Profiles

Class of 2027
Management Information Systems, Business Analytics
Hometown: Union City, CA

What aspect of your fellowship has been most rewarding?
Before this fellowship, I was primarily focused on national politics, but my experience completely shifted my attention to the local level, even driving me to voluntarily tune into the California gubernatorial debate. Working with the City of San José’s Office of Economic Development (OEDCA) workflow showed me that simplifying a confusing grant application process directly impacts the survival of local small businesses. I now understand that civic engagement is just as much about staying politically informed locally as it is about using professional skills to improve public systems. Moving forward, I plan to combine my business and information systems background to break down systemic barriers, ensuring that public resources are accessible, organized, and transparent for the underserved communities that need them most.