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2009 Cal in the Capital Interns

Environmental

Ben Driscoll is a 2nd year student majoring in Political Science as well as Society and Environment. He is interested in American Environmental Policy, especially in relation to transportation, water rights, and climate change. He is also interested in youth education, working with LeConte Elementary School and a former staff intern for the California Youth and Government program. He is currently the President of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He would like to work for a Senate or House committee related to environmental policy, or the EPA.

Willis Hon is a third-year majoring in Chemistry and pursuing and Energy and Resources minor and a Public Policy minor. He is interested in understanding and combating global climate change. He is currently working on research on soil carbon sequestration through management of California grass rangelands with Professor Whendee Silver. As a volunteer at the local Berkeley Farmers’ Markets, he is working on implementing a zero-waste program at the market. He has previously held research positions in chemistry under Professor Don Tilley and in environmental science with the Environmental Science Teaching Program. He currently serves as co-president of the Undergraduate Scientists Association at UC Berkeley. He would like to work for a non-governmental organization on climate change issues.

Valerie Jaffee is a fourth year student majoring in Society & Environment and Political Science. She is interested in local, national, and international initiatives to combat climate change and increase sustainability. She taught a Berkeley student-led course on global warming, worked with the San Francisco Department of Public Health on environmental justice issues, and served on the planning committee for UC Berkeley's Earth Week. While studying abroad in Costa Rica, she became fluent in Spanish and independently initiated a recycling program in the University of Costa Rica. She is currently a research apprentice in U.S. Environmental History, studying public perceptions of industrial pollution. She is a strong writer and creative thinker, and would like to work in environmental policy making as part of a Congressional committee, the EPA, or an environmental lobbying group.

Reed Johnson is a second year majoring in Physics. He is interested in environmental issues specifically dealing with climate change. He has cultivated his leadership skills by serving as President of his freshman dorm Hall Association, starting a Repeal Prop 8 student organization and serving as the philanthropy chair of his fraternity, Zeta Psi. He also worked as a lab assistant with the Applied Optics research group, testing the efficiency of and creating better structures for optical waveguides. Reed would like to supplement his background in science with experience in environmental policy making and is interested in interning for the senate committee on the environment and public works or a senator working with climate change issues.

Kate Lewis is a second year who intends to major in International Political Economy and minor in Conservation and Resource Studies. She has spent the last two years interning for YouthNoise, a non-profit organization devoted to helping young activists identify, act upon, and build movements around the issues they care about most. Kate is also a dedicated activist herself, with a particular passion for issues of human rights, international development, and environmental justice and preservation. She is a veteran of five major political campaigns, including as an intern for the Hillary Clinton for President campaign and as a lead campus organizer against California ballot propositions 4 and 8. She is also an active member of and webmaster for Delta Phi Epsilon, UC Berkeley’s only international relations and foreign affairs professional fraternity.

Annelisa Luong is a second-year double majoring in Society and Environment and Conservation and Resources Studies. She is interested in water development in third world countries and domestic policy regarding water resources. She was an intern for San Francisco Environment where she implemented a project to improve the City's oil recycling program. She was also a participant of Cal's Externship program, in which she externed for the Deputy Director of Contra Costa's Public Utility's Commission. She is currently pursuing coursework in environmental policy and resource studies. Annelisa would like to work for a regulatory organization such as the EPA, a non-profit organization, or legislator involved in water policy or other environmental issues.

Tristen Mills is a second-year double majoring in Political Science and Media Studies. She is interested in environmental issues, especially in the area of renewable energy technologies and sustainability. She is involved with UC Berkeley’s Invisible Children club, which works to raise awareness and funds for the ongoing war in Northern Uganda. Tristen has held positions in Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and is currently serving on its Executive Committee as the Panhellenic Delegate. She would like to work for an organization that is concerned with environmental issues and awareness, or for a congressperson to whom these issues are a priority.

Marc Schryer is a senior Political Science major at UC Berkeley focusing in international relations. He has much experience in environmental advocacy, previously acting as Sierra Club President for his college, advancing environmental causes as the President of Fiscal Affairs through the student government, and participating in environmental sustainability research at UC Berkeley. He would like to gain practical, real-world experience in the fields of environmental policy and international relations. He is interested in interning for a governmental organization, within Congress, within the White House, or a non-governmental organization.

Karen Tracy Stallard is a second year student majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering. She is interested in environmental policy, researching energy alternatives, and the process of lobbying. She has worked with the State of California Department of Toxic Substances Control researching alternatives to treated wood waste and developing the treated wood waste tracking database. She has also interned with the office of Assemblymen Joel Anderson at the California State Capital and with the Crocker Art Museum coordinating and developing art programs for students. She would like to work for an environmental lobbyist organization or an environmental think tank, although she is also interested in environmental research projects.

Patrick Stelmach is a third year double-majoring in Society and Environment and Political Science. His passion is the environment, both as an avid outdoorsman and as an academic scholar. His primary interests are climate change, particularly strategies for de-carbonizing our energy sector, as well as marine ecosystem exploitation and sustainable forest management. Over the past year, he worked for an environmental education nonprofit, KIDS for the BAY, as an office assistant, and interned for Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, organizing the West Berkeley community around local air pollution issues. This past semester, he interned in Senator Barbara Boxer's field office in San Francisco. Patrick would like to work for a member of Congress who has been a leader on climate change policy or for an organization involved in environmental advocacy.

