CAPAL Public Service Scholars & Interns

2025 Summer Scholars and Interns

CAPAL Public Service Interns

CAPAL Public Service Interns are placed in DC and regional offices throughout the country. These internship positions provide students with public service experience in a range of topics and areas. CAPAL has partnerships with U.S. Forest Service, Asian American Scholars Forum, Office of Congresswoman Kim Schrier, Asian American LEAD, and the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association.

CAPAL Public Service Scholars

CAPAL Public Service Scholars are undergraduate and graduate students who serve in unpaid public service internships (non-profit or government). For this summer in particular, scholars are not bound to only internships in Washington, DC. The scholarships are intended to enable outstanding Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students with leadership potential to work full-time and learn about ways to influence public policy in their local communities.

CAPAL Public Service Interns

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Amber Nobriga

Amber Nobriga (Kanaka Maoli) is a rising junior at Yale University from Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu, double majoring in Economics and Ethnicity, Race, and Migration. At Yale, she is the president of the Indigenous Peoples of Oceania student organization. She is also a managing editor for the Features and Reflections desks at the Yale Herald, where she works to articulate Yale’s historical involvement in the desecration of Indigenous burial grounds and sacred places in Oceania. In the summer of 2024, Amber interned with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. She is also a Mellon Mays and Edward A. Bouchet Fellow researching the loko iʻa (Hawaiian fishpond) of Hāmoa in Hāna, Maui, with the intention of constructing an argument that can later be used to advocate for its restoration and revitalization by her family that resides in Hāmoa.

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Angel Liang

Angel Liang (she/her) is an undergraduate student at the George Washington University studying sociology and Asian American studies. The proud daughter of two Chinese immigrants and a jiejie to a brother, she grew up in Midwestern Chinese schools and badminton lessons, which sparked her passion for cultivating resilient, tight-knit communities. From grassroots base-building to political education, Angel embraces all the nitty gritty of movement building. In college, Angel continues her commitment to community organizing. She serves as the Advocacy and Event Coordinator for GW’s Asian-American Student Association, where she organizes political education events focused on identity, diaspora, and advocacy. Beyond political education on campus, Angel also labor organizes with the ACE Collaborative in Virginia, where she has worked on a campaign for labor protections for rideshare drivers.

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Ann Moon

Hi everyone! My name is Ann Moon (she/her), and I’m originally from Orlando, Florida. I’m a rising junior at Vanderbilt University studying Political Science and Philosophy with a minor in Legal Studies. I’m most passionate about issues concerning public interest law, immigrant rights, gender equity, educational equity, and affordable housing. I am a congressional intern at the office of Congresswoman Kim Schrier. I’m excited to learn more about the legislative process, gain firsthand experience with how federal policy is developed, and engage with diverse constituents, all of which allow me to better understand how to advocate for inclusive policies and amplify underrepresented voices.

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Audrey Tam

Audrey Tam is a rising senior at UC Berkeley majoring in Sociology and minoring in Data Science. She’s curious about knowledge production and social inequalities, especially within the contexts and intersections of democracy, technology, and urbanism. In her free time, you can find Audrey playing ultimate frisbee, trying a new recipe, exploring the East Bay, or volunteering with Cal Habitat for Humanity

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Catherine Tan

Catherine Tan is a rising senior at Colby College, studying Global Studies and Anthropology. She is passionate about international relations, with particular interests in U.S.-China relations and tech policy. On campus, Catherine works as a research assistant in the Global Studies department on projects about refugees and displacement. Outside academics, she loves diving into literature and art history, and can often be found reading or wandering through museums in her free time.

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Charlotte Bartley

Charlotte Bartley (she/her) recently graduated from University of Maryland Global Campus with a Bachelors Degree of Environmental Management. While serving time in the US military, she knew that she wanted to commit all her time to helping the environment which lead her down the path of going to school for environmental management. While in school she participated in her local community garden successfully growing tomatoes and cucumbers. On her downtime she would enjoy going for walks outside and realized that she could do even more for the environment and decided to make it a habit of picking up trash daily. Charlotte is eager to continue learning about the environment, and is ready to do hard work to help make the planet a little bit better. Some of her hobbies include hiking with her dogs, reading, gardening, and baking. She is looking forward to this wonderful opportunity with CAPAL and wishes everyone the best of luck with their internship opportunities!

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Chelsea Hu

Chelsea Hu is a rising sophomore at Harvard studying Economics and Statistics. As an internationally awarded science researcher, community builder, artist and arts advocate, she founded the nonprofit Teen Mobile Arts (TMA), an global young artists organization to make art spaces and social messaging through the arts more inclusive and diverse. TMA partners with international art galleries and museums, has nine chapters and has raised $35,000 for global charities. She is a MIT Research Science Institute Scholar, an ISEF awardee, a Regeneron STS Top-300 Scholar, and a USAMO qualifier—passionate about improving the health of others by leveraging quantitative analysis to drive socially impactful, data-informed solutions.

On campus, she is involved with Eleganza, where she directs the Finance board to fund Harvard’s largest student-run showcase which highlights multicultural and artistic expression through dance and fashion. In her free time she also likes to DJ for Harvard Radio Broadcasting’s Jazz Department (WHRB 95.3 FM).

