Meet the 2024 LBJ DC Fellows!

The ninth cohort of graduate students in the LBJ School of Public Affairs's unique and accelerated DC Concentration have completed their first semester of coursework in Austin and they'll be in Washington before we know it.

While in DC, these Master of Public Affairs and Master of Global Policy Studies students take evening coursework as well as their required, simultaneous six-month (June–December 2024) Policy Apprenticeship at a public or private policy organization throughout the city, before graduating early in December 2024.

As the students search for Policy Apprenticeship placements, they need your help. Below is more information on each of the 2024 LBJ DC Fellows. If your organization might be interested in hosting an LBJ DC Fellow, or you would like to speak to a student about their interests, please contact the LBJ Washington Center via email for more information. Please note: preliminary interest on your or a referred organization's part does not imply a commitment to hire.

Christian Aguirre, MPAff-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Immigration, higher education 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Domestic Policy Council (DPC) or U.S. Senate

Full bio

Emily Barton, MGPS-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Diplomacy, international development, peacemaking 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Federal agency or think tank

Full bio

Adolfo Cervantes, MPAff-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Government efficiency, foreign affairs, diplomacy, poverty reduction, economic growth, national security 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Political advocacy, diplomacy, or foreign affairs organization

Full bio

Alex Claycomb, MGPS-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Fragile democracies, development strategies, diplomacy, intelligence, Latin American affairs 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Think tank or non-profit organization

Full bio

Alyssa Higgins, MPAff-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Health economics, economic development, poverty alleviation 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Think tank

Full bio

Lauren Juarez, MPAff-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Climate mitigation/adaptation, economic inequality, systemic racism 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Advocacy organization or on the Hill

Full bio

Lacey Lewis, MGPS-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Human rights, democracy promotion 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Intergovernmental or nongovernmental organization or on the Hill

Full bio

Joseph Matawaran, MPAff-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Labor economics, economic development, urban policy 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Federal agency or think tank

Full bio

Jianyu Mei, MPAff-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Public finance, international development, natural resources preservation, international cultural exchange, economic growth 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Public finance or international development organization

Full bio

Liza Montgomery, MPAff-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Social justice, gender and racial equality 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Lobbying firm, think tank, or on the Hill

Full bio

Muhammad Qasim, MPAff-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: International economic development, macroeconomic policy, governance, institutional capacity 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: On the Hill or development organization

Full bio

Carlos Repetto-Ayala, MGPS-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Climate adaptation & resilience, carbon pricing, energy security 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Non-profit or advocacy organization

Full bio

Jillian Rowe, MPAff-DC Candidate

Policy Area Interests: Economic industrial policy, drug/crime policy, juvenile justice policy 

Policy Apprenticeship Goal: Non-profit or advocacy organization

Full bio