2025-2026 Fellows
Alejandra Afanador is a junior in the Honors College at Rutgers University, pursuing a double major in Political Science and Psychology with a minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), on a Pre-Law track. Deeply committed to advocacy and public service, she has taken on numerous leadership roles to support and empower her peers. Alejandra serves as an Honors Community Mentor (HCM) for first-year students and as a Peer Instructor for the First-Year Interest Group Seminar (FIGS) course, Exploring Political Science.
An advocate for civic engagement and constructive dialogue, Alejandra is the Founding President of the BridgeRutgers chapter of BridgeUSA, an organization dedicated to reducing political polarization through civil discourse. She is also a leader within the Latine community at Rutgers, currently serving as President of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and Co-Chair of the Latino Student Council (LSC).
Driven by her passion for inclusive leadership and institutional advocacy, Alejandra serves on the Student Body President’s Cabinet within the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA) as Director of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department. She also represents students as a University Senator in the Rutgers University Senate.
Madison Fitzgerald is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences majoring in English Literature and double minoring in Korean and Political Science. Her interest in the intersection of media and politics began long before in high school, but officially began in her freshman year when she participated as an intern at the Asian American Cultural Center. There she deepened her understanding of the importance of media in how it provides insight to a larger cultural shift that has since contributed to our politics. Her academic interest is focused on working with her peers in understanding how this relationship between media and cultural ideology affects politics, and how that has been weaponized to deepen systemic inequalities in more recent times.
On campus, she also serves as a member of the Scarlet NAACP, Rutgers Marching Scarlet Knights, and competes for the Rutgers University Mock Trial Association. Next fall, Madison is excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Institute of Women’s Leadership Scholar’s Certificate program as a women’s scholar, which will further her skills and passion in leadership and research. In her free time, Madison enjoys watching movies with her friends and family, cozy reading, and inside jokes.
Aden Jordan is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences with a double major in political science and history, with minors in critical intelligence studies and organizational leadership. He is very engaged on campus through his active membership in clubs such as Rutgers Democrats; he is active in his community through volunteering for various political campaigns and working as a voting ambassador for RU Voting.
He currently works for the Rutgers Geology Museum as a student manager. He has a deep interest in history, national security, and foreign policy. After his undergraduate degree is completed, he plans on pursuing a doctorate in either global security or intelligence. Afterward, he hopes to apply his knowledge to the intelligence community and serve the United States abroad. In his free time, he enjoys playing strategy games, world-building, and collecting hats
Madeline Karlicki is a rising junior in the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Communication and Information. She is double-majoring in Political Science and Journalism/Media Studies. Her professional and academic interests lie in the intersection of social media and politics, particularly how they dictate each other and affect society and culture.
This passion began with her local volunteering and involvement with the RU Voting and Darien Civic Engagement Project at Rutgers, where she had the opportunity to learn what youth think of today’s politics. Enhancing it is her work with the Women’s Political Caucus, Women’s pre-law society, and HER Campus. She strives to further this understanding through the Gardner project and then many resources and opportunities they provide.
Zackary Korczak is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences, triple majoring in Labor Studies & Employment Relations, Political Science, and Criminal Justice with minors in Military Science and Critical Intelligence Studies. His belief in service led him to enlist in the U.S. Army New Jersey National Guard when he was 18 years old. In civilian life, Zackary is the Membership Director of the College Democrats of New Jersey, the state’s largest collegiate political institution, where he plays a key role in organizing and mobilizing university students throughout the state. He has previously worked on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s gubernatorial campaign and the Rutgers University Democrats Executive Board.
Through these and other experiences, Zackary has tried to live by his core values while imparting a positive impact on his community. Over the course of the Gardner Fellowship, he seeks to build expertise on policy issues while collaborating with peers to cultivate a vibrant learning environment. After graduating from Rutgers, Zackary seeks to commission as an officer in the military, followed by completion of law school in order to become a union attorney.
Jenna Hamza is a junior in the Honors College, majoring in History with a minor in Psychology and a certificate in Law and History. She is a published author whose books are written for all ages, designed to promote inclusion, empathy, and intergenerational connection through accessible storytelling. Jenna’s interest in public service is grounded in both academic inquiry and hands-on legislative experience, most recently through her internships with Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, as part of the Rutgers Summer Service Internship (RSSI) Initiative, and Senator John McKeon.
