Theodore H. Strauss Civic Internship Award

Alvin Xu is a junior double majoring in government and sociology and pursuing a certificate in core texts and ideas. On campus, they serve as the Director of Special Events for the Asian Desi Pacific Islander American Coalition, promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding between Asian communities. Alvin cares deeply about the current state of American democracy; this led them to serve as Committee Chair in the first-ever student-led Model Constitutional Convention held by Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. Returning as a Team Lead to the nonpartisan nonprofit TurnUp Activism this summer, Alvin aims to continue improving youth civic engagement across the nation.

Rotem Cohen is a rising senior at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is pursuing an integrated Master's in Professional Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. On campus, Rotem is actively engaged in student affairs, serving as a Senior Resident Assistant for University Housing and Dining, and contributing as a teaching assistant and undergraduate researcher. This summer, Rotem will be working in Washington, D.C., within the finance division at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters. Driven by a passion for a career in federal government service, Rotem is grateful to the Strauss Institute for supporting her in this pursuit.

My name is Cece Owens and I am a rising senior studying Psychology and Government with a minor in Applied Economics! I enjoy studying how decision-making is enacted on the intrapersonal, market, or global scale. For me, better understanding the processes by which people make decisions along with the impacts of those decisions have gives me a more holistic approach for evaluating issues. Additionally, I have picked up an interest in imploring historically and religiously rich places throughout the world such as Jerusalem, Israel and Rome, Italy! Learning more about the history of these religious epicenters enables to evaluate the current and future systems of global governance and norms. Overall, I am passionate about using my knowledge of history and decision-making to better problem-solve and execute projects that can help those in need.

My name is Lauren Campbell and I am entering my fourth-year in Honors Biochemistry and Honors Health and Society at UT Austin. I began my college career as a first-generation pre-medical student. Inspired by my family's experiences with U.S. healthcare, I began to take notice of the flawed medical system I previously adored, began independently researching U.S. policies that impacted my community, and thus, my love for health policy was born. Now, I am both a pre-medical and pre-policy student, working in both non-profit clinics and government roles. This summer, the Strauss Award will allow me to continue my current internship with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), where I spearhead a return on investment (ROI) and value on investment (VOI) project on the statewide Texas Public Health Fellowship. The resulting report will be used to propose an amendment to the General Appropriations Bill in the upcoming Texas Legislative Session to propose increased funding for the fellowship program.

Lilly Jarlsjo is a junior double majoring in Plan II Honors and Economics with a minor in History and a certificate in Core Texts and Ideas through the Jefferson Scholars Program. During the Summer of 2024, Lilly will be interning with US Department of State’s Bureau of Budget and Planning in Washington DC. At UT, Lilly has researched with the Innovation for Peace and Development Center’s project about whether American businesses and Chambers of Commerce support the trade war in China. Additionally, in the upcoming year, Lilly will join URAP’s research investigating crime, law, and justice in Texas. Lilly has been an active member and recruitment chair for the Texas Equity Group, a premier student-led finance and investing organization, since her freshman year, where she has pushed to increase the membership of women in the club. Lilly also belongs to the Civitas Institute’s Society of Fellows, where she studies the great authors of political philosophy, how their ideas can be applied to support modern democracy, and traveled to Madrid in May 2024 to study at the Liberty in Europe lecture series. The Summer of 2023, Lilly studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France where she took classes in Wine Studies and A Cultural Landscape of Southern France. In her free time, Lilly reads to underprivileged elementary students with the Reading Aces and will be joining the Plan II KIPP program next year as a mentor for young students. Lilly plans to attend law school after graduating and aims to work in international green policy.

Leah Tharakan is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin double majoring in government and economics with a minor in business. On campus, she served as co-director of UT Student Government’s Governmental Relations Agency, a research fellow for the J.J. Pickle Undergraduate Research Fellowship, professional director of Texas Women in Economics, and a writer for Texas Undergraduate Law Journal. Additionally, Tharakan will be an Undergraduate Fellow for the Bill Archer Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C., in Spring 2025. Off campus, Tharakan is interning with the U.S. Department of State and has interned with the office of Texas State Representative Ryan Guillen (HD-31), and the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center, igniting her passion for advocacy in the legal field. After graduation, Tharakan plans to attend law school and intends to pursue a career in civil rights law.

Hello! I am currently approaching my 3rd year here at UT Austin, majoring in Government with a minor in Business and Public Policy. I am super excited to be working on the Hill this summer to both further my professional career and engage with like-minded individuals. When I’m back in Austin, I look forward to long walks on Lady Bird and the endless supply of restaurant options.

Emma Hamilton is a rising junior from Spring, Texas majoring in Plan II and Government, and pursuing her lifelong goal: Spanish and Portuguese fluency. Her passion lies at the intersection of public policy and environmental sustainability, aiming to strengthen international climate agreements as a Foreign Service Officer in the future. On campus, she has facilitated research with Innovations for Peace and Development that explored the efficacy of intergovernmental peacekeeping projects. She has also supported the Global (Dis) Information Lab in their effort to investigate the reasons behind belief in climate disinformation. As a Brumley Scholar at the Strauss Center for International Security and Law she anticipates delving into migration policy and promoting pathways for disaster displaced individuals and researching other state’s climate migration agreements this coming school year. Beyond the 40 acres, Emma volunteers at Casa Marianella tutoring refugee children and helping international students gain English proficiency through Texas Global’s Talk Time program. This summer, she looks forward to tackling some of the challenges presented by the world of politics, as an intern in the U.S. House of Representatives. In her free time, Emma can be found listening to niche podcast episodes, learning new country dancing lifts and baking unique cookie recipes (latest: halva and chocolate pistachio).

My name is Kalista Hein, and I am currently an incoming junior at UT Austin, studying Political Communication with a minor in Law, Justice, and Society. I am passionate about my future endeavors in law, which led me to participate in internships with Senator Royce West, a nonprofit called Texas Research and Technology Foundation, and currently the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. I also enjoy my time in on-campus organizations such as Moody Communication Council, and Texas Tridelta. Through these opportunities, I have been able to pursue my goal of law school and create a well-rounded undergraduate experience here at UT. I have had an amazing experience thus far, and am excited for the future. Hook’em!

Hi, my name is Krrishh Kamal, a rising sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, majoringin Economics. Originally from Houston, TX, I've been deeply involved in politics, having workedwith the campaigns of Congressman Wesley Hunt and Governor Greg Abbott. Theseexperiences have allowed me to contribute to meaningful projects and develop valuable skills incampaign strategy and communication. They've not only shaped my academic journey but havealso fueled my passion for making a difference in the political landscape. Outside of school, Ilove to read, explore new music, and a sucker for thriller TV shows. Looking ahead, I'm excitedto continue merging my interests in economics, technology, and politics to drive positive changein the world.