JSI STUDENT FACEBOOK 2014-2

Junior
Summer Institute
BIOGRAPHIES
Preparation for professional degrees and careers
In public policy and international affairs
2014
PPIA
Junior Summer Institute
at Princeton University
2014
STUDENTS
MARIA ADRIANA BARAJAS
College: Arizona State University
Major: Journalism & Public Policy
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
Adriana was born into a humble family in a small village in Sinaloa, Mexico. Like many
immigrants her family immigrated to the United States in search of a better future. As a sixyear-old, Adriana, remembers walking through the desert on a cold and rainy night hoping to
one-day reach “el sueño Americano” or “the American dream.” She believes that nothing is
impossible for those who have faith, work hard, and don’t give up. With that in mind she has
been fortunate to continue her education at Arizona State University.
Her experience includes both working in the public and private sector. As an intern in the City Managers office Adriana was given wide latitude to work on projects independently. She has had the opportunity to interact and work with elected officials and
to witness the behind-the-scenes work of the city government. In addition, Adriana has served as a congressional press intern
in the office of Congresswoman, Ann Kirkpatrick. Furthermore, Adriana had the opportunity to work for the Howard Consulting
Group a communications and public affairs firm established in Washington D.C.
Adriana plans to pursue a joint degree in law and public policy. Combining both degrees will further her public service career
goals to analyze and formulate policies and the ability to think critically to solve wicked problems. Adriana is also interested in
broadcast journalism, media analysis, policymaking, public affairs and law. Adriana is someone who enthusiastically embraces
whatever opportunities are presented. She has had to work harder than most people to be where she is, but it is through those
experiences that have instilled in her a strong genuine character and made her a person who conquers difficulties, overcomes
adversity and always perseveres.
LILIANA BARAJAS-VILLAR
College: Arizona State University
Major: Political Science; Double minors in Communication and Criminal Justice
Hometown: Chandler, Arizona
Liliana Barajas was born in Sinaloa, Mexico. At the age of five she and her family migrated
to the United States in search of a better future. In 2011, Liliana became a naturalized citizen
of the United States. Throughout her college career she has been strictly engaged in her education and in serving the community. Liliana’s prior experiences include working as research
extern at the Arizona Supreme Court. She also has served as Congressional Intern for her
hometown representative, Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema. Her volunteer work experience includes Si Se Puede Foundation, Mi
Familia Vota, and City of Chandler. Liliana is also involved with Christians United For Israel (CUFI) and American Israel Public
Affairs Committee (APIAC) two of the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States. Last summer she was selected to participate on the 2013 Student Advocacy Mission Trip to Israel where she was able to explore the land Israel and learn firsthand
about the complexities of the historical conflict between Israel and it’s neighboring countries.
Liliana is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Political Science with double minors in Communication
and Criminal Justice. After completing her undergraduate work, she hopes to obtain a Masters in Public Policy and a JD degree
from a prestigious to law school. Liliana aspires to someday become an influential lawyer and politician. With a career path
involving both Law and Politics, she hopes to make a difference and positively impact her community in the near future. Liliana
knows that she can achieve great things, but there is a price that must be paid. She is aware that hard work, and determination,
is the key to success and without a doubt she will achieve what she sets her mind to.
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MARIAH BARBER
College: Pomona College
Major: Public Policy Analysis & Sociology
Hometown: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Mariah studied abroad for the past year in both Madrid, Spain and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
During her time studying through Middlebury College in Madrid, she held an internship with
European Society and Education, a sociological and political think tank, focused on improving the education system throughout both Spain and Europe. In Rio de Janeiro, Mariah studied
international relations at Escola Superior de Propoganda e Marketing, and volunteered with
Viva Rio, an NGO focused on improving Rio de Janeiro’s health and education systems. During her time volunteering with Viva
Rio, she taught English to students in Rio’s comunidades. Her prior experiences include interning with the Children’s Defense
Fund’s Freedom Schools and ReadLead in Carson, California, where she taught a class of middle school age students. Covering
reading materials, which worked to promote black youth leadership. Mariah will be interning with Public Counsel, pro bono
law firm, in Los Angeles, California, this coming fall.
