Rachel Strausman is a third-year, junior-standing public policy major focusing on Policy Institutions and Processes and International/Foreign Policy. She is the Dean’s Vice Chief Ambassador for the UCR School of Public Policy as well as host and manager of the School’s official podcast, Policy Chats. Rachel is a member of University Honors, Camp Kesem, and Womxn in the Law at UCR. Rachel is a recipient of the University Honors Engagement Scholarship and the Dean’s Ambassador Program Scholarship. She is very passionate about education and works with Teach for America and volunteers with Step Up Tutoring. Rachel plans to complete her Bachelor's and Master's in Public Policy at UCR, after which she will complete a fellowship and then attend law school. Ultimately, Rachel hopes to become a Public Interest Lawyer, working directly with people and communities that are impacted by policy decisions and helping ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are addressed. 
 

Samuel Shroff was born in Alton, Illinois, but has lived in Charlotte, Omaha, Fresno, and San Diego. He studies at the School of Public Policy and is expected to graduate in 2026. He wants to work in either law, politics, or foreign service. He is particularly interested in how partisan politics impacts the passage and implementation of United States policy and how citizens choose their representatives. He participated in Mock Congressional Debate for four years during high school and has been a Dean’s Brand Ambassador for the School of Public Policy since his first year. He is now Vice Chief Ambassador.

Dori Pham is currently a freshman at UC Riverside, majoring in Public Policy. He has a strong interest in economic policy, sustainability, and social equity. Before attending UC Riverside, Dori graduated from the International School Ho Chi Minh City with an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. Throughout high school, he was an active leader, serving as the Vice President of the Student Executive Team and Buffaloes House Captain. Dori also participated in the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) Youth Parliament Mock Session, which sparked his passion for governance and policy-making. With a commitment to making a positive impact, Dori aims to contribute to public policy initiatives that address critical societal issues. After completing his undergraduate degree, he plans to pursue further studies and a career in public service.

Liam Burley was born and raised in Aliso Viejo, Orange County, California. He is on a track to graduate within 4 years in Spring 2027 from the UC Riverside School of Public Policy. Liam takes a great interest in housing, environmental, and economic policy. After graduating, he plans to get his Masters in Public Policy through the BA/MPP program and then attend law school to become a lawyer and later pursue politics. He has worked with local politicians and candidates during the 2022 midterm elections. He helped all of his candidates get into office through canvassing for them and aiding in events. Liam also participated and won in the Winter 2024 Policy Debate on Homelessness.

Samantha Baldelomar, a native of Riverside, California, is a sophomore-standing, first-year at the UC Riverside School of Public Policy. She has actively engaged in local politics, working on campaigns for Will Rollins for Congress and Angelo Farooq for State Senate. In addition, she is deeply connected to the Riverside community, interning for SBX Youth & Family Services through their service-oriented Connect program, and previously serving as her former Key Club Division’s Lieutenant Governor. Her exposure to community needs have contributed to her policy areas of interest, which include public health, rent regulation, and immigration. In high school, she was recognized with the Golden State Merit Award and by the President’s Education Award Program. Set to graduate in the Spring of 2028, Samantha intends to earn a Master of Public Policy and pursue higher education, with the goal of building a career in local government.

Alejandro "Alex" Atilano Orozco is a transfer student at the UC Riverside School of Public Policy. Growing up in the San Bernardino mountains, He developed a passion for environmental policy with an emphasis on sustainability and climate resilience. Through his studies, he seeks to understand how the policymaking process can be leveraged to address the impacts of climate change. Outside of school Alex has gained hands-on experience in waste management and municipal compliance through his work as a former Recycling Coordinator at Big Bear Disposal Inc. and his current role as a Recycling Specialist for Recreate Waste Collaborative. He has worked to align municipal services with regulatory requirements and gained insight on how state laws are translated locally.  

After graduation, Alex plans on furthering his education and seeks to attain a Master of Public Policy degree so he can better contribute to sustainable solutions for the region, and solutions for the world.
 

