Against the backdrop of a lively presidential election, Cal State Fullerton students are spending the summer interning at congressional offices, executive agencies, nonprofits and advocacy groups in the nation’s capital.
More than 400 Cal State Fullerton students have participated in the DC Scholars Program since 2006, gaining insight into the world of American politics. The program is open to juniors, seniors and graduate students from all majors and Cal State University campuses.
The 2016 summer residential faculty includes Stephen Stambough, professor of political science and founding director of the DC Scholars Program, and David Kelman, associate professor of English, comparative literature and linguistics.
“There’s always a policy buzz around Washington, D.C., around election time. Everywhere you go, people are talking about it. You see people strategizing at lunch and in the evenings at happy hour,” said Stambough. “You can’t experience the presidential campaign outside of D.C. the way you can inside of D.C.”
Connecting students to an expansive network, the DC Scholars Program opens doors for students to meet global leaders like Carlos Manuel Sada Solana, Mexico’s ambassador to the United States. The June 21 event was hosted by Raul Tapia, a Class of ’72 CSUF alumnus and supporter of the DC Scholars program.
“We are thrilled that our alumni help make opportunities like this possible for our students,” said Stambough. “Meeting the ambassador from Mexico within the greater D.C. community was an opportunity for our students to witness, firsthand, the interconnection of our global society.”
Cal State Fullerton’s participants, their majors and internship sites include:
- Eric Achatz, political science, Rep. Loretta Sanchez
- Claudia Acosta, taxation, Community Development Financial Institution
- Stephanie Alaniz, criminal justice, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
- Raven Bennett-Burns, art, Tribal Tech
- Brittany Burr, sociology, Vittoria Energy
- Angel Cruz, criminal justice, League of United Latin American Citizens
- Guadalupe Guerrero, political science, Rep. Loretta Sanchez
- Hilda Kajbaf, political science and American studies, Sen. Dianne Feinstein
- Aeja Lane, teacher credential, D.C. Public Schools
- Paola Leiva, political science and philosophy, Department of Interior, Human Resources
- Paul Matta, economics, Osgood Center for International Studies
- Diana Morales, communications, Planned Parenthood
- Aiyhana Navarro, criminal justice, Epilepsy Foundation
- Ashley Pham, biochemistry, Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency
- Rosa Rodriguez, criminal justice, Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining
- Yuriko Shibagaki, political science, Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C.
- Tityana Shuqom, communications and American studies, Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining
Participants from other CSU campuses include:
- Joshua Allen, Sonoma State University, Osgood Center for International Studies
- Alexis Begin, Cal State Chico, Rep. Susan Davis