Laila Hamidi

Laila Hamidi is a fourth year at UC Berkeley pursuing simultaneous degrees in Environmental Economics and Policy and Geography, with a minor in City Planning. Growing up in suburban Orange, CA gave her personal experience with the crises of housing affordability and car dependence that threaten the future of our state. 

As an intern at the Orange County Transportation Authority, Laila worked hard to expand funding for rail transit infrastructure threatened by climate change in Southern California. As a Cal-in-Sacramento Fellow, Laila interned in the Capitol Office of Assemblymember Alex Lee and completed an independent research project on the social and safety impacts of Downtown Berkeley's first protected bikeway.

Following the completion of the Gardner Fellowship, Laila hopes to work in local government where she will use the advocacy and research experience she’s gained at Berkeley to support investments in sustainable, equitable cities.