SUMMER 2024 LEAD AND PARKE FELLOWS

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Arianna Afsar (she/hers) believes deeply in the intersection of arts and policy. Art changes culture and culture changes policy. As a theater/film performer and composer, Afsar is excited to be finishing up her last year at Wagner to understand the intersection from the policy perspective. As a fellow for Headcount, Afsar is in the process of creating political education to combat voter apathy from a nonpartisan perspective. 

As a LEAD Fellow, Arianna will be working with HeadCount to create informational resources on how to engage volunteers in issue-based conversations for around state-wide ballot initiatives across the country. 

 

 

 

 

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Ryan Arecco is a current MPA candidate from Croton on Hudson, NY, currently serving as the Development and Communications Coordinator at Komera, a non-profit focused on advancing women in Rwanda. Prior to pursuing his studies at NYU Wagner, he honed his skills and passion for social justice through roles at the Harlem Children's Zone, as well as internships with former Congressman Mondaire Jones and the ACLU of Minnesota. He is drawn to the fields of advocacy and community development, and is proud of his Puerto Rican and Italian heritage! 

As a LEAD Fellow, Ryan will work with the One Fair Wage supporting its development department and on-the-ground campaigns in New York alongside organizers.

 

 

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JJ Briscoe is currently an MPA student at the Wagner School of Public service, specializing in political action and advocacy. Working for campaigns and state political parties in New York, Vermont, and Kansas has compelled him to focus on democratic reform policies. JJ is passionate about advocating for structural reform to increase representation for marginalized communities within our democratic system.

As a LEAD Fellow, JJ will be working for Public Citizen's Protecting Democracy Campaign urging regulators and political parties to implement guardrails on the use of deceptive AI-generated content. 

 

 

 

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Madison Buchholz (she/her) is a first-year Master’s student studying Applied Urban Science and Information with NYU’s Center for Urban Science and Progress. Previously, she studied political science and actuarial science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before attending NYU, Madison has held internships with the United Nations and the UN Staff One Percent for Development Fund. She is passionate about applying data analytics to help advance pro-democratic policies and reforms.

As a Parke Fellow, Madison will work with the Brennan Center for Justice on mapping and redistricting projects.

 

 

 

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Sophia Deng (she/her) is currently pursuing a Master's in Applied Statistics for Social Science Research at NYU. Her research and work are deeply integrated into the cause and impact of ideological segregation in the United States. In particular, she is looking into systemic disparities within the United States and how they can shape American viewpoints and perspectives. Before coming to NYU, Sophia worked as a software engineer and as a teacher for Girls Who Code. Sophia holds a BS from Carnegie Mellon University where she studied mathematics. 

As a Parke Fellow, Sophia will work with the Brennan Center for Justice on elections and governance projects.

 

 

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Dimiana Habtemariam (she/her) is an adept public policy professional with a Master of Public Administration from NYU's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, specializing in Advocacy and Political Action. Dimiana's expertise includes stakeholder engagement, comprehensive policy analysis, and the creation of compelling narratives that spotlight community impacts. 


As a LEAD Fellow, Dimiana will work with Public Citizen, focusing on organizing and advocacy efforts to safeguard our democracy and voting rights, particularly concerning AI legislation affecting elections. 

 

 

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Alfi Joseph (she/her) is a rising second year Masters' of Public Administration student specializing in Management & Leadership. Prior to NYU she worked various nonprofit management roles in international affairs, education, and public health in Texas. 

As a LEAD Fellow, Alfi will be working with  Mi Familia Vota supporting its mission through the national and Texas offices by creating standardized policies related to voter registration, canvassing, and overall campaign preparedness.

 

 

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Sinéad López (she/her) has nearly a decade of experience in the social justice philanthropic sector, with a focus on supporting progressive, BIPOC-led cultural/narrative power and nonprofit infrastructure in the U.S. She has served at organizations such as the Nathan Cummings Foundation, Surdna Foundation, and Ballet Hispánico, and on the boards of the Mosaic Network & Fund, EPIP NY, S.O.U.R.C.E. Studio, and Critical Minded. Sinéad is currently an MPA student and Lisa Ellen Goldberg Fellow at NYU Wagner specializing in Advocacy & Political Action. She holds a B.A. with honors in Art History from Northwestern University.

As a LEAD Fellow, Sinead will be working with Make the Road New York and both its civic engagement team building leadership and infrastructure, as well as, the immigration team on immigration issues.

