Fellows Program in Public Affairs 67th Cohort
Aaron Harris (he/him)
Tacoma, WA
B.A., Urban Studies
Morehouse College
Aaron Harris is a Seattle native with family ties to Southern California through his parents. From an early age, Aaron has had the desire to improve the way in which we travel and live in the U.S. The pursuit of this goal can be seen with his Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies with a concentration in Urban Planning from Morehouse College May 2024. He has years of experience in working with youth across multiple summer camps in the Seattle area, as well as experience in the public and non-profit sector with the City of Atlanta’s Department of City Planning and Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle’s EcoDistrict Team respectively. Aaron’s long-term goals are to create stronger communities across the U.S. through a serious investment in public transit and housing, as well as education. Aaron is a diehard baseball fan with a love of history, transportation, and cities, as well as a collector of vintage sportswear from as far back as the 1930s. Additionally, in his free time, he is an avid hiker during the summer and a vinyl collector. Aaron is ready to get to work in L.A and make his childhood dreams a reality.
An Inland Empire native born to Filipino immigrant parents, Alyssa (pronounced Eliza) holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental Sciences and Psychology from the University of California, Riverside. Having grown up on a superfund site, Alyssa has witnessed the consequences of environmental pollution firsthand in her community and family home. Passionate about environmental sustainability and justice, she is dedicated to leveraging her interdisciplinary education and leadership in volunteerism to affect positive change at the community level. To further her mission, she has since taken on positions with grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies, such as the U.S. EPA. Alyssa’s work with the community is evidenced by her work on her home campus, where she partnered with Dining Services to establish a food waste tracking system for the university dining halls. She has also amassed significant research experience throughout her time in academia, taking on multiple mentorship roles and having earned over $38,100 in research grants, fellowships, and scholarships. New to the realm of public affairs, Alyssa is excited to utilize her unique interdisciplinary scientific background to make a meaningful impact in Coro and beyond.
Andrea Terrones (she/her)
Eastvale, CA
B.A., Political Science
University of California, Riverside
Andrea Terrones is a first-generation Mexican American citizen passionate about politics and public service. After graduating from UC Riverside with a B.A. in Political Science, Andrea worked at a personal injury law firm where she expanded her legal expertise and sought justice for wrongfully injured clients. During college, she led a variety of civic engagement efforts within her student government, scheduling lobbying meetings at the local and state level, establishing higher education partnerships with community organizations, and promoting beneficial legislation with the University of California Student Association (UCSA). Andrea also founded Womxn in the Law to provide resources to underrepresented women of color pursuing careers in law or public affairs. She has established a scholarship program, and members can earn free LSAT courses to combat financial hardships minority students face when applying to law school. Andrea continued to advocate for marginalized communities as an Organizing Fellow for Golden State Opportunity, a non-profit dedicated to ending poverty. Her cohort helped 1.8+ million low-income and working-class Californians. As a Coro Fellow, Andrea is excited to explore public affairs across a variety of sectors and use her experience to better serve the most diverse and disadvantaged members of her community.
Asemayet Zekaryas (she/her)
Seattle, WA
B.S., Public Policy
B.S., Data Analytics Emphasis
Minor, International Relations
University of Southern California
Asemayet Zekaryas is an Eritrean-American recent graduate from Seattle, Washington, now based in Los Angeles. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy from the University of Southern California, where she graduated Cum Laude and received the Sol Price School of Public Policy Dean’s Merit Award. Asemayet is passionate about equitable and sustainable development and has developed a strong interest in data analysis for advancing these goals. She previously worked as a Strategic Planning and Development Intern at Emerson Collective, where she analyzed sustainable mass timber supply chains and promoted the inclusion of Native American and Black-owned suppliers. Her experience also includes internships with the Eritrean Health Board and Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she focused on mental health initiatives and community resource development. Asemayet is dedicated to community development and the power of connection, particularly within Eritrean and broader African diaspora communities. She believes in leveraging these connections to empower African communities both locally and back home, using resources and support from the diaspora. As a Rainier Scholars alum, Asemayet is passionate about supporting low-income students of color and enhancing their educational journeys, ensuring they have the resources and opportunities needed to succeed.
