2024 William K. (Sandy) Muir, Jr. Leadership Award
2024 Democracy Camp in DC
Mansour Taleb-Ahmed (he/him)
Mansour’s journey began in a high school where whispers of "far-fetched" threatened his Berkeley dream. Extraordinary challenges marked his undergraduate journey. Arriving in the US in January 2020, he faced the pandemic in absolute isolation, knowing no one in the country and having no access to see his family back home. In community college, he also questioned his place in academia as he didn’t see many people who looked like him in his classes. Yet, fueled by a desire for representation, he turned his ambition into action; as a Campus Ambassador and...
Nouhamin Leoulekal, the daughter of Ethiopian immigrants, is a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform, aiming to reshape the system to better serve those historically marginalized and excluded from legal relief. She is dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers at the intersection of criminal justice and immigration, with a particular focus on expanding access to post-conviction remedies for Black and Brown communities.
At UC Berkeley, Nouhamin majored in Legal Studies with a minor in African American Studies. As a Legal Studies Honors...
Passionate about the intersection of environmental and social justice, Naydelin Chimil, an indigenous woman majoring in society and environment, is a recent transfer student. Fueled by firsthand experiences of environmental and social injustice in her community, she actively advocates against systemic racism. With a relentless curiosity and commitment to public service, Naydelin contributes a unique perspective to public policy. As a former Youth City Council Member for City District 1 of Los Angeles, she brings a passion for further learning about...
Karla De La Cruz is a 1st-generation student pursuing her bachelor's degree in sociology. She is part of various campus communities such as EOP, NAVCAL, USP, and E&I. Karla's interests include researching farm workers and the socioeconomic determinants influencing health disparities in northern California. Beyond academia, Karla envisions leveraging her education in sociology to empower undocumented communities by challenging systemic oppression through legal advocacy. She has aspirations of...
Janet Mendoza-Partida is a rising senior at the University of California, Berkeley studying Legal Studies and Chicanx/Latinx studies. She was born and raised in Watsonville, California by Mexican migrant agricultural workers. While in high school she volunteered at multiple elementary and middle schools around her community, leading her to understand the many disparities predominantly impacting students of color. Working with students in her community she realized the barriers in accessing adequate...
Hi, I’m Karla Vicencio-Ramirez. I'm a first generation, low-income, 3rd year at UC Berkeley. I am from San Bernardino, CA. I’m double majoring in Legal Studies and Sociology. I'm a part of many communities on campus, such as being an intern for the Chicanx/Latinx Student Development Center. I also am a co-facilitator of a support group on campus titled “MALCS” which stands for Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social. As a co-facilitator for MALCS I provide a safe environment for Latinx, Native American/Indigenous, Black...
Tamera Martin is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of California (UC), Berkeley studying Ancient Greek & Roman Studies, with minors in African-American Studies and French. As a young Black woman, her identity gives her so much pride and has been a catalyst for her interest in public service and social justice. She is an only child of a single mother and her experiences growing up predominantly white spaces the majority of her life allow her to appreciate the diversity and education around her....
Passionate about Civil Rights and Global Equality, Shavar Martin is a fourth-year undergraduate transfer student at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies, minoring in Global Poverty and Practice and Human Rights Interdisciplinary. Shavar is the first in his family to attend college. Raised in Jamaica as a child, Shavar witnessed firsthand the global dimension of inequalities. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, with immigrant parents and being faced with...
Danielle Mitchell is a second-year undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a double major in Political Science and History with a focus on International Relations and U.S. Foreign Policy. As a distinguished recipient of the Fiat Lux Scholarship and the U.S. Army’s 4-Year National Scholarship, Ms. Mitchell exemplifies academic excellence, leadership, and dedication as she prepares for a future as an Army Officer.
Driven by a vision to bridge the fields of law, diplomacy, and international...
Melanie Urbina is a fourth-year student from Los Angeles majoring in Global Studies with a concentration in global development and minoring in public policy and human rights. Her academic and professional experiences reflect her commitment to uplifting and empowering communities and advocating for systemic change. Her passion lies in working toward a world where everyone, regardless of background, has access to justice and equal opportunities. On campus, she is a co-founder and director of the Global Studies Student...
