Matsui Center Washington Fellows

Naz Balkam

Class of 2022
2021 Washington Fellowship - Fall
2021 Schaeffer Fellowship
2021 Matsui Local Government Fellowship
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 Berkeley, she has worked with non-profits throughout the Bay Area and with local government officials dedicated to resolving...

Lizzie Ong

Class of 2025
2025 Washington Fellowship - Fall

Lizzie Ong is a Filipino American student at UC Berkeley, majoring in History with an emphasis on Southeast Asia and a minor in Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy. She was raised in Makati, Philippines where she volunteered at Philippine General Hospital. Her passions for equitable education opportunities and the U.S.-Philippine military and economic relations stem from these experiences.

In Spring 2020 at El Camino College, she was elected International Club President and Student Equity Advisory Council Member...

Anna Lorenzo

Class of 2023
2022 Washington Fellowship - Fall

2021 Washington Fellows

2022 Washington Fellows

Jennifer Ramirez

Class of 2024
2024 Percy Undergraduate Grant
2023 Ken Burt Fellow
2023 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Washington Fellowship - Fall
2022 Democracy Camp Student Director
2022 Democracy Camp in DC
2022 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

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...

Djulia Sekariyongo-Koita

Class of 2023
2022 Washington Fellowship - Fall

Andrew Neciuk

Class of 2023
2022 Washington Fellowship - Fall

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...

UCDC Fall 2022: "They Are the Authors of Their Own Story"; Social Work isn't about 'Saving' People

December 19, 2022
Djulia Sekariyongo-Koita

My last few weeks in Washington, DC were full of uncertainty but I left with a few opportunities to consider in the future. Being in D.C. exposed me to unlimited possibilities, and the city itself was refreshing to live in for almost four months. I really enjoyed having access to free public transportation. It was very easy and simple to navigate the city with the help of Google maps of course.

Interning at HIPS this fall was an eye opening experience that taught me what I do and do not want to do in my future career. At the same time, being in...