On campus, Jenna is a mentor in the Honors College community, serves on the executive board of the Rutgers Women’s Pre-Law Society, and is an active member of the Honors Faculty Student Mentor Program. Outside the classroom, she teaches sewing lessons to students of all ages through her small business and runs Sunago, an initiative focused on building community through creativity and conversation. Through the Gardner Fellowship, Jenna hopes to explore a research topic that bridges her interests in history, storytelling, and the law, particularly one that sheds light on how narrative and historical understanding can inform more equitable policy outcomes. She plans to pursue law school after graduation and build a career at the intersection of legal advocacy, public policy, and narrative justice. In her free time, she enjoys antiquing, sewing, baking, and spending time with her friends, dog, and three cats, including Fernando, who insists all important decisions be scheduled around his naps!
Shyam Kumar is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, pursuing a double major in Political Science and Economics. During the summer after his sophomore year, Shyam became involved with the RU Voting Initiative, serving as a Voting Ambassador to help increase student voter engagement. That same summer, he joined the Eagleton Institute of Politics as a Digital Content Creator for the Center for Youth Political Participation, a role he continued through his junior year, creating civic education content and promoting political awareness among young voters.
In addition, Shyam served as a Policy Fellow with the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), where he contributed to the successful passage of the Hindu Heritage Month Resolution in the State of New Jersey and supported federal legislative efforts such as H.Res.1131 in the 118th Congress and H.Res.69 in the 119th Congress, which aim to address anti-Hindu bigotry. He now serves as a Youth Action Network (CYAN) leader for CoHNA in New Jersey, helping organize student advocacy efforts.
In the summer of 2025, Shyam was selected as a member of the Rutgers Scarlet Service in DC cohort. As a Legislative Intern in the U.S. House of Representatives in the office of Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI-13), he assisted with a range of responsibilities including answering constituent calls, drafting policy memos and correspondence, tracking legislation, and attending briefings, hearings, and stakeholder events on Capitol Hill. This immersive experience deepened his understanding of the legislative process and strengthened his commitment to a career in public service.
Shyam serves as President of the Rutgers Bhakti Club and enjoys playing intramural volleyball. He looks forward to continuing his public service journey and contributing to policy and civic life at both the state and national levels through the Lloyd C. Gardner Fellowship program.
Chinmayi Mahesh is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Critical Intelligence. Her fields of interest are diverse, and her passions range from debating political issues to coaching figure skating. Being a first-generation immigrant, Chinmayi has volunteered with and participates in events associated with cultural organizations such as World Malayalee Council America Region, Kerala Association of New Jersey, etc.
Her interests in environmental issues and public speaking are demonstrated through her involvement with projects such as “Sea2Sky” and Toastmasters International. Post completion of her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend law school or pursue a PhD. Chinmayi is an intermediate and competitive skater with Rutgers Figure Skating Club, and in her free time enjoys reading and listening to music.
Alice Merolli is a rising junior in the School of Arts and Sciences, pursuing a double major in Political Science and Sociology with a minor in Philosophy. Her interests in advocacy started in high school and deepened through her academic and extracurricular involvement at Rutgers. Since the fall semester of her freshman year, she has served as a research assistant in the Department of Sociology, contributing to projects on indigent defense and court debt. Beyond research, Alice is involved with a multitude of organizations and clubs. She is currently the Outreach Director for the Rutgers University Democrats Club and the New Member Educator for Rutgers Undergraduate Moot Court. In addition, she is an associate editor for the Undergraduate Law Review and an inducted member of the Pre-Law Society.
In the spring semester of her freshman year, Alice interned with the Rutgers Student Legal Services under Director and Judge Tina Martins Cruz, aiding in legal research and observing court hearings. For the past two summers, she has interned with an immigration law firm in South Jersey, further developing her commitment to immigrant rights advocacy, her central area of interest. In fall 2025, alongside the Gardner Fellowship, Alice will be an intern for Governor Murphy’s bipartisan Clemency Initiative. Following graduation, she plans to attend law school to pursue a JD/LLM and eventually become an immigration lawyer. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, painting, traveling, and attending concerts.
Sabrina Moe is a junior at the School of Arts and Sciences Honors College double majoring in Criminal Justice and IT & Informatics (ITI). Sabrina has always been interested in public service. She worked over the summer as a Data and Systems intern at the GO Project, a non-profit organization aimed at fighting education inequity in New York. In addition to recommending improvements to participant data quality, Sabrina assisted with collecting onboarding documents and providing on-site support as a substitute teaching assistant.
This internship solidified Sabrina’s dedication to applying an interdisciplinary approach in her future career path in public service. On campus, she is a member of the Rutgers Marching Scarlet Knights, a mentor in the Asian American Cultural Center’s Mentor and Mentee Program, and secretary of the Rutgers Criminal Justice Honor Society, Alpha Phi Sigma. In her free time, Sabrina enjoys reading, playing cards with friends, and walking around campus to explore.
