SPRING 2022 LEAD & PARKE Fellows
We are thrilled to announce the Fellows for Spring 2022, who will be working at a variety of organizations involved in pro-democracy and voter access work.
Briana Mancilla is a junior from Santa Ana, California, majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Latine Studies and Politics at the College of Arts & Sciences at New York University. She is excited to further grow her experience in local grassroots efforts and organizing through HeadCount. Upon graduation, Briana plans to be the first in her family to attend graduate school and receive a Masters of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management & Policy with a specialization in Advocacy and Political Action.
As a LEAD Fellow, Briana will be working with HeadCount this semester, where she will be setting up voter registration drives within the local NYC community and establishing connections to local grassroots organizations.
Arshdeep Dhanoa is in her final year of NYU Wagner’s MPA program studying Health Policy. Before NYU, Arshdeep was a Peace Corps volunteer serving as a health education teacher in the Republic of Moldova (2018-2020).
As a LEAD Fellow, Arshdeep will be helping One Fair Wage organize service workers to end the sub-minimum wage. In the U.S., it is still legal to pay service workers less than $3 an hour, forcing them to rely on tips. Throughout the pandemic, many service workers were further exhausted and were asked to work without PPE and hazard pay. Arshdeep plans to help OFW's grassroots efforts and state campaigns to bring minimum wage to $15.
Dimiana Habtemariam is a junior majoring in Public Policy and minoring in Spanish. She passionately advocates for democratic access, just immigration and protecting human rights. Her professional experience thus far has included cybersecurity consulting, working on a congressional campaign, and civic engagement in her community.
As a LEAD Fellow, Dimiana is working with Protect the Vote Georgia. She will be working alongside leadership to implement digital campaigns, conduct research and assist with community outreach and collaboration.
Rachel Bhalla is an MPA-PNP candidate specializing in Advocacy and Political Action. Prior to Wagner, Rachel served as the Campaign Manager and Deputy Chief of Staff for State Representative James Talarico, the youngest statewide elected official in Texas. Rachel is passionate about voting rights and previously interned with the Voting Office in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice while in the Congressman Bill Archer Fellowship Program. Rachel currently serves as a First-Year Representative for the Wagner Student Association and is the New York City Chair of the Archer Fellowship Alumni Association.
As a LEAD Fellow, Rachel is working with Mi Familia Vota, where she will be supporting voter education, community training and engagement, and social media/digital organizing.
Daisy Fleming is an MPA-PNP candidate specializing in Advocacy and Political Action. Prior to Wagner, Daisy served as Director of Scheduling in the office of Governor Gina Raimondo and as a field organizer for the Rhode Island Democratic Party. Daisy is on the board of Wagner Womxn and the Wagner Advocacy and Political Action Association. She is passionate about electing progressive women.
As a LEAD Fellow, Daisy will be working at the American Association of People with Disabilities, where she will be helping coordinate the REV UP campaign to foster civic engagement and protect the voting rights of Americans with disabilities.
Kartika Fuentes is a Bronx native and is passionate about replacing oppressive institutions with life-affirming structures in vulnerable communities. She completed her undergraduate studies in Ecuador and returned to give back to her community at South Bronx United, a youth development organization, as an AmeriCorpsVISTA supported by the New York Immigration Coalition. Kartika completed an internship with New York’s 14th Congressional District and absorbed Team AOC’s amazing work in the district. She is also a proud David Bohnett Public Service Fellow which has helped her attend New York University and pursue an MPA specializing in advocacy and political action.
As a LEAD Fellow, Kartika is working with Mi Familia Vota.
Jahmair Stewart is an MPA-PNP candidate specializing in Public Policy Analysis. Previously, he received his BA in communications from Georgia State University. As he pursues his degree, he also works as a graduate assistant at NYU Tandon, supporting identity-based programming and co-advises several student clubs and the graduate council. His main goal is to influence educational equity, environmental justice, and housing inequality. Before Wagner, Jahmair was a Teach for America Miami corps member, embracing the challenges of working in low-income communities of color where a lack of education funding, climate change, and housing inequality impacted youth across the area.
As a LEAD Fellow, Jahmair will be working with the Environmental Voter Project to identify inactive environmentalists using data and predictive modeling to transform them into consistent voters.
Madeleine Greenberg grew up between Newport Beach, California and Nashville, Tennessee. In May 2021, she graduated Cum Laude from NYU with a B.A. in Politics. She will graduate with her M.A. in American Politics from NYU in May 2022. Before joining HeadCount, she had two years of organizing, civic engagement, and voter protection experience. In her free time she enjoys concerts, running, reading, and rooting for the Dodgers.
As a LEAD Fellow, Madeleine is working in voter engagement at HeadCount, where she tracks voting rights legislation across the country and does research for HeadCount’s Save the Vote campaign.
Nathan Naimark (he/him) is an MPA-PNP candidate specializing in Policy Analysis at NYU Wagner. Prior to enrolling at Wagner, Nathan worked in policy and compliance at two DC-based nonprofits. As a caseworker in the Office of US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, he developed a love for directly assisting constituents. Originally from Phoenix, AZ, Nathan emphasizes the importance of equitable social and economic policy in his work with a special interest in voting rights and access. Nathan holds a BA in Economics and Public Policy from Sarah Lawrence College.
As a LEAD fellow, Nathan is working with Vote Riders, where he will be setting up automated support systems and assisting in volunteer engagement.
Erin Carden is a mission-driven communicator and advocate pursuing an MA in Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU Steinhardt. Before NYU, her professional experience centered the nonprofit and education sectors, her most recent position being the Communications Fellow for PEN America. Erin is an advocate for social justice issues including voting, housing, and education justice. She is most passionate about helping mission-driven institutions create compelling content that increases awareness and incites action around social change causes.
As a LEAD Fellow, Erin will be working with VoteRiders, where she will support the Communications team with authoring content for blogs, emails, and social media, drafting volunteer recruitment and update emails, and creating social media content featuring personal storytelling from volunteers and voters.
Justice Jenkins, born and raised in the Bronx, is a first-year MPA-PNP student with an Advocacy specialization. He completed his undergraduate studies at Georgia State University, obtaining a bachelor's in psychology. His goal is to influence public policy using a research-based interdisciplinary approach focusing on psychology, philosophy, law, and ethics research.
As a LEAD Fellow, Justice will be working with Protect the Vote Georgia to track voting rights bills, develop a legislative agenda.and assist with research, social media, and more.
Anna Harris is a MSPP candidate at NYU Wagner, interested in local government and policy analysis. Prior to Wagner, she worked for a community nonprofit providing federal program assistance to low-income populations and later worked for a large asset management firm. Her experience also includes operations support for university development and volunteering as an election official during the 2020 cycle. She holds a BA from Lafayette College and a certificate in data analytics from the University of Chicago – Graham School.
As a Parke Fellow, Anna is working with the Brennan Center’s Redistricting Program.
Zoe Merriman is an MPA-PNP student at NYU Wagner, specializing in Public Policy Analysis and planning to concentrate on Environmental Policy and Justice. Prior to Wagner, Zoe held a two year dual internship with an organization named The Sustainability Institute, where she was responsible for co-organizing a multidisciplinary sustainability symposium and co-wrote an educational Climate Change based workbook. Zoe is a dedicated activist and has spent many hours advocating for the BIPOC community on campus and helping students register to vote. She received her BS from The Pennsylvania State University and minored in Political Science and Government.
As a Parke Fellow, Zoe is working with the Brennan Center's Voting Rights Program.