Jessica Saenz Gomez recently earned her bachelor’s degree from Brown University in sociology. During her work with Aliento, a nonprofit organization led by undocumented youth and allies, Jessica served as a data analyst and campaign intern for the Prop308: “Instate-Tuition for Dreamers” campaign, an initiative that was passed and enables all Arizona students, regardless of their immigration status to access in-state tuition and scholarships at public universities and colleges in the state. She hopes to work on issues concerning the intersection of immigration and education policy. Jessica is fluent in Spanish and originally from Mesa, Arizona.
This fall the Watson Institute hosted a unique study group in collaboration with Brown's Undocumented, First-Generation College, and Low-Income Student Center (U-FLi). The study group, which was open to all students, focused on skill-building and leadership development for first-generation, low-income and undocumented students.
Eight Watson Institute Master of Public Affairs students were named Director's Fellows in September. Fellows spent the fall semester working on projects in faculty-led research groups at Watson and in Watson centers.