Matsui Center Cal-in-Sacramento Fellows

Rosie Echeverria

Class of 2023
2023 Democracy Camp in Berkeley
2023 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Schaeffer Fellowship
2022 Washington Fellowship - Spring
Placement: Rep. Adam Schiff - Burbank District Office Mentor: Colleen Oinuma

Rosie Echeverria was born and raised in East Hollywood, Los Angeles in a Central American immigrant household and she is a first-generation, low-income, EOP, DSP, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ student at UC Berkeley. She went to Santa Monica College (SMC) for about two and a half years then transferred and moved to UC Berkeley in Fall 2020, toward the beginning of the covid pandemic. She is a Political Science major with a minor in Public Policy and Education.

Her...

IGS Diversity and Entrepreneurship Initiative

The Diversity and Entrepreneurship Initiative

From 2021-2025, the Diversity and Entrepreneurship Initiative expanded Berkeley undergraduate research, advocacy and experiential learning focused on the political and economic challenges faced by diverse entrepreneurs in California. Funding for this initiative has ended, but the impacts of this work continue to resonate across the California and national landscapes. We are deeply grateful to the Wells Fargo Foundation for making the D&E Initiative possible.

About the Fellowship

The Diversity and Entrepreneurship...

2026 Cal-in-Sacramento and Schaeffer Fellows Info Session

September 15, 2025 6:30pm - 7:00pm Interested in public service? Apply for one of our internship programs today!

Information Session: Cal-in-Sacramento Fellowship and Leonard D. Schaeffer Fellows in Government Service | September 17 | 6:00-7:30 p.m. | 119 Philosophy Hall

Speaker: Megan Collins, Institute of Governmental Studies

Sponsor: Institute of Governmental...

Celina Buncayo

Class of 2026
2026 Cal-in-Sacramento Student Director
2026 Matsui Center Student Director
2026 Cal-in-Sacramento
2025 Jo Freeman Women in Politics Fellow
2025 Cal-in-Sacramento

Celina Buncayo (She/Her)

Celina Buncayo is a first-generation Filipina student at UC Berkeley majoring in Political Science. Born and raised in the Philippines, Celina understands the importance of political empowerment and representation in uplifting underserved communities. Her lived experiences as an immigrant and first-gen inspire her to pursue public service as a leader that advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Celina is passionate about research, community organizing, and civic engagement. In Summer...

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...

Eric Zhu

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

Eric is a student at UC Berkeley, majoring in legal studies. Coming from an immigrant low-income household, he has witnessed and experienced the struggles of the immigrant community with language barriers and accessing institutional support.

In Eric's freshmen year in 2022, he joined the Racial Justice Now! organization as the UC Berkeley coordinated where he advocated for the Opportunity for All campaign through tabling, organizing rallies, giving public comments, and Op-Eds, which collectively with the other UC campus coordinators, pushed the UC...

Allyson Velez

Class of 2022
2022 John Gardner Fellowship
2022 Cal-in-Sacramento Student Director
2022 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow
2021 Cal-in-Sacramento
2021 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow
Placement: California Health & Human Services Agency Placement Location: Sacramento, California

Raised in an immigrant household in Southern California, Allyson is passionate about creating solutions to health care challenges marginalized communities face. At an early age, Allyson’s father was diagnosed with a chronic health condition that required frequent interactions with the health care system. Through this experience, she became acutely aware of the high cost of health care and its disproportionate impact on BIPOC and low-income families....

Angie Castellon

Class of 2025
2025 Democracy Camp Student Director
2025 Democracy Camp in Berkeley
2025 Cal-in-Sacramento
2025 Golden State Fellow
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Angie Castellon (she/her)

As an undocumented individual, growing up I faced a lot of struggles. I came to this country as a child, not knowing the obstacles that being undocumented would create for my future. After high school, there were not many options for me as I faced a new life as a single, undocumented mom at the age of 17 years old. Since then, I worked various jobs in which I often saw people of my community get taken advantage of due to their undocumented status by the employers, as well as by our criminal and immigration systems. I often felt frustration more...

Naydelin Chimil

Class of 2025
2025 Democracy Camp Student Director
2025 Democracy Camp in DC
2025 Cal-in-Sacramento
2025 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow
2024 Democracy Camp in DC

Naydelin Chimil (she/her)

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...

2026 Cal-in-Sac Fellows