Cal-in-Sacramento

Cindy Nguyen

Class of 2022
2022 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow
Placement: Placement Location: Sacramento, California

Cindy Nguyen is a first-generation Vietnamese-American studying Social Welfare and double minoring in Public Policy and Global Poverty & Practice (GPP). Her career interests include strengthening the social safety net to ensure that families and individuals have access to their basic needs. She plans to earn a Master’s degree in Social Work or Public Policy, with ambitions of working in the public sector to advocate for underrepresented and marginalized communities.

Cindy is involved...

Ashlyn Olah

Class of 2023
2022 Cal-in-Sacramento
Placement: Placement Location: Sacramento, California

Ashlyn Olah is a junior studying Society & Environment with a concentration in US Environmental Policy & Management. Growing up in rural Northern California, in the small town of Chester, she developed a deep appreciation for forest ecosystems and landscapes. With the increasing severity of wildfires in California, she has been able to see how government agencies have failed to protect rural communities in the direct path of rampant wildfires. She hopes to help mitigate the effects of...

Sebastian Orozco

Class of 2024
2023 Cal-in-Sacramento

Sebastian Orozco is a current fourth year student at UC Berkeley. He is majoring in Ethnic Studies and Political Science, with a minor in Education. As a first generation, low income student, he witnessed first hand the inequalities that plague his hometown of East Los Angeles. From under-resourced schools to outdated curriculum in the classrooms, at a young age, he developed a passion and need to advocate for himself and his community alike. He is passionate about issues regarding education, especially the policies that shape the curriculum that is taught in schools. This summer, he...

Jenifer Lopez Osorio

Class of 2022
2022 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow
Placement: Placement Location: Sacramento, California

Jenifer Lopez is a first-generation, low-income, undocumented student, studying legal studies. Growing up in a farm-working, immigrant household has allowed her to see the hardships and hurdles undocumented immigrants face the second they come to this country, in hopes of attaining a better life. As someone who has gone through the immigration system, which has prompted her to pursue a career in immigration law. Jenifer's activism and community organizing started in 2016, when she joined a...

Leila Phillips

Class of 2024
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento
2024 Jo Freeman Women in Politics Fellow

Leila Phillips is a first-generation transfer student at UC Berkeley majoring in political science. She was raised by a single mother who emigrated from Mexico and encouraged Leila’s academic journey throughout her life. Leila constantly looks for opportunities to use her academic background to benefit her community. On campus, Leila interns as a Student Assistant for the Transfer Student Center, helping facilitate transition courses for incoming transfer students. Interning with the Transfer Student Center allows Leila to fulfill her passion of contributing to one of the communities...

Helen Pei Phun

Class of 2024
2024 Democracy Camp in DC
2023 Cal-in-Sacramento

Helen Phun is a junior from Sacramento, CA, majoring in Media Studies and minoring in Political Economy. She is a first-generation Chinese-Vietnamese immigrant from China and the first in her family to attend college. Growing up in an immigrant household in a low-income and diverse neighborhood guides her values and advocacy. Helen is interested in increasing equity within socio-economically disadvantaged communities. She is most passionate about issues of education, accessible transportation, increasing social welfare, and immigration.

Before transferring to Cal, Helen...

Jose Gonzalez Ramirez

Class of 2022
2022 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow
Placement: Placement Location: Sacramento, California

Emely Ramirez

Class of 2024
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento
2024 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow

Rooted in the city of San José, Emely draws strength from her experiences supporting her immigrant parents in navigating life in the United States. Her childhood was shaped by the challenges posed by her mother's severe work injury, pushing Emely into a role of care and support. From accompanying her mother to medical appointments to translating legal documents, Emely developed invaluable skills that fueled her commitment to community service and advocacy.

Guided by dedicated teachers and community leaders, Emely honed her abilities and emerged as a community...

Jennifer Ramirez

Class of 2024
2024 Percy Undergraduate Grant
2023 Ken Burt Fellow
2023 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Washington Fellowship
2022 Democracy Camp in DC Student Co-Director
2022 Democracy Camp in DC
2022 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Jennifer Ramirez is a first-generation Latina studying Economics and Public Policy at UC Berkeley from the Bay Area. Growing up in a mixed-status household, she experienced first-hand the hardships Latinx immigrant families faced, such as the struggle to assimilate, obtain basic needs, and become financially stable. The systematic barriers that limit the upward mobility of historically marginalized communities propelled her to become an advocate in her local community, and pursue a career in public service. After being selected to attend Harvard Kennedy...

Karla Vicencio Ramirez

Class of 2026
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

Karla Vicencio-Ramirez is a first-generation Mexican-American who is double majoring in cognitive science and sociology. Raised by parents who immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico; she has experienced firsthand their struggle to create a stable life here in the states, as they knew little of the English language and its policies when first arriving. It was not only witnessing her parent’s struggle, but also growing up in a low income area that did not have access to many resources, that created this sense of determination and want to advocate for underrepresented individuals within Karla...