Policy 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. 

Over the course of a semester, fellows develop the knowledge and skills to work with those in power to influence policy. This includes meeting with government officials, writing and submitting press materials, and researching policy issues. Fellows are based in California, Massachusetts, and New York.

Fall 2022 Fellows

Andrea Dargo

Andrea Dargo

Cerritos College, Class of 2023

Destiny Cacciutto

Destiny Cacciutto

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Class of 2023

Gabriela Acosta-Tackett

Gabriela Acosta-Tackett

California State University of Bakersfield, Class of 2023

Jennifer Cabrera

Jennifer Cabrera

University Of Massachusetts Boston, Class of 2024

Mabel Castillo

Mabel Castillo

Simmons University, Class of 2025

Saima Rahman

Saima Rahman

CUNY Brooklyn College, Class of 2023

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

Debbie Matesun, Peer Leader, Shippensburg University, Class of 2022

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

Aleina Dume, Swarthmore College, Class of 2023

Aminata Sheriff, University of Massachusetts Boston, Class of 2022

Bryan Saeteros, Baruch College (CUNY), Class of 2022

Dixie M. Samaniego , California State University Fullerton, Class of 2023

Edgar Oseguera Martinez, University of California Berkeley, Class of 2022

Emily Geigh Nichols , Stanford University, Class of 2023

Gerald Richardson III, Moorpark College, Class of 2023

Ifrah Gurhan, University of Massachusetts Boston, Class of 2023

Ishrat Jahan, CUNY Hunter College, Class of 2023

Lesley Baez, Roxbury Community College, Class of 2021

Rochelle Bernarte, University of California, Riverside, Class of 2021

Ryen Diaz, Harvard University, Class of 2021

Talatou Bah, CUNY City College of New York, Class of 2023

Warley Johnson, Hostos Community College, Class of 2024

Ben Sorkin, Harvard University, Class of 2020

Debbie 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