 

 

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Jessica Meza (she/her) is a student at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development studying for her MA in Media, Culture and Communication with a focus in media industries and political communications. She is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma and has a BA in Strategic Communications and Spanish from Oklahoma State University. Jessica is passionate about digital communications and media as a way to promote topics in social advocacy and campaign for change. 

As a LEAD Fellow, Jessica will be working with VoteRiders assisting with digital communications efforts to promote civic engagement and voter inclusion across the country.

 

 

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Sebastian De Leon Rivera (he/him) emigrated from the Dominican Republic in 2017, and received his Bachelors in Political Science from Lehman College. Currently, he is pursuing his MPA at NYU Wagner specializing in Political Action and Advocacy. He is pursuing graduate studies to expand his skills necessary to mobilize communities, organizations, and other participants into meaningful projects. He plans to work within the NYC Department of Transportation, where he looks forward to working with interdisciplinary, cross-sector teams to develop projects that improve the quality of life for New Yorkers. 

As a LEAD Fellow, Sebastian will work with Make the Road New York and its civic engagement program helping newly arrived migrants.

 

 

 

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Diego Diaz De La Vega recently completed his Master's degree in Politics at NYU in May 2024. Specializing in Comparative Politics with a focus on Latin America and Political Economy, he has effectively utilized his data analysis skills in various non-profit organizations, including ROC-United. Last year, Diego worked as a LEAD Democracy Fellow at People For The American Way (PFAW), where he played a crucial role in addressing misinformation through the Grandparents for Truth initiative. 

As a LEAD Fellow, Diego will collaborate with Mi Familia Vota and its sister organization MFV in Action, focusing on mobilizing Latino voters in upcoming elections.

 

 

 

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Estrellita Mondragon (she/her/ella) is an undergraduate student currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at New York University Silver School of Social Work, where she has developed a strong foundation of social work skills, as well as completed a minor in Social and Public Policy. As a resilient first-gen Latina, driven by her passion for social justice, she credits her journey from a low-income immigrant household that fuels her activism. 

As a LEAD Fellow, Estrellita will work with HeadCount to strengthen its relationships with new partners and establishing best practices for outreach and engagement.

 

 

 

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Kyle Van Rensselaer (he/him) is a 3rd-year Ph.D. student in the Politics department at NYU. His work focuses on American political geography and political methodology. In particular, he is interested in public goods provision at the local level and how municipal boundaries help shape individuals' access to (and demand for) services such as parks and polling places. Kyle grew up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California; he holds an MA in International Policy and a BA in International Relations from Stanford University.

As a Parke Fellow, Madison will work with the Brennan Center for Justice on voting rights and elections research.

 

 

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Chantal Serrano graduated in 2024 from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner School for Public Service. She earned her Master’s in Public and Non-Profit Policy and Management, specializing in Advocacy and Political Action. Chantal’s research is primarily centered on criminal justice reform, electoral politics, immigrant rights, cannabis policy, and the intersectionality of care labor. She hopes to use her education and research to create meaningful change towards a more equitable and sustainable society. 

As a LEAD Fellow, Chantal will work with VoteRiders supporting its voter ID-focused volunteer training sessions.

 

 

 

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Adeeba Tak (she/her) is a first year graduate student at NYU's Steinhardt School where she is studying Applied Statistics in Social Science Research and sits on the board of the school’s Stats Club. She is originally from Kashmir and first came to the USA to study physics at the University of Pennsylvania. She is driven by interests in tech and social sciences and by a curiosity to explore how and where those two fields overlap. In her spare time, she likes to read, crochet, paint, and explore the City.

As a Parke Fellow, Adeeba will work with the Brennan Center for Justice on voting and representation research.

 

 

 

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Mykael Wright (he/him) earned a BA in Communication from the University of Missouri. Upon graduation, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he began his career through the Teach for America Program. Mykael and his family moved to New York in 2023 to begin his MPA program at NYU Wagner. He currently works as a program manager for MindUP, the Goldie Hawn Foundation, and an SEL facilitator for New Heights Youth, Inc. in Brooklyn.

As a LEAD Fellow, Mykael will be working with One Fair Wage in researching income data for tipped workers comparing the 43 states with lower minimum wages for tipped workers to the 7 states (and Washington DC) with higher wages.