Jasel Rosadele Steinmetz

As the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, Jasel discovered her passion for social justice advocacy at a young age. The generational struggle of racial injustice experienced by her mother, grandmother, and family extended beyond her own story, echoing the immigrant experience worldwide. Driven by her passion to help her community, she engaged in voter outreach and canvassing to amplify Latine representation and catalyzed educational policy reform, through the piloting of Ethnic Studies and restorative justice training in her district. Ultimately, these experiences inspired her to pursue a career in public service, which she is actively working to attain through her higher education at UC Berkeley and professional experience.

Locally, through her volunteer efforts with Friends of Orange County Detainees, Jasel actively worked to alleviate isolation for migrants in detention facilities, becoming intimately familiar with the adversarial treatment experienced by immigrants and asylum seekers in the United States. On an international scale, Jasel worked with refugees and asylum-seekers in Madrid at the Centro de Acogida a Refugiados de Vallecas (CAR), securing human rights through international protection guarantees, providing crucial emotional support, and addressing fundamental social and medical needs.

Also a Regents and Chancellor’s Scholarship recipient, Jasel is double majoring in political science and legal studies with a minor in Spanish. On campus, she served as a Legislative Aid within the ASUC and is the current Social Justice Chair of the pre-law fraternity, Kappa Alpha Pi. Influenced by significant personal experiences, Jasel is currently serving as a JusticeCorps student-member in both domestic violence and housing clinics, where she facilitates access to the legal system for self-represented litigants. These diverse experiences have not only inspired but also equipped her for a future in government service. As a Schaeffer Fellowship recipient, she is beyond excited to continue her journey to foster meaningful change in her community.