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Meet the Scholars



MEET THE SCHOLARS

Class of 2007

Class of 2006

Class of 2005

Class of 2004

Class of 2003

Class of 2002

Class of 2001

Class of 2000


WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Many former scholars are pursing graduate degrees in fields such as medicine, public policy, public health, and law. Other scholars work in education, the non-profit sector, research fields, and some have continued to work on the hill following their summer placement.     



QUOTES

“As time goes on, I realize that the experience at Kaiser was quite possibly the best health related internship that a student can get at that point in our lives.”

Phillip Murray, Class of 2006

 

“Overall my experience was great.  I think one of the most important things, for me at least, was gaining some contextualized understanding of why changes in health policy and social policy in general take so long.  It provided me valuable insight in regard to the processes of policy development and implementation, and essentially confirmed my suspicion that many policy makers don't approach certain issues with the urgency that we feel these issues warrant.  And I'd have to say that the experience has increased my motivation to pursue social change, since it seems that such pursuit cannot be entrusted to the majority of our presumed leaders...”

Ryan Petteway, Class of 2006

 

“The Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars program is undeniably one of the best experiences I have ever had. I was blessed to work with a dedicated and fun group of people, to learn and to be inspired on every level. It reminded me that while a lot of work has been done to eliminate social injustices, there is still much that remains to be done. Most importantly, it taught me the power of my citizenship.”

Aisha Rivera, Class of 2006

 

“The Scholars Program brought my interest in health policy alive and I know it will be a significant part of my professional and personal future. I learned so much about working within the policy world to affect change that will improve the lives of people of color. I witnessed a great need for diversity in the policy field and a need for the voices of people of color to be at the table.”
Corey Wiggins, Class of 2004

 

Class of 2007

Barbara Jordan Scholars Class of 2007
Back Row (L to R): Tamarie Macon, Shaun Abrams, Antwhan Yazzie, Jasm'on (Shuan) Bailey, Shannon Saltclah, Sonthonax Vernard, Sara Dauphinais, Oscar Escano
Front Row (L to R): Julian Webster, Taja Lindley, Shanée Tunstall, Claudia Ortiz, Marianna Gomez, Karolina Murguia, Katherine Chen, Aquanette Brown

Shaun Abrams
Hometown:       Brooklyn, NY
College:           CUNY, Medgar Evers
Major:              Biology
Placement:       Senator Mark Pryor (D-AK)

Jasmo'n (Shuan) Bailey
Hometown:        Hutto, TX
College:            Texas State University
Major:               Healthcare Administration
Placement:        Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Aquanette Brown
Hometown:        St. Thomas, USVI
College:            George Washington University
Major:               Biology & Sociology
Placement:        Rep. Donna Christiansen (D-VI)

Katherine Chen
Hometown:        San Francisco, CA
College:            University of California, Berkeley
Major:               Public Health
Placement:        Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Sara Dauphinais
Hometown:        Bottineau, ND
College:            University of Minnesota, Morris
Major:               Language and Linguistics
Placement:        Senate Committee on Health,                                  Education, Labor and Pensions

Oscar Escano
Hometown:        New York, NY
College:            Columbia University
Major:               Biology & Philosophy
Placement:        Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)

Marianna Gomez
Hometown:        Lockhart, TX
College:            Cornell University
Major:               Policy Analysis & Management
Placement:        Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

Taja Lindley
Hometown:        Neptune, NJ
College:            New York University
Major:               Public Policy & Knowledge Production
Placement:        Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)

Tamarie Macon
Hometown:        Fayetteville, NC
College:            Rutgers University
Major:               Public Health
Placement:        Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Karolina Murguia
Hometown:        Hutto, TX
College:            Rice University
Major:               Hispanic Studies
Placement:        Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)

Claudia Ortiz
Hometown:        Austin, TX
College:            University of Texas, San Antonio
Major:               Healthcare Administration
Placement:        Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

Shannon Saltclah
Hometown:        Teec Nos Pos, AZ
College:            Eastern New Mexico University
Major:               Biology
Placement:        Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