Maxfield Weiss is a fourth-year double majoring in Society and the Environment and Conservation Resource Studies with a minor in Forestry and Natural Resource Management. He is interested in environmental stewardship and resource conservation in order to create homeostasis within the natural environment. By studying how physical and biological processes maintain life and how societal institutions dictate the ideals of citizens, he hopes to create policy that addresses urban development, natural resources, and sustainable solutions for all members of society. Max has strong written and verbal communication skills with a technical background that was established during his 7 year employment with Hewlett Packard. In partnership with a local nonprofit, he successfully lobbied the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to create a wildlife service program that is beneficial to both wildlife and taxpayers of the county. He co-authored a report for the California Legislature on wildlife home ranges. As the founding President of the Earth Awareness and Action Club, he created sustainable solutions and ecological identities for students while also representing the student body in the creation of environmental policies for the college campus in conjunction with the College Environmental Advisory Group. He is looking to intern with a policymaking body such as a congressional committee or advisory council, or with a research institute specializing in environmental regulation.

Education

Brooke Agee is a senior majoring in history, with a concentration in contemporary United States history. Interested in education reform, Brooke is particularly concerned with issues related to closing the achievement gap that affects minorities and students of low socioeconomic status. Brooke spent a summer interning in the Communications Office at the California Department of Education, where she furthered her interest in public schools. In addition to enjoying researching, writing, and working in a team environment, Brooke loves teaching. She regularly volunteers in a second grade classroom in a Berkeley public school and as an English language development partner at the YWCA. For the past four years at UC Berkeley, Brooke has been a member and leader in the student-run University of California Marching Band. Brooke is eager to apply her passion for public policy issues and education reform by either working for a Congressional committee, think tank, or public policy organization.

Nicole Carlotto is a fourth year Sociology major. She is interested in higher education policy. After spending her junior year studying abroad at the University of Sussex, Brighton in England she hopes to incorporate her knowledge of other educational structures into her internship. Nicole has extensive work experience, including her current employment for UC Berkeley’s College of Letters and Science as a peer advisor, two summers at the YMCA working as a camp assistant director and counselor, and a summer internship at a semiconductor company. Her experience also extends beyond the work arena to include her current volunteer position as a peer counselor at her college and previous volunteer work at her English university’s Student Advice Center and coaching elementary school students. Nicole hopes to intern for an organization that will help develop her understanding of the education system at the national level while expanding her knowledge of the ways in which national education policy affects local sectors.

Shilin Liu is an exchange student from China majoring in Sociology. She is interested in both the education policy issues for immigrant children in the U.S. and the U.S.-China relations. She has participated in both qualitative and quantitative research projects both in her home university, and she initiated a teaching program for children in rural areas in China. Being fluent in both Chinese and English, and knowing these two cultures quite well gives her confidence in dealing with these related issues. She has continued her great passion for improving education conditions, and the belief that vital social issues can be better solved on the basis of collaboration among different, here in the U.S. Shilin hopes to work as an education/international policy intern in research institutions, NPOs or NGOs related to the issues above.

Paula Villescaz is a second year Political Science major and Public Policy minor. She is interested in education issues, particularly K-12 education reform and making higher education more accessible. Her background includes work as a Finance Assistant on two Congressional campaigns, a Field Organizer during the 2008 Presidential Primary season and a Constituent Caseworker in the California State Assembly. She has been involved in every level of democratic politics from serving on her local County Central Committee, the California State Central Committee and as a Delegate to the 2008 DNC Convention. She would like to work with an organization focused on education issues and reform or in the office of a Congressperson focused on education issues.

Foreign Policy & International Relations

Rhonda Adato is a fourth year double majoring in Art History and English. She also plans to minor in Global Poverty & Practice. She is eager to continue her research on both domestic and international poverty. She plans to do so by investigating the effects of globalization on the lower classes, observing alternate forms of development, and considering the role of the state. As a result, she is highly interested in non-profit work, public advocacy, and development. In the past, Rhonda has interned at the San Diego Museum of Art and the National Writing Project. She has also worked as a writer at the Chula Vista Star-News, a grassroots community newspaper, and at the Robert Koch Photography Gallery in San Francisco. She has acted as a mentor, coach, counselor, and tutor at various youth organizations. Rhonda holds the leadership role of Vice President for two clubs on campus. She looks forward to getting hands-on experience in international policy and poverty alleviation by working for a legislator, NGO, or think tank in Washington, D.C.

Wayne Beuhring is a senior majoring in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He is looking to obtain an internship in Washington D.C. in order to complement his 5 years of experience in the Entertainment Industry and current Congressional Internship with Congresswoman Barbara Lee for a future career in law and public policy. Prior to being accepted to Cal, Wayne had worked his way up the ladder at a prolific talent manager’s office in Beverly Hills from being a personal assistant to Director of Operations. Through this process he gained considerable experience in the Entertainment Industry as well as in Corporate America. Currently, Wayne is interning at the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee where his interests in public policy and the federal government have grown. His internship responsibilities include a mixture of administrative support, community outreach events, and researching constituent requests involving federal agencies. As a Californian his main areas of interest are Education, the Environment, and Corrections. As an American he is deeply concerned with the economy in addition to this nation’s foreign policy as it relates to the tumultuous Middle East and the emerging countries in Asia.

Thuc Bui is a fourth year pursuing simultaneous degrees in Business Administration at the Haas School of Business and International Political Economy. He would like to find a career path that incorporates both disciplines, but most importantly, a career that offers an opportunity for public service. He is particularly interested in foreign service work. He believe that this is particularly a vital time for the United States to create and maintain healthy relationship with governments and people abroad. His academic training in international business and international political economy combined with his study abroad experience in Hong Kong have prepared him for the transition to international relations work.

