Maddy Interns

Angel Gomez is a third-year Honors student at the University of California, Merced, majoring in Psychology on a pre-med track with an intended Human Biology double major and Political Science minor. Placed in the Office of Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, he aspires to become a physician whose impact reaches beyond the clinic into policy and community health.

His interest in public service began in high school, where he participated in a leadership program at a city council office and later joined the Young Assemblymembers Program at the State Capitol. In these experiences, he learned how policy is shaped at both the local and state level. He carried that perspective into a shadowing internship at UC Davis Medical Center, where he observed care across seven specialties and saw firsthand the disparities patients face and the systemic constraints that limit the care physicians can offer. Those observations deepened as he worked on legislative and congressional campaigns across Sacramento and Merced. After speaking with more than 250 community members, he saw how far the gap runs between what patients need and what policy delivers. He is especially inspired by Assemblywoman Soria’s efforts to sustain healthcare in the Central Valley while investing in its future.

At UC Merced, Angel serves as an undergraduate researcher and resident assistant, roles through which he supports and mentors his peers. He will also soon begin as a surgical intern in Fresno. In his leisure time, he enjoys working out, with strong opinions about the ideal training split, along with listening to podcasts and reading.

Parneet Hundal is entering her last semester at UC Merced, pursuing a dual degree in Biology and Psychology. Her passion for policy grew while working outdoors as a Summer Forest Ecology Fieldwork Assistant with Dr. Moran, a Pathways to Parks Student Assistant, and a Bear Diet Researcher in Yosemite National Park. Her time volunteering with the Yurok tribe also taught her about food sovereignty, conservation, and how Indigenous people connect to the land. This experience further inspired her to support Indigenous and vulnerable communities and continue fighting for them, as she has seen the positive impact policy and grant funding have on these communities and the environment.

In the future, Parneet aspires to gain more experience in the policy world and continue working outdoors, bridging fieldwork and policy to help people and protect the environment.

Bianca Martinez Gonzalez is a first-generation junior at the University of California, Merced, majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Law and Policy and minoring in Economics. She is passionate about law, government, and public service and hopes to become an attorney working in government.

Angelee Medina Ornelas is a first-generation senior at California State University, Fresno, double majoring in Political Science and Chicano Studies. Growing up in Huron, Angelee witnessed firsthand the multiple sectors of disparities that communities in rural areas of the Central Valley face. Her experiences transformed into a passion for public policy and equity advocacy.

At Fresno State, she is involved in clubs and serves as Vice President of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, and Treasurer for M.E.Ch.A, a student-led organization that promotes higher education, culture, and social justice for Latinx/Chicano communities. Her passion drove her involvement as a College Corps Fellow and as a College of Social Sciences Honors Scholar, where she is focusing her research on food equity in rural agricultural communities.

On her own time, she enjoys baking and listening to music on her record player.

Alexander Naranjo is going into his second year at Fresno City College, working toward an Associate’s degree in Political Science and Economics. Afterward, he plans to transfer to UC Berkeley to continue his education. In the future, Alexander hopes to pursue a career in public policy, working in Sacramento to make an impact in the communities that he’s called home.

Diljot Singh Rai is a double-major in Political Science and Law, Public Policy & Society. He aspires to build a stronger community at the intersection of law, policy, and civic leadership, with his sights set on law school.

His path into public service began in high school, as part of service-to-society clubs and Mock Trial. That early involvement carried into student government, where he helped create the first student trustee positions in the history of Central Unified School District, work born out of advocating for equity and student voice at board meetings, from pushing for fairer policies to greater equity across the board. Those wins showed him how much local institutions shape people’s daily lives, and how rarely young people and immigrant communities are given a real seat at the table when those decisions get made.

Diljot continues this work as a Student Family Coordinator with a local nonprofit, where he supports youth programming, workers’ rights advocacy, and civic engagement efforts across the region. He also volunteers with his local Gurdwara in Fresno, teaching Punjabi language and history every Sunday. In his free time, he plays harmonium and loves hiking.

Alexis Rodriguez is a sophomore at California State University, Stanislaus, majoring in Quantitative Economics. He is drawn to the intersection of economics and public policy and firmly believes in using real data and logic to make decisions that affect the public. A bilingual English-Spanish speaker, Alexis can connect more personally with constituents in the district and better understand the audience he serves.

Alexis grew up in the Valley with immigrant parents. This gives him the experience and understanding of the common issues in his area that people call or write in about, allowing him to meet them with empathy rather than just processing their concerns. Looking ahead, Alexis is considering a Master of Public Policy.

Yaisy Villalobos is a first-generation junior at California State University, Fresno, majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. Originally from Los Angeles, she witnessed firsthand the disparities faced by low-income and marginalized communities. After moving to Fresno, she began working in the agricultural fields, where her interest in policy and advocacy deepened. Through her experiences as a farmworker, she reflected on the changes that were needed and how she could make a difference. She carried this passion to Washington, D.C., where she interned with United Farm Workers and advocated on behalf of farmworkers.

Yaisy’s passion for advocacy continues to guide her goal of becoming an international trade specialist in the government sector. She hopes to serve as a bridge between people and cultures while strengthening U.S. relations.