Bailey Meyers (he/him)
Guilford, CT
B.A., Global Studies
B.A., English
University of California, Los Angeles
Connecticut native Bailey Meyers is passionate about creating strong communities in the public sphere. Bailey graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a B.A. in Global Studies and English, and has experience in journalism, public affairs, nonprofit management, strategy consulting, and the arts. Most recently, he worked at JCI Worldwide, a public affairs, PR, and communications firm in Santa Monica, as an Account Executive, leading a slate of cross-sector clients (energy, entertainment, retail, environment, and tech) through local, state, and nationwide business development, coalition-building, and marketing campaigns. Bailey also contributed strategic support as Communications and Development Manager at Taiwan Strait Risk Report, a geopolitical risk assessment product. At UCLA, Bailey spent time with the arts and abroad, serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Bruin Review, an independent nonpartisan opinion magazine and nonprofit organization pursuing, “Truth through discourse”; acting as Founding Vice President of Cherry Pop Records, UCLA’s first self-sufficient student-run record label; interning at Young Storytellers, a screenwriting nonprofit for underserved youth in Los Angeles; conducting research on graffiti in London; and studying human rights in the Hague. As a Coro Fellow, Bailey looks forward to exploring new fields and making unlikely connections across industries, creating innovative solutions to tough public problems.
Brandon Karagozian (he/him)
Duarte, CA
B.A., Public Policy Analysis
B.A., Gender and Women’s Studies
Pomona College
Brandon champions resource accessibility for students from underserved backgrounds and strives toward accountable governance. Being raised in a milieu of intersectional backgrounds and identities, Brandon’s time at Pomona College pursuing Gender and Women’s studies highlights the importance of identity and livelihood entangled by public policy’s effects. Similarly, Brandon has served roles within municipal and federal levels that tie advocacy, data, and econometric analysis to fight for equitable resource allocation. His collegiate thesis utilized federal data on foster youth to conduct a case study on inadequate support programs impacting foster youth of color. He has also served as an Agency Liaison Case Worker for the Office of the Vice President under the Biden-Harris administration to support constituents receiving federal agency resources. Finally, Brandon worked as an advanced economics and statistics tutor at Princeton University to support aspiring underrepresented policymakers pursuing a Master in Public Administration (MPA). Brandon is thrilled to join the Coro community to foster meaningful connections and understand the imbrications of public service across sectors. After Coro, Brandon hopes to pursue a PhD or Masters in Public Policy to continue tying econometric analysis and the betterment of underserved youth.
Charvi Reddy (she/her)
Tulare, CA
B.A., Human Biology & Society
Minor, Anthropology
University of California, Los Angeles
Charvi Reddy grew up in the Central Valley of California, which developed her passion for public affairs. After seeing the devastating effects of local problems like contaminated air and drinking water, Charvi resolved to become a public health attorney and fight for improvements. She attended UCLA for its Human Biology & Society program and became extensively involved in the surrounding community. Charvi volunteered with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles to help tenants defend themselves against eviction, then became an AmeriCorps volunteer at the Compton Courthouse’s Self-Help Center for individuals without attorneys. There, she assisted with various legal needs, particularly those of housing access. To employ her Legal Aid experience, Charvi also developed innovative training materials on eviction defense, improving available assistance for tenants throughout the Los Angeles County court system. Meanwhile at her university, she founded an organization that brings STEM activities to local students to make science exploration possible regardless of income or access to equipment. Upon graduating summa cum laude from UCLA, Charvi became confident that working in Los Angeles could help her develop skills to incite change in her hometown. As such, Charvi is both honored and excited to become a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs.
David Ramirez (he/him)
Pacoima, CA
B.A., Geography/Environmental Studies
B.A., Labor Studies
University of California, Los Angeles
Born and raised in Los Angeles, David Ramirez recently graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles where he studied Geography/Environmental Studies and Labor Studies. As a first-generation student, David transferred to UCLA from Pasadena City College. As the student member on the Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees, he helped advance equitable policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensured a safe return to campus instruction. Appointed by Governor Newsom in 2022 to the A.B. 928 Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee, he oversaw the equitable transfer reforms. David continued his passion for advocacy at UCLA, serving as the Government Relations Chair for the University of California Student Association where he had the opportunity to work on state legislation and address the Legislature as an expert witness on several bills and a panelist for an Assembly budget subcommittee. After organizing one of the first Starbucks unionization drives in Los Angeles, David completed an internship with Starbucks Workers United, successfully leading an effort to remove on-campus Starbucks offerings at UCLA. Through Coro, David is excited to learn, to be challenged and to identify how to best serve his community through public service.
