Kaiana Kotero (She/Her)
Born into a modest family of six, Kaiana’s upbringing inspired a community-centric mindset that manifested into a career in law. Double majoring in legal studies and psychology, she hopes to explore the intersections of child development, education, and family-law policy. From an early age, she witnessed firsthand how involvement in the family court and tenant system can lead to long-lasting turmoil and struggle, which encouraged her to pursue organizations and initiatives that prioritize community development, self-advocacy, and education.
Currently, she serves as a caseworker and taxfiler for the ASUC Student Legal Clinic, where she provides free tax-filing services and conducts legal research that educates community members on their fiscal or legal options in personal cases. She firmly believes that education is the greatest pathway in enacting meaningful change and has found immense fulfillment in empowering clients to take initiative and advocate for themselves.
Furthermore, as a current research assistant for the Department of Psychology, Kaiana hopes to conduct research on interpersonal relationships to better traverse the emotionally-complex intricacies of family law. Her goal is to utilize her understanding of human behavior to advocate for ethical practices and enact influential policies that enable people to properly overcome their own complicated relationships and navigate legal battles.
As a Cal-in-Sacramento 2025 Fellow, Kaiana hopes to collaborate with representatives who are driving change in the family law and educational sectors. She hopes to conduct research focused on policies that reduce fatherlessness and uplift vulnerable children.
Major(s): Legal Studies, Psychology
Minor(s):