JAMIE BERGSTROM
College: Duke University
Major: International Comparative Studies & Arabic
Hometown: Warren, Michigan
With her interest in international affairs and forced migration, Jamie has studied in Egypt,
Turkey, and Israel/Palestine. She has conducted international and domestic research on
displacement and volunteered for local resettlement clinics. This past summer she interned
with the Council of American Islamic Relations and studied National Security with Duke Law
School. Fall semester she lived in New York City, where she worked for CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS and volunteered with the International Rescue Committee. On campus, Jamie serves as an editor for Duke’s Academic
Journal of the Middle East and North Africa, a member of the Human Rights Committee, and the Vice President of Omega Phi
Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
KIYADH BURT
College: Jackson State University
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Kosciusko, Mississippi
Kiyadh Burt has worked as a congressional intern for the Committee on Homeland Security
under Honorable Bennie G. Thompson where he witnessed first-hand the dealings of Capitol
Hill politics. He has also participated in a doctoral degree fellowship at the University of
California, Irvine. There he cultivated skills in critical thinking, research writing, public speaking, and analytical reasoning. At Jackson State University, he is the president of the political
science club and is an avid social activist. Kiyadh plans to pursue his doctoral degree in political science and master’s degree
in urban planning after receiving his B.A.
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VALENTINO GRBAVAC
College: Macalester College
Major: Political Science & History
Hometown: Vrgorac, Croatia and Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Valentino, using Davis grant, organized and implemented a Peace Project in Bosnia and
Herzegovina during which he built a science lab in a local elementary school. Moreover,
he opened up dialogue between students of different ethnic backgrounds through workshops
and started a media campaign with the aim of promoting UWC movement and stopping segregation of students in schools based on their ethnicity and religious belief. He also gained
experience working as an intern for the mayor of St. Paul and a St. Paul based advertising company. His activities involve MUN,
working with Amnesty International and volunteering.
TOYAN HARPER, JR.
College: Xavier University
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Toyan participated in a three-month internship with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), where he
served as an immigration casework intern. He composed Congressional letters to U.S. Embassies around the world to expedite petition requests from Senator Durbin’s constituents. Prior to serving in Senator Durbin’s office, Toyan was a lead intern with the Chicago Department
of Law where he assisted attorneys with police brutality cases. He is currently Executive Editor
for Xavier University Undergraduate Law Review. Moreover, Toyan is a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Alpha Sigma
Nu (Jesuit Honor Society), and Pi Sigma Alpha: National Political Science Honor Society. Toyan plans to serve as an advocate
for neglected/abused children and disadvantaged youths.
ALEXANDRIA HERNANDEZ
College: Carnegie Mellon University
Major(s): Global Studies and Professional Writing
Hometown: New York, New York
Following her passion for engaging our global community, Alexandria participated in Carnegie Mellon University’s Social Change Semester in Qatar and India from January 2013
through May 2013. Throughout the semester, Alexandria sought to expand her understanding
of issues relating to international development and education. As a Field Researcher for the
Kamalnayan Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Alexandria worked directly with village leaders and
women’s collaboratives to investigate alternative programs to reduce socio-economic and environmental issues. Simultaneously,
Alexandria served as Lead Educator for Vision Global Empowerment and worked with disadvantaged youth in India’s rural
communities. She grew knowledgeable of the strategies through which social development and service can mobilize and empower societies. Upon her return to the United States, Alexandria carried this insight - as well as her work in Qatar and India
- forward and founded the Pittsburgh/Carnegie Mellon Chapter of Visions Global Empowerment. Aside from carrying out her
responsibilities as Visions Chapter Director, Alexandria spends her Saturdays teaching spoken word poetry workshops at Arts
Greenhouse, a program designed specifically for Pittsburgh’s urban youth. Alexandria has also served as the Chair of Special
Events for UNICEF Carnegie Mellon Chapter, and Chair of Fundraising for Amnesty International Carnegie Mellon Chapter.
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PATRICK JOHNSON
College: Howard University
Major: International Business
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Patrick has been working with the U.S. Department of Energy consistently since the Summer
of 2012 in several offices. These include: Human Capital as a Project Management Intern,
the Student Energy Ambassador for the Department, and the Office of East Asian Policy &
International Affairs. He has a strong interest in private sector promotion in clean energy and
technology internationally to bring the world to a cleaner, greener planet. He has also been
active in many green activities like river cleanups in the UK, D.C. Public School Beautification Days and park cleanups. At
Howard, he has also been active with student government, the leadership academy that took him to China and Japan and many
other organizations where he has held leadership positions.
MATEJ JUNGWIRTH
College: Beloit College
Major: International Relations, Comparative Literature
Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic
Matej Jungwirth completed the US Foreign Policy track of American University’s Washington
Semester in the Spring 2013. While in DC, he interned at the Institute of World Politics and
wrote a major research thesis on the historical underpinnings of the Fatah-Hamas split in the
Palestinian Territories. In the summer, he volunteered for a month as an English teacher and
soccer instructor in the two largest Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank. He is currently
enrolled in Arabic Language and Culture program in Amman, Jordan. His other professional interests include ESL test development and literary criticism. In his free time he enjoys reading, running and rock-climbing.