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Jada Chow

Jada Chow is a rising sophomore at the University of Washington, Seattle, majoring in Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management. Growing up in the Bay Area of California, she has always been passionate about being outdoors and striving to live a sustainable lifestyle. On campus, she serves as the Sunshine Chair of Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed service fraternity, organizing events and bridging the gap between alumni and active members. She is also a volunteer at the certified organic farm on campus (UW Farm), which donates food to the campus food pantry and dining hall. . 

Jada hopes to pursue a career in environmental restoration and conservation, and loves to be as hands-on as possible. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Seattle, trying new matcha cafes, and hanging out with her friends. She is excited to learn from other people in the environmental field and to be part of the CAPAL Summer 2025 Cohort!

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Michelle Cao

I’m Michelle! Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, I’m an advocate for all things sustainability, social justice, and storytelling. I recently graduated from Dickinson College with a BS in Environmental Science and Data Analytics, where I immersed myself in various research projects and worked with a science nonprofit. Those experiences deepened my love for community engagement and environmental stewardship, and they’ve shaped my commitment to making environmental action more accessible, relatable, and rooted in community. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me cooking up new recipes, crocheting handmade gifts, or taking long walks in nature to reflect and recharge.

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Michelle Liao

Michelle Liao (she/her) is an incoming junior in the University of Michigan Honors Program studying Psychology and Political Science. Her interests lie in supporting mental wellbeing, and she advocates for open conversation and a culture of support. Her future plans are to address injustices through the law and public policy, an interest she has previously explored through an internship at a paralegal company last summer. Michelle is currently the summer Managing Editor of The Michigan Daily, U-M’s student-run campus newspaper. She is also the Co-President of Uncover, a podcast aimed at supporting AANHPI voices through storytelling, a peer facilitator for the Wolverine Support Network, a campus-wide organization seeking to promote mental wellbeing and destigmatize mental health through peer-led support groups, and President of the Shipman Scholarship Society. Michelle works in the U-M Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a tour guide and also serves as the program’s DEI Chair. She serves on the DEI subcommittee for Phi Delta Phi, a pre-law honor society, and will be the Editor-in-Chief of Xylem Literary Magazine next semester. You can find Michelle serving lattes at your nearest Sweetwaters, reading thrillers, hiking mountains, buying clothes she likely won’t need, and going on picnics with her friends.

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Mostafa Khan

Mostafa Khan is a rising sophomore at the University of California, Davis, pursuing a major in Environmental Science and a minor in Political Science. He is deeply interested in environmental policy, particularly the economic and political dimensions of environmental inequality. Mostafa is interning at the USDA Forest Service this summer, where he hopes to further explore the intersection of government and the environment. He plans to pursue a J.D. after completing his undergraduate studies and eventually build a career in environmental law and policy. In his spare time, Mostafa enjoys exploring nature and furthering his curiosities through reading literature, philosophy, and history.

CAPAL Public Service Scholars

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Louis Lee

Louis Lee (he/him) is an undergraduate senior at Northwestern University studying Social Policy and Global Health, and a 4+1 MPH candidate through the Northwestern Accelerated Public Health Program. With three years of experience as a certified nursing assistant, he brings a firsthand understanding of long-term care to his work in public health. Louis has conducted qualitative and geospatial research on elderly care access and environmental health, and has held roles at the Midwest Asian Health Association, AgeOptions, and the Illinois Department of Public Health. A certified Community Health Worker, he is committed to improving care for aging, LGBTQ+, and immigrant communities through policy, data, and direct service. In his free time, he enjoys working out, cooking for family and friends, biking, running, and gardening.

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Mark Chung

Mark is a PhD student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s American Studies department, with focuses on trans-Pacific cultural exchange, Third World Studies, and diasporic studies. As an undergraduate, Mark’s work in and beyond the classroom focused on building bridges and networks of resistance across historically marginalized communities. Prior to CAPAL, Mark served as a student leader of the Yale Asian American Cultural Center and intern at OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates. This summer, he will be working at the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, where he hopes to further cultivate his skills in the Hawaiian language (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi) and engage in efforts to uplift the lāhui.  In his free time Mark enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors.

CAPAL Office Interns

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Angelica Garcia

Angelica Garcia (she/her) is a second-generation Filipina-American studying Political Science and Data Science on the pre-law track at the University of Michigan. She serves as an Allocation Council Representative and engages in innocence work through the Michigan Innocence Club. Raised in a three-generational immigrant household, Angelica values mentorship and community, which she fosters through tutoring and AAPI advocacy. She is dedicated to serving working students, immigrant families, women, and Asian Americans—leading with the spirit of kapwa (community). 

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Saruul-Erdene Jagdagdorj 

Saruul-Erdene Jagdagdorj is a rising junior at Bowdoin College pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Earth & Oceanographic Science as well as Theater. She is dedicated to advocating and uplifting marginalized communities through environmental research and through the stories she tells in film and theater. At Bowdoin, she is deeply involved in various stage productions as a costume designer and set technician for the Theater Department as well as for the student theater company, Bowdoin’s oldest and only college radio station WBOR, the Asian Students Association, and the Art Society. She has previously interned for Tsahim Urtuu North America (TUNA), for whom she wrote profiles on scholarship recipients and evaluated applications while providing feedback for the pilot scholarship program. In her free time, Saruul-Erdene loves photography, matcha, biking in parks, and hanging out with friends and family!