Washington Fellows

Danayt Abraham

2020 Washington Fellowship - Fall
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...

Noor Alramadan

Class of 2026
2025 Washington Fellowship - Spring
2025 Schaeffer Fellowship
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento
2024 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow

Noor Alramadan is a driven, first-generation third-year studying media studies with a concentration in media law and policy and a minor in education. As the daughter of immigrant parents in a dual-heritage household from Nicaragua and Iraq, her upbringing has shaped her values toward education and human rights advocacy. She is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in higher education and professional spaces, grounded by her experiences growing up in Chula Vista and attending public K-12 schools.

Her passion for public service is rooted in her experience as a longtime Girl...

Alejandro Alvarez

2023 Matsui Washington Fellow
Placement: Congresswoman Matsui's office Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

Growing up in the Sacramento area, Alejandro experienced the effects of prolonged droughts and wildfires. In his neighborhood outdoor space, Alejandro noticed that the droughts had dried out the seasonal creek bed and the “green” outdoor area became more of a prolonged “yellow” space. In response, his family increasingly became concerned with limiting their resource consumption and electrifying their home. Although these experiences were not unique to him, Alejandro...

Yajaira Arroyo

Class of 2025
2024 Washington Fellowship - Fall
Placement: UC Federal Government Relations (Legislative Internship) Placement Location: Washington, DC

Yajaira Arroyo is a first-generation college student at UC Berkeley, pursuing a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture. As the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants and a native of Oxnard, California, growing up in a mixed-legal status household has shaped her passion for public service, particularly in pathways to higher education and immigration reform.

During her time at UC...

Naz Balkam

2021 Matsui Washington Fellow
Placement: USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

Naz Balkam is a first-generation Ethiopian-American studying Political Science at UC Berkeley. As a life-long Oakland resident and the daughter of two working-class Ethiopian immigrants, she has seen the ways in which the government has both failed and succeeded in addressing the socio-economic issues impacting low-income communities and communities of color. Her upbringing has guided her towards a career in serving these communities. Throughout her time at UC...

Mustafa Barraj

2021 Washington Fellowship - Spring
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

2020 Washington Fellowship - Spring
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

2018 Washington Fellowship - Spring
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

2020 Washington Fellowship - Fall
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

2018 Washington Fellowship - Spring
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...