Shanée Tunstall
Hometown:        Dayton, OH
College:            Wilberforce University
Major:               Health Service Administration
Placement:        Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)

Sonthonax Vernard
Hometown:       Westbury, NY
College:            Temple University
Major:               Accounting and Economics
Placement:        Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY)

Julian Webster
Hometown:        Nashville, TN
College:            Howard University
Major:               Health Management
Placement:        Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Antwhan Yazzie
Hometown:       White Mesa, UT
College:            Eastern New Mexico University
Major:               Biology
Placement:        Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLASS OF 2006

Class of 2006

Back Row (l to r):  Evan Russell, Ramon Gomez, Phillip Murray, Jennifer Drake, Candace Watts, Vanessa Edwards, Ryan Petteway, Steven Lewis, Ghideon Ezaz

Front Row (l to r): Eva Martineau, Jaymee Ruiz, Aisha Rivera, Andrea Hall, Jocelyn Garcia, Tracie Bryant

TRACIE BRYANT

Hometown:        Altadena, CA

School:             Stanford University

Major:               Human Biology

Placement:        Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

EVA MARTINEAU

Hometown:        Brooklyn, NY

School:             Fordham University

Major:               Public Health

Placement:        Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)

JENNIFER DRAKE

Hometown:        St. Louis, MO

School:             Truman State University

Major:               Biology

Placement:        Senate Health, Education, Pensions,

                        and Labor (HELP)

PHILLIP MURRAY
Hometown:        Hinesville, GA
School:             Howard University
Major:               Biology
Placement:        Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR)

VANESSA EDWARDS

Hometown:        Brooklyn, NY

School:             University of Pittsburgh

Major:               Health Information Management

Placement:        Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

RYAN PETTEWAY

Hometown:        Steubenville, OH

School:             University of Virginia

Major:               African American Studies & Biology

Placement:        Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

GHIDEON EZAZ

Hometown:        Richland, MS

School:             Washington University

Major:               Biomedical Engineering

Placement:        Del.  Donna Christiansen (D-VI)

AISHA RIVERA

Hometown:        Kissimmee, FL

School:             University of South Florida

Major:               Microbiology

Placement:        Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)

JOCELYN GARCIA

Hometown:        Miami, FL

School:             University of Miami

Major:               Biology & Religious Studies

Placement:        Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)

JAYMEE RUIZ

Hometown:        Miami, FL

School:              Florida International University

Major:                Psychology & Health Services  
 Administration

Placement:         Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA)

RAMON GOMEZ

Hometown:        Providence, RI

School:             Providence College

Major:               Political Science

Placement:        Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)

EVAN RUSSELL

Hometown:        Pawtucket, RI

School:             Brown University

Major:               Neuroscience

Placement:        Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)

ANDREA HALL

Hometown:        Pullman, WA

School:             Washington State University

Major:               Sociology
Placement:        Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton

                        (D-DC)

CANDACE WATTS

Hometown:        Albuquerque, NM

School:             Hampton University

Major:               Nursing

Placement:        Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

STEVEN LEWIS

Hometown:        Springfield, VA

School:             Morehouse College

Major:               Biology

Placement:        Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)



CLASS OF 2005


Class of 2005
Back Row (l to r): Nicholas Jennings, Alberto Monegro, Justice Walker, Christopher Brandon Childs, Adewole Adamson, Aaron Begay, Matthew Shunkamolah, Michael Coleman, Jesus Barraza, and Victor Jeffreys

Front Row (l to r): Ta-Shina Williams, Tammy Yahner, Brandis Belt, Candace Donald, Hannah Garth, and Sulma Jessica Herrera

ADEWOLE ADAMSON

Hometown:        Silver Spring, MD

School:             Morehouse College

Major:               Biology & French

Placement:        Rep. Gene Greene (D-TX)

SULMA JESSICA HERRERA

Hometown:        Clarksville, GA

School:             Brenau University

Major:               Biology

Placement:        Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH)

JESUS BARRAZA

Hometown:        Los Angeles, CA

School:             University of California, Los Angeles

Major:               Psychology & Sociology

Placement:        Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA)

