Meet Trinh and Tara

May 23, 2013

We asked our fall Washington Fellows why they applied for the UCDC program and what they are looking forward to in the Nation's Capital. Here is what they had to say:

Trinh Nguyen:

"I hope to intern for a think tank or an advocacy group and research on how lobbying affects policy making. I've lived on the Pacific Coast  my entire life, and am looking forward to experiencing the East Coast. I also really want to see  Obama's motorcade cruising down the street!"

Tara Yarlagadda:

"My name is Tara Yarlagadda, and I am honored to be a recipient of the Fall 2013 Matsui Fellowship. I would like to give special thanks to the Matsui Center for its vital work to create a more democratically engaged nation and empower individuals to become involved in public service. I have been interested in the UCDC program since I attended an informational session during the first semester of my freshman year at Cal. I have had my heart set on being a part of the program ever since. As a Political Science and South Asian Studies double major, D.C. interests me for several reasons, not the least of which is the plethora of opportunities available to interact and network with knowledgeable professionals and similarly passionate individuals. I am excited to experience D.C. not merely as a tourist, but also as a resident by exploring its various nooks and crannies and understanding its unique culture as a melting pot of diverse peoples and visions. UCDC in particular offers such a well-structured program with much guidance and support from the staff directors, in addition to a variety of classes taught by renowned professors, that I could not pass up the opportunity to apply before I graduated from Berkeley.  I am currently in the process of applying to internships in D.C. Although I am broadly interested in international relations, area studies, and public policy, I am specifically seeking to work with either the Council on Foreign Relations, the Woodrow Wilson Center, or the Smithsonian’s Asian Pacific American Center."

headshot of Trinh Nguyen
headshot of Tara Yarlagadda