Dong-Thu (Misha) Caohuu is a second year double major in Economics and Political Science, with a strong interest in the relationship between U.S. foreign policy and the state of the global economy. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her mentee at Long Fellow Middle School and is pursuing a minor in music performance. She is motivated to intern in Washington D.C. in order to examine how the U.S.’s mounting trade deficit, the depreciation of the dollar, and the current recession will impact U.S. international relations, particularly with the Pacific Rim and EU countries. Her coursework in macroeconomic theory has provided her with the tools to analyze global markets, and she wishes to do further investigation into U.S. domestic and foreign economic policy. Fluent in Vietnamese and French, with a passion for learning critical languages, she seeks a position within an intelligence agency, economic think-tanks, or Congressional committees dedicated to foreign affairs. She looks forward to integrating the experience and knowledge attained from an internship into her academic program next year, at Sciences Po in Paris, where she will concentrate her studies on EU-American relations.

Sarah Chamberlain is a senior majoring in history, with a concentration on twentieth-century Great Britain. She is passionate about foreign relations both political and cultural, especially the engagement between the United States and Europe. She speaks Spanish and German as well as English. She has researched policing in the United Kingdom since 1979 in an apprenticeship in the Department of Political Science and written about the history of immigration to the Netherlands as a researcher for the Multicultural Netherlands project in the Dutch Studies Program. She spent her junior year studying abroad in the United Kingdom at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh, and while at the latter worked as a disc jockey and writer for the university’s internet radio station, freshair.org.uk. She currently volunteers as a peer adviser for Berkeley Programs for Study Abroad. She would like to do work related to improving the United States and Europe’s understanding of each other, whether by promoting cultural and educational exchanges or by researching foreign policy.

Caroline Eva is a second-year at the University of California, Berkeley intending on majoring in Political Economy of Industrialized Societies. Global travel has evoked her interest in international relations, human rights, and foreign policy. At Berkeley, she has served as Vice President of the Invisible Children club, a non-profit which provides aid to children in war-torn Northern Uganda. As Philanthropy Chairman of her sorority she is responsible for organizing philanthropy events, and she harbors a passion for improving the local community as well as the international community. Recognizing the increasing importance of stable relations between the United States and foreign nations, Caroline would like to work with a government agency or that deals with foreign policy, or an organization involved with international issues. She is interested in pursuing a career in international business.

Jason Farrell is a fourth year Political Science major interested in foreign policy and U.S. relations with the developing world. He has been an editor and staff writer for the student publications Berkeley Political Review and California Patriot, and has covered state, national and international issues. He has been elected to numerous positions of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and is currently its Vice President, Alumni Relations Chair and Historian. He has also worked in a wide variety of jobs for over ten years in challenging and dynamic environments and consistently exhibited a strong work ethic, attention to detail and well-honed organizational and interpersonal skills. While in Washington he hopes to work for a think tank, media organization, or congressman.

Glenda Guzman is a third year majoring in Political Science. She is interested in the development of third world nations, with a particular emphasis in Central America. Additionally, she is interested in helping underrepresented groups in the United States and abroad gain a voice in society. Glenda was the Public Welfare Chair of Los Angeles Pierce College Student Government. She also served as the vice president for the international student club and was highly involved in creating events to bring her junior college community together. She volunteered at Haven Hills—a place for abused women and children. Furthermore, she volunteered at Guadalupe Community Center—a non-profit organization providing food and clothing for underprivileged families—and at Tarzana Rehabilitation Center where she aided the elder in many primary tasks. Glenda would like to work for an organization that brings to light and fights against social problems at home and abroad. She would like to participate in an organization where she can meet and interact with individuals that share her passion and where she can contribute as much as she can to the betterment of not only the organization but also the individuals that such organization represents.

Laura Hackney is a 2nd year who plans to major in Political Science and Chinese Studies. She is interested in US-China foreign relations as well as human rights issues concerning women’s rights and the rights of Tibet. She has worked on many campaigns in her home state of Georgia including Jim Martin’s Campaign for U.S. Senate. She has worked as an intern for the Democratic Party of Georgia for the past two summers. She hopes to work for a legislator, an organization focused on foreign policy, or at the State Department.

Jasmine Jahanshahi is a first year student at University of California, Berkeley. She intends to major in Political Science with a Middle Eastern Studies minor. She is interested in international relations and U.S. foreign policy, specifically concerning U.S.- Iranian relations. She is especially curious about the sociological, cultural, and economic factors that play a role in creating the political climate between conflicting nations. She is an active member of the UC Berkeley Model United Nations travel team. Proficient in Farsi, Jasmine is also a member of the Iranian Student Alliance in America. This past summer Jasmine volunteered with a NGO in Northern India, where she taught English to monks in the monasteries of McLeod Ganj and Tashi Jong. While in India, Jasmine was housed by families in Tibetan villages and learned a great deal about the plight of the Tibetan refugee by working with refugees as a conversation partner in the Lha college in McLeod Ganj, helping pave new roads for the village, and building a basketball court for the school children. While in Washington, Jasmine hopes to have the opportunity to learn more about complexities of international development, by being immersed in the international microcosm that is D.C. Jasmine hopes to work for a progressive foreign policy think tank, a human rights NGO, or an advocacy group concerning international relations.