Joseph Reyes is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences, double majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice. He is impassioned by public advocacy and driven to further his knowledge of the justice system and its intersection with local politics. He recently served as an Investigative Intern at the NJ Office of the Public Defender, where he worked with attorneys and senior investigators to aid in the defense of clients in Essex County Court. As a strong believer in criminal rehabilitation, Joseph helps provide educational skills to incarcerated people at Northern State Prison as a tutor with the Petey Greene Program.
On campus, he is an active member of the Latinx Pre-Law Society and hopes to co-found the first youth advocacy student organization at Rutgers, the Rutgers Juvenile Advocates, this upcoming year. After completing his undergraduate degree, Joseph plans to attend law school, and continue his legal pursuits in criminal justice reform and youth advocacy.
Ashley Rodriguez is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences and Douglass Residential College, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). On summer 2025, she interned for the Bergen County Superior Court in the Family Division. She helped organize case files, answered phone calls, and provided clients with court information, including room locations and hearing dates. Through this internship, she gained hands-on experience in legal procedures and client communication in a professional courthouse setting.
Witnessing the inner workings of the judiciary and engaging with court staff and clients reaffirmed her passion for the legal field and further strengthened her commitment to attending law school and becoming an attorney. She hopes to focus on corporate law, driven by a strong interest in business operations and the legal frameworks that support economic development and entrepreneurship. At Rutgers, she remains actively engaged in campus life as an office assistant at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Events Committee Chair for the Douglass Governing Council, a researcher for the RAGE Lab Feminist Data Preservation Project, and a dedicated volunteer and member of the Glamour Gals Rutgers chapter. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, listening to music, going to the gym, and spending quality time with her friends and family.
Jean Nicolas Santiago is a junior at Rutgers University, majoring in Political Science and Public Policy. His interest in public service and international affairs was jolted when he wrote, CHIPS, IRA, and IIJA: An Overview of Biden-Era Legislation and the Bolstering of American Hegemony for the Eagleton Political Journal, where he now serves as Editorial Director. In this role, he has grown increasingly interested in the dynamics of political writing and how to make that discourse more accessible and impactful to broader audiences.
In the summer of 2025, Jean Nicolas served as a Governor’s Hispanic Fellow, working in the New Jersey Department of State. There, he helped support grant programs for underserved communities and the initiatives of the New Jersey Puerto Rico Commission. Looking ahead, Jean plans to pursue a law degree to work at the intersection of the law and foreign policy, with a focus on how legal frameworks dictate international institutions. Outside of the classroom, Jean Nicolas likes to cycle, read nonfiction, and tinker with computers.
Robert Swieczkowski is a rising junior within the School of Arts and Sciences, pursuing a double major in Political Science and History with a minor in Critical Intelligence Studies. Within his freshman year, Robert was a member of the Political Science and Law Living Learning community, where he developed relationships with course professors and his fellow students, permitting analytical communication of legal theories. As his time within the university progressed, he became involved in the RU Voting Initiative as a Voting Ambassador, as well as in the Rutgers University Model United Nations and the Pre-Law Society, in turn prompting non-partisan discussions, interacting with theoretical simulations, and developing insight into the legal field.
In the summer of 2025, he participated through the United Nations as a Volunteer with the Association for the Protection of Women and Children’s Rights (APWCR), directly producing social media content and digital engagement to promote awareness of those affected by levels of poverty. Upon graduating from university, he intends to enroll in law school, which is a result of his passion to interact and participate within the justice system, ensuring the maintenance of inherent rights. In his free time, Robert takes pleasure in cooking, reading historical fiction, and spending time with friends and family members.
Jane Teran is a Junior in the School of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Geography with a minor in Latino and Caribbean Studies. Her interest in studying the economic and social dynamics of urban Latinx immigrant neighborhoods was inspired by her own experience being raised in a working-class community in Elizabeth, New Jersey, by Colombian immigrant parents. This summer, she worked as an archival intern at the New Jersey Hispanic Research and Information Center in Newark, NJ, through the Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship program. Jane also dedicates herself to environmental advocacy by working as a Manager for Groundwork Elizabeth, an environmental non-profit that seeks to address the most pressing environmental issues in the city.
This fall, Jane will join the inaugural cohort of the Think and Do Tank, a civic engagement initiative piloted by the Rutgers Democracy Lab. On campus, she serves on the executive boards of the Latin American Student Organization as Political Chair and as President of Celebrating Latinx Arts and Works, where she helps elevate Latinx voices through art and storytelling. In her free time, Jane enjoys catching up on Abbott Elementary or rewatching her favorite show, Derry Girls. When she's not watching TV, she’s likely playing video games at the local arcade with friends or gardening in her sister’s backyard.