Matsui Center Cal-in-Sacramento Fellows

Samuel García Durá

Class of 2027
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

Born and raised in Spain, Samuel was interested in politics since he was a student in high school. He went on to pursue a double degree in law and international studies at Carlos III University in Madrid. At his university, he had the chance to meet public servants that regularly came to give conferences at the university. It was through meeting and talking to them that Samuel deepened his interest in national politics, law-making and public service.

In 2023, he was given the chance to study at Berkeley for 1 year in an exchange program. In Berkeley, he learned...

Noor Alramadan

Class of 2026
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

Noor Alramadan is a driven, first-generation student studying media studies with a concentration in media law and policy, and minoring in education. As the daughter of immigrant parents in a dual-heritage household, her upbringing has shaped her values toward education and advocacy. Her firsthand experience with the challenges that students from marginalized communities often face in completing higher education has driven her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in higher education and professional spaces. To actively contribute to this cause, at UC Berkeley, she joined...

Leila Phillips

Class of 2024
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

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...

Lauren Ashley Gonzalez

Class of 2025
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

As the daughter of an immigrant father, Lauren is passionate about utilizing public service to fill in the gaps of unjust systems. Her background also includes family members exposed to environmental pollutants that had unjustly contributed to severe health problems. Due to her background, Lauren is focused on environmental justice and empowering disadvantaged communities. Currently, Lauren is majoring in environmental science and public health.

Previously, Lauren has worked in the ASUC Student Advocate’s Office as both a Financial Aid Caseworker and Director for...

Laila Hawa Hamidi

Class of 2026
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

Laila Hamidi is a second year at UC Berkeley pursuing a simultaneous degree in environmental economics and Policy, and geography, with a minor in public policy. Growing up in a suburb in Orange, CA gave her personal experience with the crises of housing affordability and car dependence that threaten the future of our state. As an intern at the Orange County Transportation Authority, Laila worked hard to expand funding for rail transit infrastructure threatened by climate change in Southern California.

As a Cal-in-Sacramento Fellow, she hopes to gain more...

Justin Toshima

Class of 2025
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

Arriving at UC Berkeley as a junior transfer student, Justin is a driven political science major focused on applying political theories of ethics towards developing just public policy. During his time at community college, Justin was an active member of multiple student government committees within the Associated Students of Pasadena City College. He applied his passion for political science towards creating a more inclusive student environment through assisting in the coordination of on-campus events, and modifying the college’s constitution and by-laws to better represent the needs...

Jonathan Gutierrez

Class of 2025
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

Jonathan Gutierrez-Lomelí is a first-generation Mexican-American from Long Beach, California. As the son of immigrant parents, Jonathan faced early on the trials and tribulations of community violence, machismo culture, and financial hardships. Because of his upbringing, he desires to become a beacon of representation for the Latino community in a white dominated political arena.

On campus, Jonathan is an HSF Scholar and a proud Hermano of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Incorporated. In developing his professional character, he has worked on...

Jasmine Lozano Castillo

Class of 2024
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

Raised in the San Joaquin Central Valley, Jasmine is passionate about advocating for others, herself, and her community through academic, social, and legislative forums. She is a political science and ethnic studies double major with a race and the law minor, which have catered to and refined her passions for social justice, advocacy, community development, civic engagement, intellectual evolution, and educational and professional prosperity.

As her passion for social justice and public service is strongly embedded in her professional and personal goals, during...

Irene Fernandez

Class of 2026
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

Irene Fernandez is a second-year double majoring in political science and psychology. Growing up in an immigrant household in Orange County, she witnessed first-hand the challenges underrepresented communities face. Coming from a predominantly Latine community shaped her interest in public policy and desire to serve others through public service. Her main policy interests include immigration rights, environmental justice, and criminal justice. On campus, she is an active member of ACLU, serving on the Racial Justice Committee. Being in the ACLU has...

Idyl Farah

Class of 2025
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

My name is Idyl Farah, I am currently a junior double majoring in political science and political economy! I am very interested to being part of this years’ Cal-In-Sacramento Fellows, in which I hope to secure an internship with Governmental Relations and Legislative Office.