Martyna Korkiewicz is an exchange student spending her third year as a Political Science major at UC Berkeley. She originally comes from Poland but spent the last two years studying at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Her experience includes an internship for her local Congresswoman in Poland and working as a student mentor for the GOALS project promoting higher education in secondary schools across the West of Scotland. She was also an active member of the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council. She hopes to work for a think-tank or another organization concerned with policy-making. Her areas of interest include political representation, campaign politics, education issues and Latin American politics in general.

Jenna Lolli is a third-year majoring in Sociology. She is interested in a large variety of things ranging from human resources to national security. She is open to trying new things and finding where her passion lies. She has previously volunteered for three weeks in New Orleans and recently held two jobs simultaneously in a law and a commercial real estate office. She also worked on two campaigns for Student Senators as well as served as Director of Special Events for her sorority. She is proficient in Spanish conversation and hopes to study abroad in the future.

Christine Russell is a fourth year student majoring in History at UC Berkeley. She is interested in foreign affairs, public policy, human rights, social justice, and journalism. She is a director of the Youth Mentor Program at the YWCA Berkeley/Oakland and has had extensive experience volunteering and working with youth. She has also been a Student Research Assistant for Boalt Law School’s International Human Rights Law Clinic, an intern for Renters Legal Assistance, a Copy Editor for The Daily Californian, a Senior Production Editor of The Triple Helix, and has studied abroad in Spain. She received the Alumni Association Leadership Award two years in a row. Christine is interested in interning for a government or non-government organization concerned with foreign policy or human rights, or a non-profit or news agency where she could further develop her journalism skills.

Ferris Salameh is a third year at UC Berkeley majoring in International Political Economy and minoring in City and Regional Planning. As a marketing intern at Informatica, a Bay-area based software company, a marketing coordinator/event planner for UC Berkeley’s dining services, Cal Dining, and a recruiter for the Berkeley Project, one of Berkeley’s strongest volunteer-oriented service projects, he has gained a wide range of knowledge, professional skills and leadership abilities that will be useful in any internship in D.C. He is particularly interested in the legislation of human rights and hopes to intern with a Congressperson, a media outlet, or an agency of the U.S. government that works on these issues.

Basant Singh Sanghera is a fifth year majoring in History and Political Science, with an emphasis on military history and international relations. He has held a wide range of leadership posts with various UC Berkeley organizations, including the Sikh Students Association, the History Honor Society, and the Berkeley War Crimes Center. He has also taken numerous courses pertaining to national security and military affairs at various institutions, including Harvard University and King’s College, Cambridge. In light of the serious security challenges faced by the United States in recent years, Basant has developed a keen interest in defense/security matters and hopes to pursue this in Washington, DC while working for a governmental organization, lawmaker, or think-tank specializing in foreign policy and security affairs.

Irina Tagintseva is a fourth year double majoring in Business Administration and Political Science. As a recent immigrant from the post-Soviet Union Kazakhstan, Irina is passionate about the US foreign relations with the former member countries of the Soviet bloc and Russia in particular. She has extensive experience interning in the corporate environments in private wealth management at Merrill Lynch and consulting for a Fortune 500 company. Her leadership involvements include two Vice-Presidential positions at an honor society and Speech and Debate Club, as well as a position of a Crisis Committee Chair at the Model United Nations. During her summer in Washington DC, she hopes to further explore her interest in international relations by working with a think tank, NGO, or a federal legislator on the issues of foreign policy and international diplomacy.

Suman Tatapudy is a third year undergraduate majoring in Political Science major with a minor in Public Policy at UC Berkeley. She is interested in diplomatic efforts in conflict torn regions, especially the India-Pakistan conflict. She is also interested in international efforts to foster a sense of cooperation and peace in an increasingly connected world. As an intern for the Eviction Defense Collaborative in San Francisco, California, she worked with clients facing eviction through landlord-tenant disputes. She also interned for Greenpeace, San Francisco, where she participated in grassroots campaign organizing to combat climate change. She would like to work with political organizations dedicated to fostering diplomacy in international relations or a congressional office working on foreign policy issues.

Shereen Ulla transferred to UC Berkeley from Chabot College. She is currently a senior majoring in Political Science with a concentration in international relations and minoring in Global Poverty and Practice. She has worked in a small Indian village with the Global Micro Clinic Project developing a diabetes clinic for villagers without healthcare. She is interested in international relations and international development. She is looking for an internships dealing with international development in South Asia or the Middle East.

Alina Xu is a second-year student majoring in Economics with a minor in Geography. Her interests include international political economy, the geopolitics of natural resources, and development and urbanization in the global south. She currently interns in the district office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee and has previously worked as a research intern at the International Forum on Globalization. At UC Berkeley, she is involved with Haath Mein Sehat, a group that works to improve water quality and sanitation in urban India, is layout editor of the Berkeley Political Review, and writes for the Daily Californian. In her first year at Berkeley, she was a recipient of the Library Prize for Undergraduate Research. She would like to work at a think tank or federal agency that focuses on economic policy and international development.

Economics

Brenda Castillo is a senior at UC Berkeley pursuing a simultaneous degree in Business Administration and in Political Economy of Industrial Societies with an emphasis on East Asia. Throughout her four years at UC Berkeley she has gained significant leadership experience through various board positions in the Latino Business Student Association (LBSA) at UC Berkeley and is currently leading the organization as the President. Brenda has also been active in her community by participating in mentorship programs for minority young students to motivate them to excel academically and attend institutions of higher education. Finally, she had the opportunity to intern at the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to conduct research in an effort to increase exposure of information to low-income Spanish-speaking communities. In Washington D.C Brenda is looking for opportunities to get exposure on how business and political decisions implemented by the US government affect minority communities in the United States. Furthermore, she is also interested in learning how the business and political relationships with the rising Asian economies affect businesses in the United States, especially to minority business-owners.