VICTOR JEFFREYS, II

Hometown:        Burlington, NC

School:             Duke University

Major:               Cultural Anthropology

Placement:        Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

                        (D-TX)

AARON BEGAY

Hometown:        San Carlos, AZ

School:             Arizona State University

Major:               Political Science & Finance

Placement:        Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee

NICHOLAS JENNINGS

Hometown:        Smyrna, TN

School:             Columbia University

Major:               Chemical Engineering

Placement:        Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

BRANDIS BELT

Hometown:        South Orange, NJ

School:             Stanford University

Major:               Biological Sciences

Placement:        Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR)

ALBERTO MONEGRO

Hometown:        Bronx, NY

School:             University of Chicago

Major:               Religion and the 

                        Humanities

Placement:        Sen. Russell Feingold
                        (D-WI)

CHRISTOPHER CHILDS

Hometown:        Louisville, KY

School:             Howard University

Major:               Biology

Placement:        Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

MATTHEW SHUNKAMOLAH

Hometown:        Gallup, NM

School:              University of Mexico

Major:               Criminal Justice

Placement:        Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

MICHAEL COLEMAN

Hometown:        Houston, TX

School:             Prairie View A&M University

Major:               Biology

Placement:        Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX)

JUSTICE WALKER

Hometown:        Pompano Beach, FL

School:             University of Miami

Major:               English & Biology

Placement:        Sen. George Voinovich

                        (R-OH)

CANDICE DONALD

Hometown:        Chinle, AZ

School:              University of Arizona

Major:               Community Health Education

Placement:        Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI)

TA-SHINA WILLIAMS

Hometown:        New Orleans, LA

School:             Rice University

Major:               Psychology

Placement:        Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

HANNA GARTH

Hometown:        Fridley, MN

School:             Rice University

Major:               Anthropology, Spanish, & Policy Studies

Placement:        Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

TAMMY YAHNER

Hometown:        York, PA

School:             University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Major:               Health Policy and Administration

Placement:        Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)



CLASS OF 2004

FANA ARAGAW

Hometown:        San Jose, California

School:             University of Pennsylvania

Major:               Health and Societies

Placement:        Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)

KAREEM MERRICK

Hometown:        Washington, DC

School:             Howard University

Major:               Biology

Placement:        Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)

MOYA BAILEY

Hometown:        Fayetteville, Arkansas

School:             Spelman College

Major:              Comparative Women’s    
                        Studies & Pre-Medicine

Placement:        Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)

RUTH PADRÓN

Hometown:        Chula Vista, California

School:             Univ. of California,  Berkeley

Major:               American Studies

Placement:        Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)

CHERYL BLIE

Hometown:        Pinon, Arizona   

School:             Northern Arizona Univ.

Major:               Political Science (Pre-Law)

Placement:        Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)

CHARLENE PARRISH

Hometown:        Kayenta, Arizona

School:             University of Arizona

Major:               Nursing

Placement:        Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

ETZER BOTES

Hometown:        Belle Glade, Florida

School:             New York University

Major:               Metropolitan Studies

Placement:        Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

KATARRO ROUNTREE

Hometown:        Augusta, Georgia

School:             Morehouse College

Major:               Psychology

Placement:        Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD)

KRISTEN DOWNEY

Hometown:        Clackamas, Oregon

School:             Oregon State University

Major:               Political Science

Placement:        Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)

OCTAVIO SILVA

Hometown:        Lynwood, California

School:             California St. Univ., Long Beach

Major:               Political Science

Placement:        Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA)

ERICA FARRAND

Hometown:        Maplewood, New Jersey

School:             University of Virginia

Major:               Human Biology

Placement:        Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

LUIS ARTURO VERDUZCO

Hometown:        Brownsville, Texas

School:             Yale University

Major:               Molecular, Cellular,
                        and Developmental Bio. 

