Rachel Yang

Originally from Southern California, Rachel (Hyun Ji) Yang is a senior at UC Berkeley, majoring in Political Science. She is an early admit to Harvard Law School through the Junior Deferral Program, where she plans to continue her studies in education law and justice reform. At Berkeley, Rachel has dedicated herself to advancing educational equity through both direct service and policy work. As a College Corps Fellow, she spent over 450 hours mentoring special needs students excluded from traditional classrooms, deepening her commitment to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. As an Ignite Fellow with Teach for America, she collaborated with educators to help deliver more inclusive instruction to underserved students.

Rachel’s experiences have also spanned the local, national, and international levels. Through Berkeley’s Art of Writing Program, she interned at Libraries Without Borders, expanding access to educational materials in conflict-affected regions. As a Legislative Intern at the U.S. Department of Education through the Cal in the Capital program, she observed how federal policy can shape school systems and student outcomes. Rachel has also spent two years as a research apprentice at Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare and Berkeley’s School of Law. 

Currently, Rachel serves as an intern at K&L Gates through the UCDC program, where she explores the legal and policy frameworks that shape educational and social systems. On campus, she has been engaged in student support and civic engagement initiatives -- volunteering at the Basic Needs Center and the Disabled Students Program, mentoring through the Mixed Recruitment and Retention Center, and promoting voter education as a Director of ASUC's Vote Coalition. These experiences, along with her time at her local Public Defender’s office, affirmed her belief in policy as a bridge between advocacy and systemic reform. During her two deferral years, Rachel will continue working at the intersection of law and education to pursue lasting, equity-driven change.