Caitlin Irwin is a third year student majoring in Political Economy. She is interested in the effects of U.S. policies on development abroad as well as poverty and inequality in America. She has spent time working directly with people in poverty in Latin America and has refined her understanding of the Spanish language as well as the challenges of working in developing countries. Her experience working with the homeless in Berkeley has increased her awareness of and interest in resolving the problem of inequality in America. Caitlin would like to intern for a member of Congress, government agency, non-governmental organization, or think tank that focuses on development as well as social and economic policy.

Prachi Jain is a third year student majoring in Economics with a strong background in mathematics and biology. She is interested in economic research and hopes to go to graduate school in Economics after graduation. Her background includes work with several professors as a Research Assistant, and work as a Peer Adviser for the College of Letters and Sciences at UC Berkeley. She would like to intern for a research institution, public policy institution or think tank that deal extensively with economic policies and issues.

Ananth Kasturiraman is a second year student at UC Berkeley. He is majoring in Economics and Psychology, and is particularly interested in exploring the factors that influence consumer decision-making. He is extremely excited to have the chance to work in Washington, D.C. at such a critical juncture in our nation's economic history. Ananth wants to work for an organization that will work on solutions to the current economic crisis, either directly for the government or with private firms that will work closely with the government.

Chad Kunert is a third year at Cal majoring in Economics. Upon arriving at Cal, Chad immediately engaged in a wide variety of student organizations. In UC Berkeley's Navy ROTC program, he served and commanded the Tri-Service Color Guard for two years. He is a brother in the Alpha Beta Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. As a freshman, he was elected to the student Senate and represented the Berkeley College Republicans the duration of his sophomore year. In the ASUC, he Vice Chaired the Committee on Constitutional and Procedural Review. Chad has received academic honors every semester at Cal. He has a strong interest in economic policy, especially regarding taxes. Chad would like to intern for a member of Congress, a public relations firm, or government agency.

Ryan Landis is a first year student at the University of California, Berkeley intending to major in Business, Economics, or Political Science. He is interested in the United States role economically and how America impacts both developed and developing countries around the world. He is currently a member of the California Investment Association and has been involved in Financial Market research for over 5 years. Ryan maintains a strong relationship with the Highlands Senior Network where he developed and computed programs to help senior citizens run their own caregiver programs. Ryan would like to work for an organization this summer that focuses on domestic or foreign economies.

Peter Volberding is a third year Political Economy major. He is interested in the political economy of both international and domestic politics, with an emphasis on the ethics and morality of international economic intervention by foreign actors, namely the World Bank and IMF. He is not only concerned with the reasons for intervention, but also with the intended and unintended consequences of such interventions. As a MAPLight.com research intern, he analyzed the relationship between voting patterns and campaign donations in the US House and Senate. In Washington DC, he hopes to intern at a policy think tank and continue to analyze and advocate for improving international and domestic economic policies.

Media

Shay Arthur is a sophomore majoring in Media Studies. Her inquisitive nature and love of public speaking and writing has led to her passion for broadcast journalism, with an emphasis in investigative stories. Shay has interned at KRCR TV, an ABC affiliate in Redding, California. While there, she worked with the news team to interview people, as well as write and research stories. Shay is also part of CalTv, the University of California, Berkeley's online news station, where she is an investigative reporter. Apart from her journalism experience, Shay is an active leader in her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma where she is the registrar, and serves on the public relations and philanthropy committees. She hopes to further her knowledge of broadcast media by working with a primetime news network.

Morgan Dyson will be graduating in May with Bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Mass Communications. She is interested in pursuing internships and careers in communications with special interest in Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, and Brand Development. She is also interested in International Relations with a focus on the cultural and daily life challenges facing people in developing nations; health care, education as well as hunger prevention. Morgan attended Cal as a student athlete on an athletic scholarship and has been awarded all conference academic honors each year. She is a member of the California Women's Lacrosse team and plays numerous other sports; tennis, squash, basketball and softball. This athletic affinity may be an asset in sports management or development. In the past she has interned for at IMG World in their sports division in event planning, marketing, and client service fields and at Concierge Unlimited International in event planning. Morgan has also had an opportunity to travel, specifically through the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, including a semester in Florence.

Elizabeth (Bobbie) Englert is a second year at the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Mass Communications with a minor in English. She is interested in the relationship between the government and the media, especially in the fields of marketing and advertising. She is currently on the public relations and promotion team for ImagiCal, Berkeley’s premier marketing case competition team. In addition to her first hand marketing experience, Bobbie is also a tutor and mentor for children at Berkeley’s elementary school and was a member of the 2008 NCAA finalist California women’s tennis team. Bobbie would like the opportunity to work for a media relations department for the government, an institute, advocacy group, or news source.

Vinit Sukhija is a sophomore majoring in Economics at UC Berkeley. He is interested in a broad range of economically applicable topics, ranging from models of media bias to economic policy and the economic history of the United States. In the fall of 2008 he taught a class at UC Berkeley on media bias in the 2008 presidential election, highlighting several research papers on media bias and examining the role of various types of media outlets in the election. He also serves as a teacher’s assistant for an environmental policy class and serves as a research apprentice for Professor Laurie Wilkie. He is a student assistant at the UC Berkeley Traffic Safety Center and frequently works with policy. He would like to intern for CNN’s The Situation Room or for a member of Congress.

