Hi, I’m Sarah Orozco. I’m a 1st-gen, low-income, Oaxaquena Senior transfer student from UC Berkeley. My family is from the Sierra Norte region in Oaxaca, Mexico, a small pueblito called San Mateo Cajonos. I’m majoring in sociology and plan to attend graduate school to get a PHD in Education. I'm apart of many communities on campus, such as EOP, transfers, basic needs center, DSP, and also most importantly uplifting the Oaxacan community at CAL and the bay area. I am currently involved in 3 position in the Center for Educational Equity and Excellence: at the Transfer student...
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.
Amber Griffin-Royal (she/her) is a low-income, disabled, Oakland native, fourth-year re-entry transfer majoring in African American Studies. Her time at Cal has been invaluable as she's been supported academically and creatively to pursue her interests in research, femtorship, and DJing. Some of the work she's done on campus includes being an Undergraduate Research Advocate Intern at the Library of Environmental Design, an intern at NavCal, femtoring newly accepted transfer students, a Program Coordinator for Experience Berkeley Transfer assisting community college students of color...
Marlyn is a first-generation college student who will be graduating in May 2023 from UC Berkeley with a degree in Political Science and Comparative Ethnic Studies. She was born in San Diego but grew up living in both San Diego and Tijuana. As part of a mixed-status family, she learned first-hand how complicated and overwhelming immigration legal processes are in our country. Living in a border site, the movement of people, particularly of refugees and asylum seekers, was highly visible throughout her life. These lived experiences have motivated her work throughout undergrad and...
Ngan Pham was born and raised in Vietnam and immigrated to the States in 2019. Growing up in a working-class family, Ngan deeply acknowledges the transformativeness of public education. It drives her to develop a strong commitment to bringing more educational access to marginalized students and increasing student retention and completion for higher education. Her post-graduation goals are to obtain a Master’s degree in counseling or a PhD in educational leadership.
While at UC Berkeley, Ngan is striving to get exposed and involved in different settings and areas...
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,...
Democracy Camp is designed for Cal undergrads who are interested in enhancing our democracy through public service, and who are still discerning their unique pathway. Students can apply to one of two programs: Democracy Camp in Berkeley, the Matsui Center's alternative spring break program, or Democracy Camp in DC...
Rungsiri Upradit was born in Thailand and immigrated to the United States at the age of five. She is passionate about doing work that will uplift and empower the community in the areas of housing sustainability, the environment, and public health. She participated in the Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship at the Goldman School of Public Policy, where she engaged in intensive coursework covering topics such as Inequality & Economics, Policy Analysis, Quantitative Methods, and Law. As a fellow, she had the...
Jennifer Ramirez is a first-generation Latina studying Economics and Public Policy at UC Berkeley from the Bay Area. Growing up in a mixed-status household, she experienced first-hand the hardships Latinx immigrant families faced, such as the struggle to assimilate, obtain basic needs, and become financially stable. The systematic barriers that limit the upward mobility of historically marginalized communities propelled her to become an advocate in her local community, and pursue a career in public service. After being selected to attend Harvard Kennedy...
Paloma Foster (she/her/ella) is a first-generation, Mexican-American, non-traditional student. She is formerly incarcerated, a former foster youth and a transfer student parent from Los Angeles, CA. From her early experiences with foster care and probation to finally becoming a ward of the court and emancipating on her 18th birthday, she knew she wanted to help fix the less than perfect system. Paloma is majoring in political science and is pursuing a minor in public policy. She will also complete the summer minor, race and the law through the...