Summer 2025
The Institute for Social Transformation is excited to offer an internship scholarship program called Transforming Futures. The goal of the program is to open up opportunities and remove financial barriers for first-generation and low-income students at UC Santa Cruz so they can participate in career-advancing summer internships off campus. Click here to learn more about the Transforming Futures program and read student testimonials.
Meet the twenty interns for summer 2025 below.
Amaya Aquino
Intensive Psychology + Cognitive ScienceOrganization: The Stice Lab (Stanford, CA)
Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant
Cherre Bull
Politics + Critical Race and Ethnic StudiesOrganization: Barrios Unidos (Santa Cruz, CA)
Position: Administration and Community Outreach
Gisselle Castillo
Human Biology + Latin American and Latino Studies MinorOrganization: North Bay Aquatic & Physical Therapy (Capitola, CA)
Position: Physical & Aquatic Therapy Intern
Stephanie Cerrato
Legal StudiesOrganization: Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (Inglewood, CA)
Position: Self-Help Center Courthouse Intern
Isabella Chairez
Sociology with a Digital Justice Concentration + Latin American and Latino Studies with Language Intensive ConcentrationOrganization: Monteverde Institute (Monteverde, Costa Rica)
Position: Audiovisual Content Production Coordinator
Karla Estrada
SociologyOrganization: Refugee & Immigrant Transitions (San Fransisco, CA)
Position: RIT Intern
Kayla Flores-Casiano
Global and Community Health + Latin American and Latino Studies MinorOrganization: Ventures (Watsonville, CA)
Position: Semillitas Intern
Njeri Gachoka
Computer ScienceOrganization: MIT Media Lab (Cambridge, MA)
Position: Undergraduate Researcher
Rosalva Garcia
Politics + Latin American and Latino Studies + Legal Studies MinorOrganization: Centro Legal de la Raza (Oakland, CA)
Position: Immigrant Rights Team Member
Lucy Herrera Reyes
Sociology + Legal StudiesOrganization: Community Action Board (Watsonville, CA)
Position: Communications & Research Intern
Zoë Koenigsaecker
Psychology + SociologyOrganization: Loretta’s Helping Hands (Cleveland, OH)
Position: Intern
Yennifer Lopez
Education, Democracy, and JusticeOrganization: Beyond Athletics Orange County (Santa Ana, CA)
Position: Program Coordination Intern
Anahi Matias Santiago
Politics + Latin American and Latino StudiesOrganization: The Campaign For College Opportunity (Sacramento, CA)
Position: Policy Impact Fellow
Daisy Miranda
Psychology + EducationOrganization: Alliance Eric & Susan Smidt Technology High School (Los Angeles, CA)
Position: Academic Guidance Intern
Leah Murray
Education, Democracy, and Justice + PsychologyOrganization: Environmental Volunteers: Sprout Up (Palo Alto, CA)
Position: Curriculum and Programs Intern
Lizbeth Ortiz
Psychology + Latin American and Latino StudiesOrganization: The UFW Foundation (Salinas, CA)
Position: Legal Services Intern
Pio Perez
Business Management and Economics with Accounting concentration + Sustainability MinorOrganization: USC Equity Research Institute (Los Angeles, CA)
Position: ERI Research Intern
Daisy Sanchez
SociologyOrganization: Refugee & Immigration Transitions (San Fransisco, CA)
Position: RIT Intern