Public Health

Lily Cheng is a junior majoring in history and media studies. She is passionate about human rights, specifically concerning refugees and immigrants. As an intern for the Berkeley Food and Housing Project, Lily worked to provide sustainable housing to the homeless community. She also works with Bread for the World, a non-profit that lobbies for hunger and poverty issues. Currently, she serves as a founding co-coordinator of Berkeley’s Peer Health Exchange, a national non-profit dedicated to teaching a comprehensive health curriculum to teenagers in urban public high schools. In addition to her experience working with non-profits, she honed her research skills during an internship with the Los Angeles City Archives. As a recipient of the Alumni Leadership Award in 2007 and 2008, she has continued to serve the campus community as a leader in the Alumni Scholars Association and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Eden Fekade is a fourth year at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a double major in Development Studies and German. She has gained work experience in international affairs by working at Amnesty International in Washington, DC. Eden interned for the Country Specialist Program which recruits, trains, and services a corps of 120 volunteer activists to serve as Amnesty International USA's country strategists and experts. She supported the human rights work of Country Specialists who focus on particular regions of the world (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East). Moreover, she took an active part in the recruiting process, application process, decision making process and assisted in the development of training manuals, and helped organize the annual training and strategy meetings for the Country Specialists. Thus, she is interested in international affairs and humanitarian assistance and therefore hopes to intern for an NGO or international organization that deals with international peace and security, refugees, human rights, HIV/AIDS and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Krysten Joyce will be graduating from UC Berkeley in May with a degree in Public Health, with an emphasis in community health and human development and global poverty. She is interested in health policy and international public health issues. Krysten studied in Spain and has volunteered at a Community Care Clinic as a Spanish translator. Her interest in health policy and children’s health on a global scale has inspired her studies of policy making and international health. Locally, she mentored at a local elementary school and volunteers at the Oakland Children’s Hospital. Krysten would like to gain further experience in the field of health policymaking and hopes to work with an organization or member of Congress that is committed to improving children’s health around the world.

Kaitlin Kalkstein is a fourth year student majoring in Public Health and minoring in Global Poverty. She is interested in healthcare reform, reproductive health, and global health. Last summer Kaitlin worked for a non-governmental organization in Uganda on a project on obstetric fistula. She also served as an intern for a UCSF Reproductive Health clinical trial and recruited women to participate in the study. She is currently the committee chair for the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee of the Cal Undergrad Public Health Coalition. She would like to work for a Public Health Research or policy organization.

Josiah Leong is a junior at Cal double-majoring in Psychology and Chemical Biology. He is passionate about the mental health care field and the provision of effective health services for the community. He is particularly fascinated by the intersection between pharmacology and psychotherapy in providing relief for those suffering from mental illnesses and neurological disorders. He has volunteered at a regional suicide hotline as a crisis counselor and has also done research in a sleep and psychological disorders lab. He is currently working as a pharmacy assistant at a local pharmacy, and he envisions having a career that utilizes his enthusiasm for chemistry, neurobiology, and clinical psychology. Josiah would like to work with an organization that either advocates and lobbies for public health and mental health issues, engages in research in these areas, or provides medical and mental health services in a clinical setting.

Monica Nguyen is a fourth year Public Health major. She is currently working on patient-based research measuring corneal epithelium as a diffusion barrier in human subjects at the UC Berkeley Clinical Research Center. She is also a coordinator for the Sexual Health Education Program, where she works to educate the community on various aspects of sexual health. Working in this field has motivated her to work with organizations that battle public health issues. She would like to learn more about the role the government plays in public health, particularly in sexual health education, infectious diseases, and monitoring of microorganisms. She is eager to learn about the necessary steps the government takes in implementing public health programs and how these are made successful for a large population.

Kelsey Repka is a second year intended Ethnic Studies major at UC Berkeley, interested in pursuing medicine. She has a passion for clinical healthcare and the impact of healthcare policies on varying demographic populations. Kelsey is currently a Resident Assistant, helping first year students make the transition to college. Previously Kelsey has worked with Child Family Health International and Maryland Leadership Workshop. Kelsey hopes to intern with individuals or organizations interested in creating better and more affordable healthcare for the community they represent.

Kathryn Steckler is a fourth year undergraduate student majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in International Development and Global Health at the University of California, Berkeley. She is interested in the intersection of public health issues and development and how disaster and conflict can exacerbate the disparity between developing and developed countries. As a summer 2008 research intern for the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Honolulu, HI, Kathryn studied socioeconomic trends and development indicators for a disaster risk assessment tool. Since the spring semester of her junior year, she has worked as a research apprentice for the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and conducts ethnographical research and data analysis for a project on school lunch policy and practices at a San Francisco middle school. She is currently writing a thesis on Myanmar and the politics of humanitarian aid and disaster relief concerning Cyclone Nargis. As an intern in Washington, DC, Kathryn would like to further her knowledge in this field and work with an organization (non-governmental organization, government agency, or private company) concerned with international development and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief.

Allen Zheng is a third year majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Infectious Diseases. He also intends to complete a minor in Public Policy. As the founder and club coordinator of the biggest public health service club aimed at Oakland elementary schools, he has firsthand knowledge of the urgent need to promote preventative healthcare legislation. In the past, Allen has served as financial vice president of his professional premedical fraternity and on the service committee of UC Berkeley's Asian Pacific American Theme Housing Program. In Washington D.C., he would to like to work for a public health advocacy group or member of Congress dedicated to comprehensive healthcare reform.