Sophia Bai was born and raised in Menlo Park, California. She is on track to graduate with a B.A. in public policy and tentative minor in law and society in Spring 2027 from the UC Riverside (UCR) School of Public Policy. Her policy areas of interest include poverty, trade and globalization, public health, and climate change. She first became interested in public policy after working with the City of East Palo Alto and various local community organizations to increase vaccination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she was later invited to share her work as a speaker at the National Youth Service-Learning Conference. She has since served as an intern for Office of the President at Emerson Collective, Captain of the UCR Vex Robotics Team, and is currently a Program Advisor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the UCR Department of Residential Education. Additionally, Sophia was a recipient of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation Immigrant Justice Scholarship, San Mateo County's Jobs For Youth Al Regalia Scholarship, Tri Counties Bank Endowed Scholarship, Sam Chase Foundation Scholarship, Panda Cares Scholarship, and College Track Scholarship, and was inducted into UCR's Phi Betta Kappa earlier last year. After graduation, she plans to attend law school, and work towards a career in social justice.

Sammie Burgess was raised in Murrieta, California. She is pursuing a B.A. in Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside, and expects to graduate in 2026. Passionate about advancing equity and justice, she focuses on two key policy areas: K–12 education and juvenile criminal justice. Her academic and professional interests center on addressing systemic barriers that limit access to quality education and developing policies that will prevent youth interaction with the justice system and create more supportive pathways for those who do. 
At UC Riverside, Sammie has served as a peer mentor, guiding students through course planning and academic resources. This experience strengthened her skills in leadership, communication, and student advocacy. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a Master of Public Policy to refine her expertise and prepare for a career dedicated to advancing evidence-based solutions in education and justice policy.

Katie Chau was born and raised in Orange County, California. She is currently a second-year senior on track to graduate with a B.A. in public policy in Spring 2026. She is heavily involved in youth policy work and serves as a Co-Chief of Higher-Ed Policy at GENup. She also works as an intern with the Riverside County Public Defender's Office under the Presley Center. Some of her policy interests include criminal justice, human rights, and international development. In addition, she is the recipient of the Bob Stockton Environmental Policy Scholarship. After graduation she plans to attend law school and work towards a career in public interest law.

Ari Chung was raised in Cypress, California. She is on track to graduate with a B.A. in public policy within four years from the UC Riverside School of Public Policy. Her policy areas of interest include climate change and the environment, artificial intelligence, and international relations. Ari has served as an intern for AIME Kindset, creating products like candles with friendly, hidden messages and gardening kits to spread kindness and awareness about food deserts. Additionally, she has worked with a nonprofit organization called Minds Empowering Minds, where she grew the social media account to promote mental health awareness for students and teenagers. After graduation, Ari plans to pursue work in a government agency, the private sector, or a nonprofit organization, with hopes to travel and work with global organizations.  

Urban Cross is a Public Policy student at UC Riverside, expected to graduate in Spring 2025. Originally from Atascadero, California, he focuses on criminal justice reform, immigration, and public transportation. He has interned with the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and worked as a lifeguard. His achievements include the SOCOMUN XXXII Outstanding Award in Model UN and the 2024 Monday Clubhouse Conservancy Fine Arts Award for photography. After earning his B.A., Urban plans to pursue a master’s in public policy, attend law school, and become a public defender or run for public office.

Lucía (Luz) De La Cueva is from Visalia, California. She is a first-year Master's in Public Policy student at UC Riverside. She graduated from California State University, Northridge in Spring 2024 with a B.A. in Gender and Women's Studies with a concentration in Social Work. She spent the last year as an Outdoor Education intern at the Clemmie Gill School of Science and Conservation (SCICON). There, she learned the importance of quality education access and the impacts of policies on communities. 
 

