free speech and the dissemination of culture. She has worked on the editorial team for Nomad, a campus journal where her ideas shaped the current issue, and she contributed as a writer. Jennifer is also involved in the Create Society which examines creative texts. She would like to work with an independent publishing company, or an organization that works on the issues raised by the relationships mentioned above.