Schaeffer Fellowship

Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service

León Felix Gutierrez

Class of 2026
2025 Schaeffer Fellowship

León Felix Gutierrez was born and raised in Fresno, CA, son to immigrant parents. He is a first-generation student studying legal studies and public policy. From early on in his childhood, he was surrounded by a vibrant working community where he learned endless perseverance and diligence. He is very grateful for the support he has received from his family and friends on his academic and professional journey.

León is involved in numerous community-based organizations where he has deepened his passion for the intersections of law and public...

Kulsoom Hasan

Class of 2023
2023 Democracy Camp in DC
2023 Schaeffer Fellowship

Kulsoom Hasan is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing studies within the Travers Department of Political Science and the Goldman School of Public Policy. Her passion for public service was initially forged through community engagement at the local governmental level as a voter drive organizer and grassroots campaign canvasser. From there, her foray into legislative research and policy advocacy expanded as she further explored the interdisciplinary nature of politics and government through hands-on experience.


Her passion for comparative...

Catherine Huang

Class of 2027
2026 Schaeffer Fellowship
2025 Cal-in-Sacramento
2025 Jo Freeman Women in Politics Fellow

Catherine is a first-generation Taiwanese-American student at UC Berkeley, majoring in Political Economy with minors in Data Science and Public Policy. Catherine’s interest in public service, particularly in advocating for children and families navigating legal challenges, stems from her personal experiences coming from a struggling, low-income, single-parent, immigrant household that has experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, and divorce. Witnessing the emotional and financial toll on her family, she became determined to assist others in similar situations.

Aside from being...

Fatima Martinez Jara

Class of 2024
2023 Cal-in-Sacramento
2023 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow
2022 Schaeffer Fellowship

Fatima Martinez Jara is a senior studying Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. She immigrated to the United States at five and grew up in a low-income immigrant community. As a result, she experienced firsthand the injustices immigrants of color encountered, making her interested in legal and policy-making. She became her community’s translator at a young age, enabling her to find her passion for public service.

This past summer, she was selected as a Leonard D. Schaeffer Local Government Fellow, where she interned for the California Research Bureau and...

Reva Kale

Class of 2023
2022 Schaeffer Fellowship
Placement: NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Placement Location: New York

Reva Kale is a third-year majoring in History with a minor in Public Policy. As the daughter of a teacher, Reva has always respected the work of educators and felt passionate about educational equity. One of her earliest involvements with local politics was when she gave a public comment in front of her town Board of Education in high school. During her time at Berkeley, she worked as an intern for Evolve CA, a local nonprofit dedicated to reforming CA Proposition 13 and...

Gurleen Kaur

Class of 2023
2022 Democracy Camp in Berkeley
2022 Schaeffer Fellowship
Placement: Solano County Public Defender's Office Placement Location: Solano County, California

Gurleen Kaur is a third-year undergraduate transfer student double majoring in Psychology and Legal Studies. Her passions include mental health, incarcerated youth, forensic psychology, and the systematic issues of the justice system.

Sanya Khan

Class of 2025
2024 Schaeffer Fellowship

My name is Sanya Khan. I am a third-year student at the University of California, Berkeley, currently working towards a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in public policy. I have a strong interest in restorative justice and foreign relations and have taken a variety of courses to deepen my understanding of the complexities of the international system. I hope to attain a J.D. after completing my undergraduate studies, and eventually pursue a career in the field of international law and policy. In my spare time, I enjoy music, hiking, and furthering my curiosities...

Nancy Kim

Class of 2023
2022 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Schaeffer Fellowship
Placement: Congressional and Public Affairs Department, Millenium Challenge Corporation Placement Location:

Nancy Kim is a junior from Dublin, Ohio studying Economics and Media Studies. Her career interests include equitable economic and workforce development policies. After graduation, she hopes to combine her communications and policy background to implement programs that not only promote economic well-being, but also focus on raising marginalized communities.
Nancy currently serves as the Chief Communications...

Annie Koruga

Class of 2025
2025 Cal-in-Sacramento
2025 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow
2024 Schaeffer Fellowship

Annie Koruga (They/Them)

Annie Koruga is a senior at UC Berkeley studying political science. They have an interest in both constitutional and labor law, and intend to pursue a Juris Doctor after graduating from UC Berkeley. At Berkeley, Annie teaches a course on The History of Free Speech at Berkeley, serves as the team captain of the UC Berkeley competitive speech team, and is completing their senior honors thesis which examines the impact of agency head selection methods on law enforcement violence.

Last summer, Annie interned at...

Mariana Martinez-Bautista

Class of 2026
2024 Schaeffer Fellowship

Mariana Martinez was born and raised in the Central Valley, and is a first-generation student at UC Berkeley studying political science and public policy. She was raised by immigrant parents who have instilled in her the values of hard work and determination, and she was raised in a Hispanic community that was heavily affected by the immigration system. Having family members directly impacted by the long history of the United States' border security and immigration policies has led to her passion for advocacy regarding immigrant communities, predominantly in low-income areas....