Esa Hasan is a Public Policy major focusing on Health and Population Policies with a minor in Law and Society, graduating in 2025 with his bachelor's and in 2026 with his Master's. He is an active member of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), coordinating and organizing events throughout the year. He is a founding member of the Kappa Alpha Pi Gamma Chapter and has a role as the Director Of Education, where he organizes study days and hosts LSAT study groups, among other things. This past summer, he continued working as an STDT 3, managing the zero-to-entrepreneurship program.  In the upcoming year, Esa will be a part of the BA/MPP program and, after that, going to a law school where he will focus on corporate law. Aside from academics, Esa played high school soccer as his club's captain for all four years at the national level. Esa is playing for a semi-professional team and plans to play professionally if given the opportunity.

Kai Iwamoto was born and raised in San Jose, California. He is on track to graduate with a B.A. in public policy and a B.S. in business administration concentrating in marketing within two years in Spring 2027 from the UC Riverside School of Public Policy and School of Business. His policy areas of interest include economics, justice, climate change, and foreign relations.  He has previously interned for the Alliance for American Leadership and Nikkei Community Internship Program. In addition, he was a recipient of the SPP Anil and Gauri Scholarship and the SoB Collette and Gary Lee Scholarship. After graduation, he plans to attend law school and pursue a career in business law. 

Jessica Jiannino is a BA/MPP student and lifelong Jurupa Valley resident whose firsthand exposure to environmental injustice ignited a passion for grassroots activism and evidence-based policy. After organizing community outreach and mobilizing support for California's AB777 to protect the Stringfellow Superfund site, they’ve continued to focus on the intersection of public health, environmental justice, and economic development in the Inland Empire. With experience in science communication, legislative advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, they are committed to crafting policies that amplify community voices across the Inland regions.

Munazza Khalid is an incoming Master of Public Policy (MPP) student at the University of California, Riverside, with her program set to end in June 2026. Originally from Pakistan, she holds a BBA and an MBA in educational management. Her interests lie in policy analysis and implementation aiming to bridge gaps between policy design and policy implementation. With experience in educational institutions and non-profits, Munazza has developed and executed programs to enhance access to quality education in underprivileged communities. She is a recipient of the Public Policy Fellowship and is committed to initiatives promoting inclusion and equity. After completing her MPP, Munazza aims to work in public sector and policy implementation roles, driving 

Shivani Narang was born and raised in Los Angeles County, California. She is a first-year student in the School of Public Policy, entering as a sophomore. She graduated from Valencia High School (VHS); she was in the Medical Science Academy (MSA) Behavioral Health pathway, and the Media and Photography pathway. She was dually enrolled in the College of the Canyons. Shivani was part of the City of Santa Clarita Youth in Government Program. She was the President of the VHS Women Medical Empowerment Club. In addition, she served on many MSA leadership committees, e.g. Social Media, Event Planning, and Blood Drive Organization Committees. Shivani has been a Girl Scout for 11 years, and participated in many community service events. Through her leadership and volunteer experiences she developed an interest in public policy. She hopes to focus on health policy at UCR. Through the myriad of leadership and volunteer experiences, Shivani has learned the importance of listening to people, researching issues, and developing practical solutions that can be successfully implemented and sustained. She looks forward to advocating for vulnerable community members, and developing the skills to design and implement value-based community programs. 

Paula Omokhomion was born in Walnut Creek, California but raised in Lagos, Nigeria. She is an first-year MPP student at the University of California, Riverside School of Public Policy, and graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in May 2024. She earned her BS in Public Health Nutrition (Health and Society) and double minored in Sociology and Creative Writing. Her policy areas of interest are social protection and international development. She has interned for the Office of Congressman Mark Takano and is the visionary of Expanded Perspectives, an outfit that aims to foster critical thinking in children and youth by increasing their access to multimedia civic education.  Paula received the Carolina Covenant scholarship at UNC-CH and the Vice Provost Excellence Fellowship at UCR. She plans to earn her doctorate and become a professor in the politics of developing economies while being involved in policy analysis and podcasting. 

