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uAspire Student Advocacy Fellows

Through a paid fellowship program, uAspire supports college students to build advocacy skills and execute campaigns to influence leaders with changes needed in higher education affordability and equity. Fellows from Massachusetts, California, and the Mid-Atlantic are mentored by Peer Leaders who are Fellowship alumni.

Over the course of the semester-long program, Fellows develop the knowledge and skills needed to work with those in power to influence policy. This includes meeting with government officials, writing and submitting press materials, and executing a national communications campaign to spread awareness, rally stakeholders, and influence higher ed policymakers. Fellows gain real-world advocacy experience while building their professional network.

Spring 2021 Fellows

Aleina Dume

Aleina Dume

Peer Leader

Swarthmore College, Class of 2023

Gerald Richardson III

Gerald Richardson III

Peer Leader

Moorpark College, Class of 2023

Lesley Baez

Lesley Baez

Peer Leader

Roxbury Community College, Class of 2021

Betsy Pichizaca

Betsy Pichizaca

Hunter College, Class of 2021

Carlos Jose Figueroa

Carlos Jose Figueroa

University of California Los Angeles, Class of 2022

Diamund White

Diamund White

City College of San Francisco, Class of 2024

Haowei Li

Haowei Li

Boston University, Class of 2023

Ibeliz Flores

Ibeliz Flores

New York University, Class of 2021

Janelle Sanon

Janelle Sanon

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Jesus Alexander Gomez

Jesus Alexander Gomez

Fresno Pacific University, Class of 2022

Joanne Park

Joanne Park

University of California Berkeley, Class of 2023

Miryam E. Matute Roca

Miryam E. Matute Roca

The City College of New York, Class of 2020

Sarai Perez Camacho

Sarai Perez Camacho

Harvard University, Class of 2022

Tawreak Gamble-Eddington

Tawreak Gamble-Eddington

Union College, Class of 2021

Fall 2020 Fellows

Deborah Matesun

Deborah Matesun

Peer Leader

Shippensburg University, Class of 2022

Ruby Portillo

Ruby Portillo

Peer Leader

University of California Santa Cruz, Class of 2022

Aleina Dume

Aleina Dume

Swarthmore College, Class of 2023

Aminata Sheriff

Aminata Sheriff

University of Massachusetts Boston, Class of 2022

Bryan Saeteros

Bryan Saeteros

Baruch College (CUNY), Class of 2022

Dixie M. Samaniego

Dixie M. Samaniego

California State University Fullerton, Class of 2023

Edgar Oseguera Martinez

Edgar Oseguera Martinez

University of California Berkeley, Class of 2022

Emily Geigh Nichols

Emily Geigh Nichols

Stanford University, Class of 2023

Gerald Richardson III

Gerald Richardson III

Moorpark College, Class of 2023

Ifrah Gurhan

Ifrah Gurhan

University of Massachusetts Boston, Class of 2023

Ishrat Jahan

Ishrat Jahan

CUNY Hunter College, Class of 2023

Lesley Baez

Lesley Baez

Roxbury Community College, Class of 2021

Rochelle Bernarte

Rochelle Bernarte

University of California, Riverside, Class of 2021

Ryen Diaz

Ryen Diaz

Harvard University, Class of 2021

Talatou Bah

Talatou Bah

CUNY City College of New York, Class of 2023

Warley Johnson

Warley Johnson

Hostos Community College, Class of 2024

Ben Sorkin, Harvard University, Class of 2020

Deborah Matesun, Shippensburg University, Class of 2022

Junie Arcene, University of Massachusetts Boston, Class of 2022

Roshelle Czar, Sacramento State University, Class of 2022

Ruby Portillo, University of California Santa Cruz, Class of 2022

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