 |  Meet the Scholars
MEET THE SCHOLARS
Class of 2008
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 2008 
Back Row (L to R): Sable Nelson, Tarik Kitson, Antoine Marshall, Angel Martinez, Cedric James
Middle Row (L to R): Javier Zarate, Natalia Sanchez, Nicholas Gordon, Cleo Samuel, Mai Vang, Winoka Begay
Front Row (L to R): Sharayah Foster, Mia Keeys, Erika Flores, Raina Roan
Winoka Begay
Hometown: Shiprock, N.M.
School: The University of New Mexico
Major: English (Pre-Law) and Native American Studies
Placement: Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) | Angel Martinez
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
School: University of California, Santa Cruz
Major: Health Science and Community Studies
Placement: Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) | Erika Flores
Hometown: South Gate, Calif.
School: University of Southern California
Major: Health Promotion & Disease Prevention and Biology
Placement: Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) | Sable Nelson
Hometown: Dalton, Ga.
School: Howard University
Major: Political Science and Biology
Placement: Senate HELP Committee (Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.)) | Sharayah Foster
Hometown: Sand Point, Alaska
School: Washington State University
Major: Psychology
Placement: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)) | Raina Roan
Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M.
School: University of New Mexico
Major: English
Placement: Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) | Nicholas Gordon
Hometown: Fort Washington, Md.
School: Morehouse College
Major: Biology
Placement: Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) | Cleo Samuel
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
School: University of Miami
Major: Psychology
Placement: Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) | Cedric James
Hometown: Austin, Texas
School: Texas State University
Major: Public Administration
Placement: House Energy and Commerce Committee (Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas)) | Natalia Sanchez
Hometown: Racine, Wis.
School: Vanderbilt University
Major: Biology and Spanish
Placement: Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) | Mia Keeys
Hometown: Collingdale, Pa.
School: Cheyney University
Major: Psychology and English
Placement: Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) | Mai Vang
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
School: University of San Francisco
Major: Biology and Sociology
Placement: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) | Tarik Kitson
Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.
School: State University of New York at Geneseo
Major: Anthropology
Placement: Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) | Javier Zarate
Hometown: Palm Springs, Calif.
School: University of California, San Diego
Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Placement: Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) | Antoine Marshall
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
School: Claflin University
Major: American Studies
Placement: Del. Donna Christensen (D-USVI) | | 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
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
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
 Back Row (l to r): Erica Farrand, Luis Verduzco, Kristen Downey, Octavio Silva, Kareem Merrick, Corey Wiggins
Front Row (l to r): Etzer Botes, Charlene Parrish, Fana Aragaw, Moya Bailey, Cheryl Blie, Carolina Gutiérrez, Ruth Padrón, Joycelyn Macbeth, and Katarro Rountree | 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
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
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: &nbs | |
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