JAMES KIAWOIN
College: Colorado College
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Monrovia, Liberia
James worked for the Mandela Institute for Development Studies in South Africa, where he
helped design a strategy to increase youth participation in the political process in Africa. His
prior experiences include working as a Project Intern for the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation and Youth Action International-Liberia office. His activities at Colorado College include
serving on the Political Science Advisory Committee and Research Officer for the Amnesty
International Chapter. James volunteers for the YMCA as a soccer and basketball coach.
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HAYLEY LAITY
College: University of California, Berkeley
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies/Economics
Hometown: San Clemente, California
Hayley’s diverse background (Peruvian, Finnish, Chinese) primarily influenced her fascination in
international affairs. Now as a student at UC Berkeley, she has participated in a myriad of
organizations such as the Student Ambassador Outreach Program, a Senator on Student
Government, and will be interning at the East Bay Board of Supervisors coming August. As an
intern Hayley will be able to administer projects on economic development and government
policies concerning healthcare, ending poverty, homelessness, crime and addressing the scarcity of jobs in the East Bay community. In hopes of making an international impact, she aspires to conduct projects and research for organizations such as the
World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and FINCA.
ERIKA LARSEN
College: Hunter College
Major: Philosophy
Hometown: Staten Island, New York
Erika Larsen has interned at the Richmond County Surrogate’s Court, the New York County
Supreme Court, Gracie Mansion, and the New York City Council. She was appointed in fall 2013
by Mayor Bloomberg to serve on the Department of Youth and Community Development Youth
Board. Erika presently works as a legislative aide in the office of Manhattan Borough President
Gale Brewer and is president of Youth Events for Seniors (YES), a volunteer group
that connects students and senior citizens. Her experiences in New York City government have solidified her interest in one day
serving the public sector in local government.
CHENOA LEE
College: American University
Major: Environmental Studies and International Affairs
Hometown: Kingshill, Virgin Islands
Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Chenoa Lee is a rising senior at American University
studying Environmental Studies and International Affairs. She has always possessed an avid
interest in international affairs and a passion for environmental concerns, which she has
channeled into her volunteer efforts and activism. Chenoa has worked for her university’s
central office since her freshman year, and has held several internships including interning
at the National Park and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Her volunteer and community efforts include helping found a
Dominican Student Association Chapter on her campus, participating in an Alternative Break trip, mentoring first-generation and
minority students, and being an active member of several multicultural clubs on her campus including Caribbean Circle, and the
Latin American Student Association. For the upcoming fall semester, Chenoa looks forward to studying abroad in Denmark and
investigating European sustainability practices. In the future, she hopes to have a prosperous career as a Foreign Service Officer.
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JACOBO LICONA
College: University of Texas at Austin
Major: Finance
Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Jacobo has had various experiences in government/politics. He interned in the district office of
a United States Congressman, and was also the Assistant Communications Director for a Texas
Representative at the Texas Capitol. In the fall of 2013, Jacobo participated in the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Internship Program in Washington D.C. As a CHCI
intern, he interned for Congressman Beto O’Rourke in the United States Capitol. Jacobo is
interested in pursuing a career in government/politics and wants to move to Washington D.C.
when he graduates.
JALITA MOORE
College: American University
Major: International Studies
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Jalita's policy focus is to find cross-cultural solutions to diplomatic challenges while meeting U.S.
national security interests. Jalita's first introduction to policy and culture took place in Paris,
France during her semester abroad. Since then, she has taken short-term academic trips to
Nairobi, Kenya and Havana, Cuba to learn more about their frameworks for development,
democracy, and their ties to the U.S. She has interned at the Department of State in Western
Hemisphere Affairs before being inducted as an undergraduate Pickering fellow in 2014. She looks forward to completing her
bachelor's degree at American University in International Studies, pursuing a master's degree in International Security, and
continuing on to her career as a foreign service officer.
CÉSAR NIJE
College: University of California, Los Angeles
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Lancaster, Texas
César O. Nije is a third year undergraduate student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Education and Latin American Studies. While interning at the UCLA Burkle Center for
International Relations, César has been a Justice Corps Legal Assistant at the Los Angeles
Superior Court providing pro-se assistance to self-represented litigants in family law matters.