Christian Salinas is a student at the UCR School of Public Policy of the graduating class of 2026. He is an Ecuadorian-American native to the South Bay area of Los Angeles. He has participated as a School Board Member for the Wiseburn Unified School District and co-led the Student Task Force organization in high school as a Communications Director. During his first year at UCR, Christian worked as a Youth Development Specialist at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Redlands. He would also attend School of Public Policy events such as luncheons and podiums with his mentor from the Peer Mentor Program. He also serves as a member of the Entrepreneurship group at UCR. Christian has also served an internship with the Office of Senator Ochoa Bogh. After graduation, Christian plans on attending law school.

Andrew Shannon is a third year, senior standing Public Policy student in the BA/MPP program, focusing on Policy Institutions and Processes and Environmental policy. He will earn his Bachelors in Public policy in June 2025 and Masters in Public Policy in June 2026. He is a Dean’s Brand ambassador and a committee member of the official podcast of the School of Public Policy, Policy Chats. During highschool, he graduated with a International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma and volunteered at PIH Whittier Hospital. As an All Sides Student assistant, he got to curate his love for politics through writing AllStances where he utilizes research and AI tools to delve into all the perspectives on political issues facing our country. Andrew participated in the UCDC program, interning for the Political Violence lab, expanding his knowledge and passion of politics and news reporting on a global scale. Post graduation, Andrew intends to take his passion and skills to government or the media, shaping meaningful policy discussion. 

Vir Sinha was born in Fremont, California, a suburb in the Bay Area. He is a sophomore standing student at the UC Riverside School of Public Policy and is looking forward to continuing his college education. While he is not fully set on any specific avenue of policy, he does have a strong passion for education policy. He worked closely with teachers to create presentations for his school district on how to improve student and teacher welfare in high schools. Additionally, he was a writer for his school newspaper, where he had the opportunity to meet and interview students, teachers, faculty, administration, and members of his local community. 

Carimel Valenzuela Ibarra was born in Pomona, California, and recently moved to Rialto. During her time in Pomona, she was actively involved in the city's community services department by volunteering for recreational activities and focusing her senior project on increasing civic engagement in teenagers by helping craft an event with teenage volunteers for a teenage audience. Carimel was asked to join the City of Pomona’s Youth Commission in 2022 and was soon elected chair to lead their meetings and facilitate conversations and planning for special community events while receiving presentations from city officials on the inner workings of a city. Because of Carimel’s enthusiasm for government and volunteerism, she was selected to be the American Legion Auxiliary's delegate in 2024 for California Girls State in Sacramento, where she was recognized by her Senators, Congresswomen, and the organization for her continued effort to be civically engaged in mock government elections, debates, campaigns, and discussions. Throughout all this, Carimel attended IPoly High School where she served as founder and president of Glee Club for two years, four years in the theatre department–both directing and acting– and was an IPoly Ambassador throughout those four years as well, hosting open houses and community events. 

Jaz Williams was born and raised in Rialto, California. He found his transformative years on the football field, where he learned discipline, resilience, and teamwork. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from La Sierra University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Shortly before he graduated, he founded the Inland Empire Legal Literacy Project, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the residents of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties by writing articles that analyze policy, criminal justice, and immigration issues, while equipping our people with the tools necessary to assert their rights, influence change, and protect themselves & their families. Jaz seeks to blend compassion, service, and leadership to bridge the gap between complex policy and the understanding of how it affects his community. After graduation he will attend law school to practice law, expand his capacity to lead the organization, and build lasting change in the Inland Empire.
 

Jiaxi (Sybil) Wu was born and raised in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. She is on track to graduate with a M.A. in public policy within two years in Spring 2026 from the UC Riverside School of Public Policy. Her policy areas of interest include abortion policy, education equality, and climate change. She has served as an intern for the Deputy Director (Jifeng Chen) of the Foreign Affairs Office of Guangdong Province, and the Government Affairs Manager Angel of the European Chamber of Commerce in China. She also has served as a teaching/research assistant for Guangdong University of Foreign Studies professor Weijin Wang and Wen Wang. Additionally, Jaixi(Sybil) was a recipient of the Dean’s Fellowship Award of the Public Policy School, and the Honorary Title of Merit Student at the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. After graduation, she plans to work towards a career in public service or foreign exchange.