Archaeology & Museums

Phoebe Peronto is a first year student intending to major in Anthropology and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. She is intrigued by archaeological fieldwork and the repatriation of artifacts from mainstream museums to descendant communities. She is presently working on the China Camp Archaeological Project—a research project on the Native communities of Marin County—as an undergraduate apprentice in the UC Berkeley Anthropology Department. Phoebe is a member of the Berkeley Model United Nations, and former assistant to Professor David Menefee-Libey of the Political Science Department at Pomona College, serving as a research assistant for his upcoming novel on the state of education in Los Angeles County. Phoebe would like to intern for an archaeological research institution, a member of Congress, or in the White House.

Civic Participation

Mia Pskowski is a second year majoring in Political Science with a minor in Public Policy. She has previously interned in Mayor Newsom's executive office in San Francisco and for Assembly member Lloyd Levine in the State Capitol. She also worked this past summer as an organizer and canvasser for Charlie Brown's congressional campaign in Roseville. She is interested in working at a progressive think tank, for a member of Congress, or gaining experience in international politics by working for an NGO.

Melinda (Lindy) Ross is a third year Political Science and History major at UC Berkeley and enjoying her second year as a Cal in the Capital intern. Last summer she interned at the Red Cross National Headquarters in International Family Tracing, analyzing and revising program materials. She is currently a Security Coordinator for the UC Berkeley dorms, ensuring the security and safety of over 1,000 students by hiring, training, and managing a staff of about 35 Security Monitors. She served the UC Berkeley community last year as a Resident Assistant and in fall 2008 worked as a teacher's assistant for a social justice course. Lindy has pursued her passion for politics interning for the John Edwards for President '08 campaign. She is also a two time recipient of the UC Berkeley Alumni Association Leadership Scholarship. Lindy aims to intern for a Congressperson, an organization dealing with refugee relations, in the media, or in the White House.

Women’s Rights

Ariel Boone is a second-year Music and Political Science double major. She is the Internal Vice President of Cal Berkeley Democrats, and has worked for numerous political campaigns, including Charlie Brown for Congress and Obama for America. She was a Legislative Intern for Assemblymember Mark DeSaulnier in the State Capitol in 2008, staffing the Assembly Human Services Committee. Her background in Chinese language spurred her current interest in U.S.- China relations, and in Chinese political movements. This summer, Ariel hopes to use her recent coursework in framing and communications to further domestic policies, including GLBT issues, such as the expansion of hate crime legislation, and women's issues, such as equal access to healthcare.

Elisabeth Mart is a second year Political Science major. She is interested in the American legal system and, more specifically, the protection and enforcement of civil rights. After participating in California’s Youth and Government program for two years as an assemblyman and historian, Elisabeth became engrossed with the legislative process in the United States. She has been a member of the University of California Marching Band for two years, as well as a trumpet teacher for four years and a camp counselor for two summers. She has also taken several political science and American history courses while at Cal and is considering pursuing a double major in history, with an emphasis in the history of the United States. In the future she hopes to go to graduate school and possibly earn her PhD in political science or history. Elisabeth would like to work for an organization that fights for civil rights such as the National Organization for Women and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a congressional office.

Desiree Matloob is a sophomore majoring in Political Economy of Industrial Societies and minoring in Rhetoric. She is interested in international human rights and women’s rights, especially in regards to the interpretation of women’s rights under Shari’a law in the Middle East and human trafficking worldwide. She is the Policy Director of Stop the Traffick, an anti-human trafficking club that raises awareness about human trafficking on campus and creates mini anti-human trafficking curriculums for Bay Area middle schools. As a member of UC Berkeley’s Model United Nations team and the appointed UN Human Rights Committee Chair, she has written research guides on the topics of human trafficking in Eastern Europe and journalists’ rights in Africa and will be presiding over the UNHRC committee in UC Berkeley’s Model UN conference in the spring. In addition to being deeply committed to human rights issues worldwide, she has always had a passion for journalism, serving as the editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper and as a former news writer and current columnist at The Daily Californian. She has channeled her passion for journalism and her Iranian American roots into other endeavors, such as writing articles on the topics of child executions in Iran and academic freedom for students at Iranian universities for Perspective Magazine, the Iranian American magazine on campus. This summer, Desiree would like to work with an organization that deals with domestic and international human rights or foreign affairs (especially in the Middle East) with a legislator, policy think tank, or human rights advocacy group.

Leslie Roter is a junior majoring in Sociology at UC Berkeley. She has an academic background in race, gender, and various social inequalities and is passionate about legislation for social change. Having fundraised for various large scale non-profit organizations such as Planned Parenthood and Greenpeace, she has an enthusiasm for championing women’s rights. She is the Assistant Editor-In-Chief of the Berkeley Business Review and served as an editor for “I Am That Girl” magazine. She currently serves as the Director of Communications for the UC Berkeley Panhellenic Council. Being active in the Panhellenic community coupled with her experiences working with NPO’s has made her interested in an internship where she would be lobbying for women’s rights. She would like to continue her work with a non-profit organization pursuing civil rights legislation.

Law and Civil Rights

Reade Bramer is a 3rd year student majoring in both History and Political Science. Reade is interested in American politics, American history and US constitutional law. He is currently a member of the ACLU at Berkeley, the co-founder and treasurer of one of Berkeley's newest fraternities, (Delta Sigma Phi, Hilgard chapter) and an Eagle Scout. His curioisities run the gamut, making him a versatile, self-motivated and multifaceted intern capable of and willing to take on a variety of roles. Reade hopes to work in either historical research, public policy or within the American justice system.