During the Summer of 2013, César served as the Legal Immigration Intern for Ayuda, the most well-known non-profit organization
in the Washington, D.C. metro area dedicated to providing a wide range of immigration and family law assistance to all DC area
immigrants. Prior to this role, as an administrative coordinator at the UCLA Student Retention Center, he worked on numerous
projects related to academic counseling and mentorship opportunities available for Latina/o & Chicana/o students at UCLA.
César has received many prestigious awards including the Gates Millennium and Posse Foundation scholarship. Upon graduation,
he plans to attain a graduate and law degree in order to ultimately pursue a career in the foreign service and public policy.
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WILSON PARKER
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Major: Economics
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Wilson Parker is a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studies
Economics. He was born and raised in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. He spends his
free time volunteering with the Young Democrats, working in the student government, playing
water polo, eating barbeque, and complaining about how little free time he has.
GERALDO PEREIRA NETO
College: Lafayette College
Major: International Affairs
Hometown: Araxá, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Geraldo studied abroad for the past semester in Geneva, Switzerland, where he held an
internship with the World Health Organization. His prior experiences include interning at
a Brazilian television network in New York and interning as research assistant to the BRICS
Policy Center in Rio de Janeiro and the Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies in Cairo. His
activities at Lafayette include serving as a resident advisor, a tour guide, and former president
of Model United Nations. He has traveled extensively throughout the Americas, Europe and the Middle East and is currently
working on an honor’s thesis on Brazil’s foreign policy in Israel and Palestine. Geraldo would like to pursue a career in the
Brazilian foreign service.
KELSEY REID
College: University of Chicago
Major: Public Policy
Hometown: St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Kelsey has experience with nonprofits and campus organizations related to homelessness,
sexual assault on college campuses, and community resources for youth. But her passion for
addressing and preventing violence against women began while studying abroad in New
Delhi in high school and continued during her college study abroad experiences in London
and Jerusalem. Kelsey hopes to have a career crafting policies, programs, and opportunities
to protect women and girls around the world from violence and the threat of violence and
empower survivors.
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RACHEL ROSTAD
College: Macalester College
Major: English and Anthropology
Hometown: Sartell, Minnesota
Bio: Rachel Rostad studies English, Anthropology, and Human Rights & Humanitarianism at
Macalester College. She is a writer and advocate whose work has been featured on Jezebel,
The F Word, Upworthy, and PolicyMic, among others. As a Mellon Mays Undergraduate
Fellow, she researches North Korean defector narratives and their relationship to U.S. foreign
policy. She is excited to expand her advocacy work into the realm of public policy & international affairs.
LANE STURTEVANT
College: Bowdoin College
Major: Anthropology and Gender & Women’s Studies
Hometown: Vergennes, Vermont
Lane wishes to utilize an anthropological background to work in the education policy field. Ze
is particularly interested in increasing resources for students of marginalized social identities
in rural public schools. Lane has experience interning for nonprofit organizations such as
HOPE Works: Healing, Outreach, Prevention and Empowerment, an organization dedicated
to helping survivors of sexual assault, and the Maine Hunger Initiative, an advocacy branch of
a nonprofit in Maine working to raise awareness and implement solutions to the issue of hunger in the state. Ze is also a leader
of Bowdoin College’s Queer Straight Alliance, and has participated in and led community service trips to the Passamaquoddy
communities in Maine. Last semester, ze conducted an anthropological research project concerning the way in which diversity
is perceived on campus by multicultural students.
FREDRICK TIPPETT
College: Morehouse College
Major: Political Science
Minor: Mathematics
Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama
At Morehouse, Fredrick serves as a Presidential Ambassador, working alongside a team of
students to represent Morehouse to visiting dignitaries and assisting the President in various
matters. Fredrick is actively involved in such organizations as the Morehouse Political Science
Association and Honors Program Club. For the past two years, Fredrick has worked as a
Judicial Intern, at the 15th Judicial Circuit, for the Honorable Judge Charles Price. Last year, Fredrick participated in the Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute (BHLI) Program, a pipeline internship for students seeking to enter fields of Healthcare and
Healthcare policy.
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MEAGAN TOKUNAGA
College: Pomona College
Major: Public Policy Analysis, Environmental Analysis Concentration; Politics
Hometown: Albany, California
Last fall, Meagan studied abroad in Ecuador to understand ecology and conservation in areas
of petroleum extraction. Her independent study project compiled 75 interviews to consider
varying citizen perspectives on the industry across socioeconomic background and location.
Meagan has worked in various arenas of environmental policy. As an intern for a non-profit
environmental consulting firm, the Delta Institute, Meagan researched the role of socioeconomic disparity in Chicago municipal environmental planning. Through an internship with grassroots climate organization 350.
org, she started a campaign to remove holdings in fossil fuel companies from her college’s endowment. She has also worked in
the City of Albany Environmental Resources Division and the Atmospheric Sciences Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Labs.