Genavieve Koenigshofer (she/her)
San Clemente, CA
B.A., Public Policy
B.S., Developmental Psychology
University of California, San Diego
Genavieve Koenigshofer (she/her) began her career in public service during her senior year of high school. Spurred into action by the youth mental health crisis, she served as a student board member for Capistrano Unified School District in Orange County, CA. In 2020, she joined Generation Up (GENup)—a youth-led educational advocacy organization which passed over 10 student-written bills into law—where she was introduced to public policy and realized the power of systems-level change. As an undergraduate at UC San Diego, Genavieve worked for inspiring leaders like Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Senator Scott Wiener, and Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner. She also worked for the ACLU, where she supported national immigration reform and voting rights initiatives; and joined Associated Students at UCSD, where she advocated locally for affordable housing and stronger disabled student services. Genavieve recently graduated from UC San Diego with a B.A. in Public Policy and a B.S. in Developmental Psychology. After Coro, she will be attending the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley to pursue a Master of Public Policy. Then, Genavieve aims to work across sectors on education and public health reform so she can continue advancing youth well-being in California.
Nicholas Thell (he/him)
Nowthen, MN
B.A., Public Affairs
Minor, Labor Studies
University of California, Los Angeles
Nicholas grew up in a small town outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, working as a laborer for his family’s construction business during the summer. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in June with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs, minoring in Labor Studies. While studying at UCLA, Nicholas developed interests in housing, labor, and transportation policy. Before graduating, he completed a capstone project for the Office of Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur that analyzed where and how unhoused Angelenos can access services. Outside the classroom, Nicholas immersed himself in the world of politics while interning for the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Angie Craig for Congress, and the Office of United States Senator Amy Klobuchar. During his time in these roles, he developed a passion for public service and had a wide range of interactions with community members in both Los Angeles and Minnesota. As a Coro Fellow, Nicholas is eager to delve into local policy issues, establish new connections, and further develop his leadership abilities while continuing to serve his community.
Sophia Catalan (she/her)
Pacific Palisades, CA
B.A., Classical Studies
Minor, East Asian Studies
Wesleyan University
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sophia was fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by folks from across the world and all the languages they spoke. This influence inspired her love for learning those languages, an interest that quickly generated a fascination with law as its own kind of language. In her research at Wesleyan University, Sophia delved into the intersections of law, empire, authorship, and gender through the lens of Greek and Roman societies. True to her love of language, she investigated these core threads across cultures and eras. She worked in English on the connections between 4th-century Athenian gender roles and modern American military practices; in Spanish, on revolution, censorship, and the politics of memory; in Latin, on the evolution of heroism and masculinity doctrines; and in Japanese, on feminist writing and democratic consolidation across East and Southeast Asia. She brought her command of and curiosity for these ideas to the campus community as a Teaching Assistant and a Peer Tutor. Sophia is grateful and eager to continue her education outside of the classroom with Coro, and to further her commitment to education and law as an instrument of redress.
William Chao (he/him)
Fremont, CA
B.A., Political Science
University of California, Los Angeles
Born and raised in Fremont, California, William is a proud beneficiary of a community college education at Ohlone College where he earned an associate degree for Transfer. He transferred to UCLA and received a bachelor’s degree in political science where he developed a passion for labor rights, social welfare, and policy. On campus, he organized with Students for Labor Advocacy Project (SLAP), which educated students on their rights and highlighted unfair working conditions. In student government he served as a Transfer Appointed Officer for the University of California Student Association. He organized students across 8 campuses to advocate for Cal Grant Reform and affordability for non-traditional students. As a member of a state higher education committee, he had the privilege of improving the same associate degree he earned, and helping underrepresented students access it. As the son of immigrants, language barriers at home motivated him to push for inclusive language access with the non-profit CAUSE. He developed community-based research and policy recommendations that would promote civic engagement within the Los Angeles Asian American community. William is excited about the broadened perspective and tangible skills offered by the Coro Fellowship in order to work on providing economic opportunity for all Angelenos.