Masih Ebrahimi is a third year student at UC Berkeley majoring in Rhetoric. He is interested in civil and human rights issues, particularly the expansion of domestic and international legislation that help protect such rights. Masih has extensive self-motivated and innovative leadership experience. As a young entrepreneur he founded and managed an IT training institute in Tehran, Iran and later a corporation in Dubai, UAE. As a social entrepreneur he co-established and managed several students clubs in his previous college, such as Healthy Students Club (to promote healthy-eating and fitness) and Smile Club (to promote friendship and sociability on campus). Masih also represented nearly 30,000 students as a Student Senator for a year. He is very interested in current world issues and is a member of the Speech and Debate team. Masih has worked in three countries, has traveled to over fifteen and speaks English, Farsi, German, Spanish and French. In Washington D.C. he hopes to work with a civil or human rights organization, a think tank, the House of Representatives or any organization that deals directly with the federal government.

Shafinaaz Kamrul is a junior, double majoring in Political Science (with a concentration in International Relations) and Legal Studies. She is interested in international human rights issues and aspirates to become an attorney for United Nations. Off campus, her volunteer work includes interning at the Los Angeles Superior Court, helping clients who could not afford to hire an attorney fill out their case paperwork. She also volunteered at the L.A. Public Library for their Adult Literacy Program, tutoring adults who had never learned how to read or write properly, and helping them pass their GED exams. She also volunteered for Meeting Each Need with Dignity, a program in San Fernando Valley that assists the homeless people in receiving free food and clothing. Currently, at Berkeley, she interns at the ASUC Student Legal Clinic. She is also the External Affairs Vice President-Pledge, for Cal's premiere co-ed pre-law fraternity, Sigma Alpha Nu. She is also a research apprentice for Professor Jonathan Simon of Berkeley Law, researching the affect of neighborhood changes on the youth experience and crime rates. She would like to work for a federal government office, possibly the Department of Justice or a member of Congress.

Rishi Malhotra is a 3rd year Political Economy of Industrial Societies major. He is interested especially in domestic criminal justice issues, international human rights, and housing issues. He gained a broad understanding of criminal justice and human rights from re-starting a chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) at his school and his work for defense lawyer James Clark, part of the noted Pier 5 lawyers in San Francisco. SSDP is a group that advocates harm reduction in drug policies. At Drug Policy Alliance and as Assistant Campaign Manager for Berkeley Municipal Measure JJ, he learned about grassroots organizing and running campaigns. Effective constituent services were a must when working at the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services in San Francisco, and it is here that he became interested in housing policies. He honed his research skills through classes and the Mayor’s Office in Riverside, CA where he researched effective environmental policies of various cities. He would like to work for either a progressive organization, within Congress, or the executive branch.

Katie McDonald is a third year student at the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Political Science with a minor in Public Policy. Since she was young, Katie has always had an interest in civil rights and equality. With the outcomes of the last election in California, more than ever she wants to make a difference in minority rights. She hopes to attend law school after her four years at Cal, and wants to work in the political realm after she obtains her JD. While in DC, she would like to take the opportunity to experience what working in the United States government is like first hand. Her ideal internship would be with one in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice or the White House.

Divya Musinipally is a junior at UC Berkeley double majoring in Political Science and Rhetoric. She is interested in constitutional law and American foreign policy in South Asia. She has extensive leadershi experience and training as a Director of Berkeley's Cal in the Capital program which facilitates all aspects of sending 80 student interns to Washington DC. In this position she manages recruitment, fund raising, and selection of participants. She also acts as a liaison to alumni and employers and teaches a semester long seminar on current events and how to be a successful intern. Divya is also a lead attorney on the Cal Mock Trial team which competes nationally and placed 8th at nationals last year. She enjoys Mock Trial because it allows her to actively learn about the legal system and hone her writing and public speaking skills. Her interest in South Asia is demonstrated through her executive position in the Association of South Asians for Political Action (ASAPA). This organization seeks to raise awareness and involvement in the campus community around South Asian issues such as gender inequality, environmental justice and religious conflict. Divya has extensive research experience from her position as a research apprentice at the Boalt Law School of Jurisprudence and Social Policy. She has helped with data collection and analysis in a cross-campus study on the relationship between the legal system and the education system. Divya has recently completed internships at the Santa Clara Public Defender's Office and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren's Washington, DC. Office. This summer she hopes to learn more about executive powers, legislative process and different types of law.

Negar Pirooz is a dedicated and motivated Economics major in her third year at UC Berkeley and plans to attend law school after graduation. Negar's internship experiences with Pro-Bono Project Family law firm and City of San Jose Attorney's office have helped develop her professional, leadership, and organizational skills. She is deeply involved in many campus organizations including the Iranian Student Cultural Organization, Cal Berkeley Democrats, and Cal Poetry Slams. She is interested in obtaining an internship in the areas of politics, corporate finance, corporate law, or economic research.

Una Shin is a fourth year student majoring in Political Science at UC Berkeley. She has focused her studies on U.S. foreign policy and developing nations and is excited to further her knowledge on international law this summer in Washington, D.C. With five years of work experience, Una has developed a strong work ethic, keen attention to detail, and the ability to adapt to any environment. Additionally, her enthusiasm and dedication have helped her become a leader in many campus organizations, including UC Berkeley’s premiere Law Fraternity. She would like to apply these skills as an intern in DC to finding practical solutions to the legal, humanitarian, and economic problems of developing countries.