FANTA TRAORE
College: Howard University
Major: Political Science: International Affairs and Economics
Hometown: Bronx, New York
Fanta studied abroad at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco this past Fall where she
also held an internship at Fondation Orient Occident (Foundation East-West) which served
African migrants and refugees. She created lesson plans for her students and worked one on
one with Sub-Saharan migrant teens who were not permitted to attend schools in Morocco
due to their status as illegal migrants. Her prior experiences include serving as Vice President
of Howard University’s African Students’ Association Chapter for two consecutive years and as an intern for Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell in Harlem, NY. Today Fanta serves as the coordinator of Howard University’s African Students’ Association and
African Immigrant Refugee foundation mentoring program where Howard students mentor the the children of African migrants
and refugees. Recently, she has aided in the execution of her school’s annual Alternative Spring Break program in the disadvantaged communities of DC.
RAVEN TUKES
College: College of the Holy Cross
Major: Chinese Language and Education
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Raven has spent the past six months studying abroad in Beijing, China at the Beijing Institute
of Education. Last summer, Raven worked as the Data and Administrative Intern to the CEO of
a large non-profit organization, Hearts to Nourish Hope Inc,. in Riverdale, Georgia where she
helped to serve “at risk” youth through grant writing and creating educational program initiatives. The year before, Raven spent two weeks in Dangriga, Belize teaching middle school
students at Holy Ghost Catholic School. At Holy Cross, Raven enjoys being a Students Pushing for Urban Development Volunteer
and a Multicultural Peer Educator, as she helps students of multiple backgrounds discuss and take action against different forms
of social injustice. After graduating, Raven hopes to attend graduate school to study International Education Development or
Urban Education Policy, to one day help bring educational equality to students abroad and at home.
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QUINCY VIEN
College: University of California, Los Angeles
Major: English
Hometown: Santa Ana, California
Quincy interned on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Grace Napolitano. As a volunteer
for JusticeCorps (an AmeriCorps program), he completes legal petitions and answers for
self-represented litigants in cases pertaining to evictions, dissolutions, paternities, and contract
violations. He has also been involved in different capacities within his undergraduate student
government. He aspires to become a policymaker in the future.
MIRWAIS WAKIL
College: St. Olaf College
Major: Political Science, Economics, Studio Art
Hometown: Vienna, Austria
Mirwais was a Nobel Peace Prize Scholar at the University of Oslo this last summer. There he
researched peace and reconciliation regarding the ex-Yugoslavian countries with the Nansen
Dialogue Center. He has gained experience regarding peace-building and immigration by
working and studying in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the
United States of America. He is mainly interested in the development of the underdeveloped
countries, strictly tied to the impact of foreign aid through the United Nations system.
ISAIAH WONNENBERG
College: University of South Dakota
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Dallas, South Dakota
Isaiah has a wealth of international experience, from living in Mozambique for nearly four
years to being certified as a Taiwan-United States Sisterhood Alliance Ambassador last summer. Domestically, he served as a page in the South Dakota legislature before spending a
semester as an intern for Senator John Thune. He has also served in a multitude of leadership
roles on campus, as well as within his community.
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CRYSTAL YEH
College: CUNY-Hunter College
Major: Environmental Studies & Chinese
Hometown: Queens, New York
Crystal studied abroad for the past year in Nanjing University, China where she also held an
internship with the World Resources Institute. She conducted research and translated official
reports on the nexus of water and energy. Her prior experiences include working as an intern
for a home energy efficiency company Sealed, and serving as the campus chair of the Environmental Campaign with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). She was
trained as a climate leader with the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, a project started by Former US Vice President Al Gore
that trains the next leaders in climate change advocacy. She has previously volunteered with her local US Representative’s office,
New York Blood Drive and the Ideal School of Manhattan for children with special needs. She also previously studied abroad
in the summer of 2012 in Princeton University’s illustrious Princeton in Beijing program.
MARIA LUISA ZETA VALLADOLID
College: Colby College
Major: Economics and Sociology
Hometown: Chulucanas, Peru
Mari is interested in the areas of economic policy, international development and poverty alleviation. She has interned in various organizations around the world –Thailand Development
Research Institute (Thailand), Institute of Peruvian Studies (Peru) and Banco Palmas (Brazil).
Last semester, as part of her study abroad program, she conducted a field study on financial
services for the poor and poverty alleviation strategies in Fortaleza, Brazil. At Colby, she is a
United World College scholar and an active member of the International Colby Club.
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