Student Directors

Danayt Abraham

Placement: USAID Bureau of Africa Placement Location: Washington, D.C. Major: Political Science; Minor: Public Policy

Danayt Abraham is a first-generation Eritrean American at UC Berkeley, majoring in Political Science and minoring in public policy. Her main interests lie between the intersection of international development policy, foreign relations, and human rights. Her previous experiences include interning for Congressional office as well as interning for the International Trade Center. In Berkeley, Danayt was involved in on campus clubs as well...

Marcus Albino

Placement: American Bar Association Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

Marcus W. Albino is an Italian-American, first-generation student and international award-winning filmmaker majoring in Political Science with a minor in Public Policy. Growing up with housing insecurity in a low-income district, Marcus is committed to being of service to those communities who have long been disenfranchised and neglected. During his time at UC Berkeley, Marcus has volunteered for numerous organizations, including CALprig, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, and...

Mustafa Barraj

Placement: Perseus Strategies Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

Mustafa Barraj is a student at the University of California, Berkeley studying political science and English. He is from Bakersfield, California, and transferred to Berkeley in 2019 after receiving the Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship. During his time at Bakersfield College, he served as Director of Legislative Affairs for the Bakersfield Government Student Government Association, as well as, Region V Regional Affairs Director for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. He...

Maxwell Bessard

Placement: National League of Cities Placement Location: Washington, D.C. Major: Political Science

Maxwell Bessard is a student at the University of California, Berkeley studying political science. Although he was born and raised in Fresno, California, he has generational ties to the Bay Area. While serving on the student executive board of the UC Berkeley California Public Interest Research Group, Maxwell was an active and passionate advocate for the Berkeley student population and greater community. He is proud to have belonged to a community of...

Lily Nikole Greenberg Call

Placement: DCCC and Amnesty International Major: Political Science

Lily is a third-year Political Science major and Public Policy minor. She grew up in San Diego and has worked on campaigns in the United States, most notably Hillary for America, as well as refugee work abroad. Lily is passionate about humanitarian relief and its intersection with law and foreign policy. During the spring 2018 term at UCDC, she will be conducting research on International Policy.

Yara Chaves-Andrade

Placement: National Immigration Forum Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

My name is Yara Chaves Andrade. I am a DACA recipient and a first-generation student. My major is English at the University of California, Berkeley. My main interest is fighting for human rights thus being the reason why my future career goal is to be an Immigration attorney. My previous experience as an intern for the Immigration Law Offices of Hadley Bajramovic has shaped my knowledge and interest in law. While at Berkeley, I am the Director of the Legal Events and Planning committee of...

Rozette De Castro

Placement: University of California Federal Governmental Relations Major: Political Science Rozette De Castro is a graduating senior at UC Berkeley, pursuing a major in Political Science. She is a first generation immigrant and college student. She was born and raised in Bacolod, Philippines but for the past 6 years has identified more with the Bay Area. While at UC Berkeley, Rozette was able to find her passion in policy making specifically the accessibility of higher education. And because of that same passion she has created recruitment and retention programs for...

Shaina Desai

Placement: National Center for Health Research

Shaina is a graduating senior at the University of California, Berkeley from Kansas City studying Public Health. While at Berkeley, she has dedicated her time to helping children through volunteering, public service, nonprofit organizations, and research. In addition, she has served as an Undergraduate Student Instructor for a public health and sustainability course and has conducted epidemiology research at multiple public health labs across the country. Shaina hopes to strengthen her public health background as a Research and...

Christian Dieguez

Class of 2026
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley Student Director
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley
2023 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Christian Dieguez is an ambitious first-generation sophomore intending to major in Political Science and minor in Public Policy. Being raised in Los Angeles, California, Christian has become passionate about creating solutions to immigration challenges, primarily in obtaining citizenship and keeping families together, and custodial issues in family law. At a young age, Christian experienced the long-lasting effect that divorce had in his low-income immigrant household. While experiencing financial, social, and mental strain, he became aware of the intersection between immigration and...

Daniela Franco

Class of 2024
2024 Democracy Camp in DC Student Director
2023 Democracy Camp in DC

Daniela Franco is a resilient first-generation college student at UC Berkeley who was born and raised in East Los Angeles. While growing up, she frequently witnessed Latinx laborers criminalized, struggled with financial security, and navigated an underfunded educational system. Through these experiences, Daniela became passionate about uplifting individuals negatively impacted by the criminal justice system, increasing financial resources for low-income families, and supporting minorities in their access and success in higher education. Now at UC Berkeley,...