Placement:        Rep. Eleanor H. Norton (D-DC)

CAROLINA GUTIERREZ

Hometown:        Salinas, California

School:             Stanford University

Major:               Psychology and German
                        Cultural  Studies

Placement:        Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

COREY WIGGINS

Hometown:        Hazlehurst, Mississippi

School:             Alcorn State University

Major:               Biology

Placement:        Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)


JOYCELYN MACBETH

Hometown:        Oakland, California

School:              Univ. of California, Berkeley

Major:               Ethnic Studies

Placement:        Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI)



CLASS OF 2003


Class of 2003
Back Row (l to r): Elisabeth Harper Epps, Keon Montgomery, Carl James, Carlyle Begay

Front Row (l to r): Emily Alejandro, Lisa Marie Gomez, Crystal Loudhawk, Catherine Pitti, Angela Wilson, Camille McCormick, Naomi Young, Melanie Nesbitt

EMILYN ALEJANDRO

Hometown:        Seattle, Washington                   

Education:         University of Washington

Major:               Biochemistry

Placement:        Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

CAMILLE MCCORMICK

Hometown:        Olympia Fields, Illinois

Education:         Stanford University

Major:               Human Biology

Placement:        Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)

CARLYLE BEGAY

Hometown:        Flagstaff, Arizona

Education:         University of Arizona

Major:               Microbiology

Placement:        Rep. Donna Christensen (D-VI)

MELANIE NESBITT

Hometown:        Charleston, South Carolina

Education:         Howard University

Major:               Political Science

Placement:        Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

ELISABETH EPPS

Hometown:        Charlotte, North Carolina

Education:         University of North Carolina at

                        Charlotte

Major:               Psychology

Placement:        Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AK)

KEON MONTGOMERY

Hometown:        Palmdale, California

Education:         Texas Christian University

Major:               Political Science

Placement:       Sen. George Voinovich
                        (R-OH)

LISA MARIE GOMEZ

Hometown:        Santa Fe, New Mexico

Education:         University of New Mexico

Major:               Sociology & Family Studies

Placement:        House Energy and Commerce
                        Committee

CATHERINE PITTI

Hometown:        Sacramento, California

Education:         Yale University

Major:               Anthropology

Placement:        Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

CARL JAMES

Hometown:        Riverdale, Maryland

Education:         Duke University

Major:               International Public Health Policy

Placement:        Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

ANGELA WILSON

Hometown:        Tijeras, New Mexico

Education:         University of New Mexico

Major:               Biology

Placement:        Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

 

CRYSTAL LOUDHAWK

Hometown:        Denver, Colorado

Education:         University of Colorado

Major:               Sociology

Placement:        Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA)

NAOMI YOUNG

Hometown:        Fort Defiance, Arizona

Education:         University of Arizona

Major:               Molecular and Cellular

                        Biology

Placement:        Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)


CLASS OF 2002

Class of 2002
Back Row (l to r): Kibwei McKinney, Candice Player, Alicia Bell, Meghan McCoy, Judit Camacho (NAC Member), Jonathan Rosero, Marie Boyd, Bich-May Nguyen
Front Row (l to r): Sangini Shah, Ericka Gibson

ALICIA BELL

Hometown:        Hazelwood, Missouri

Education:         Howard University

Major:               Biology and Classics

Placement:        Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)

BICH-MAY NGUYEN

Hometown:        Houston, Texas. 

Education:         University of Houston

Major:               Biology

Placement:        Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

MARIE BOYD

Hometown:        Salt Lake City, Utah

Education:         Harvard College

Major:               Chemistry

Placement:        Senate Governmental 

                        Affairs Committee

MEGHAN PETERSON-MCCOY

Hometown:        Minneapolis, Minnesota

Education:         Howard University

Major:               Anthropology

Placement:        Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

ERICKA GIBSON

Hometown:        Hixson, Tennessee

Education:         Spelman College

Major:               Biochemistry and Spanish

Placement:        Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

CANDICE PLAYER

Hometown:        Staten Island, New York.

Education:         Harvard College

Major:               Medical Ethics and 

                        Health  Policy

Placement:        House Energy and   

                        Commerce Committee

TALAYAH JACKSON

Hometown:        Durham, North Carolina

Education:         University of North 
                        Carolina at
 Chapel Hill

Major:               Public Policy

Placement:        Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

           &