Announcing the 2024 Zero Hunger Interns

Aicha Abdoulaye
7th Class, 2024

Aicha is currently in her third year at Concordia College, where she is pursuing a major in Global Studies with a concentration in Culture and Identity in Global Affairs, as well as a major in Environmental Studies with a focus on Environmental Humanities. As an active member of the Concordia College community, Aicha has held various leadership roles. She notably served as the Director of Law and Government Careers for the career readiness board on campus. In this capacity, she played a crucial role in connecting students with professionals in their respective fields of interest. Aicha also took on the responsibility of being the event planner for the Concordia African Student Association. This organization was established to engage in discussions on topics related to Africa and explore the rich diversity of its culture. Driven by a passion for equality and social justice, Aicha aspires to build a career in Human Rights. Her participation as a Zero Hunger Intern underscores her dedication to honing her leadership skills and making a meaningful contribution to the cause of anti-hunger efforts.

Jillian Berger
7th Class, 2024

Jillian Berger, originally from Los Angeles, California, approaches her role as a student at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, with a blend of academic curiosity and a heartfelt dedication to community service. Currently pursuing a double major in Government and Law & Anthropology and Sociology, Jillian's scholarly pursuits are intricately intertwined with her active involvement in campus leadership.

At Lafayette, Jillian serves as the Director of Community Engagement, where she spearheads initiatives aimed at fostering meaningful connections between students and the broader community. As the Program Coordinator for Pard Projects and Kaleidoscope, she plays a pivotal role in facilitating peer education and empowering students to actively engage in community service.

Jillian's commitment to addressing societal challenges is evident in her extensive research endeavors, which have culminated in over 60 pages of insightful analysis on poverty. Her advocacy extends beyond the classroom through her role as the founder of Feeding Our City, an organization dedicated to combating food insecurity. Under her leadership, Feeding Our City has organized numerous food drives and volunteer initiatives, making a tangible impact on the lives of homeless individuals.

Moreover, Jillian is a passionate advocate for social justice, as evidenced by her forthcoming book, "Through Our Eyes," which aims to dismantle the stigma surrounding homelessness by sharing the personal narratives of those affected. Her dedication to amplifying marginalized voices underscores her commitment to creating a more equitable society.

Outside of her advocacy work, Jillian finds solace in the company of animals and cherishes moments spent with loved ones. As she eagerly anticipates the upcoming summer, she looks forward to delving deeper into preventive and remedial measures addressing food insecurity, with a particular focus on policy interventions. Her enthusiasm for partnering with the Montgomery Feed Council reflects her dedication to effecting tangible change in the pursuit of social equity.

Sai Chebrolu
7th Class, 2024

Sai Chebrolu is from Richmond, Virginia and is majoring in Politics with minors in Education Policy and Poverty Studies at Washington and Lee University. On campus, Sai is a Bonner Scholar and works with Rockbridge Area Community Services. Over the past year, she has worked with volunteers to help facilitate Veggie Brigade, a nutrition awareness program in Rockbridge area elementary and middle schools. With an interest in education policy, she hopes to learn more about the vital role of health and food policy within educational systems. This summer, Sai is excited to gain valuable insights from policy professionals who have been at the forefront of this important work. She plans to take full advantage of her time in D.C. and immerse herself in all the ways she can become a more informed community leader!

Julian Cohen
7th Class, 2024

Julian Cohen is a rising junior at Brown University, double majoring in history and international and public affairs. In his studies, he explores the influence of economic, political, and historical factors on government policies and their impact on people’s everyday lives. Passionate about addressing pressing global challenges, Julian has participated in various anti-hunger and sustainable development initiatives. Particularly noteworthy are his contributions to the 2021 UNICEF Student Summit and his involvement in the 27th Youth Assembly. Julian’s diverse experience includes conducting academic research and spearheading projects at Brown’s student-run think tank. Through these opportunities, he has gained expertise in analyzing government policies and has even testified at the Rhode Island State House. Motivated by a profound commitment to social justice, Julian endeavors to leverage his expertise in policy and advocacy to drive meaningful change toward a more just and equitable world.

Derrick Doh
7th Class, 2024

"I'm Derrick Doh, a student at Stetson University, majoring in Economics and Environmental Science, with a minor in Certificate of Community Engagement. Outside of my studies, I've founded The Community Tent (TCT), a personal project aimed at supporting slum-dwellers in Ghana. Additionally, I'm a member of the United Nation's Academic Impact Millennium Fellowship Class of 2023 and a Bonner scholar. This summer, I'm dedicated to developing my skills as a community developer to further my social impact journey."

Laura Jayne
7th Class, 2024

Laura Jayne is from Arlington, Virginia, and soon entering her senior year at Syracuse University. They are pursuing a dual degree in Food Studies and Environment, Sustainability & Policy with a minor in Information Management and Technology. She is thrilled to represent the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics as a Class Marshal and serve as a co-President of the university’s chapter of Food Recovery Network. In the surrounding community of Syracuse, New York, Laura acted as a Health Justice and Evaluation Intern at Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA). This experience and others in organic agriculture, nutrition education, and local food retail have fueled her passion for employing holistic, community-based solutions in fighting food apartheid. In her free time, Laura loves to cook, walk, sail, and read food studies literature. She is ecstatic for the opportunity to lead and facilitate the co-creation of knowledge in the anti-hunger space as a Zero Hunger Intern at the Congressional Hunger Center.

Emmanuel Kraft
7th Class, 2024

Emmanuel Kraft grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attends Penn State University, majoring in Political Science while pursuing his Master’s in Public Policy. He is President of Global Brigades Legal Empowerment and the Political Science Honors Society at Penn State, and Co-Founder of the Food Recovery Network at Penn State. He is passionate about advocating for policy to provide basic resources to those in need. This summer, he hopes to gain a better understanding of how to address hunger on a large scale and the impacts of hunger in his hometown community. He will be interning at Halcyon House.

Kayle Lauck
7th Class, 2024

Kayle is a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame where she studies Political Science with minors in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) and Education, Schooling, and Society (ESS). Growing up in a rural community in South Dakota, Kayle developed a passion for improving rural life. She is passionate about improving rural mental healthcare access and worked with South Dakota State University Extension to distribute mental healthcare vouchers and coordinate suicide prevention training. She also co-founded South Dakota College Connections, a non-profit dedicated to aiding South Dakota high school students navigate the college admissions process. Kayle's commitment to rural development brought her to Washington for the National Farmers Union Legislative Fly-In, where she advocated for small farmers and sustainable agricultural policies. She continued that work during a four-month internship with the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, where she worked at the intersection of agriculture and nutrition policies. Kayle has also studied and volunteered in Poland, Israel, and Ireland, to further understand histories of oppression, environmental peace-building, and agricultural sustainability. While on campus, Kayle has served as a sustainability co-chair in her student government and co-founded the Agricultural Student Association. This summer, Kayle will work with FoodRecovery.org, a non-profit that diverts food waste from landfills to those in need. Kayle is excited to learn more about non-profit management while building knowledge about food systems in the United States.

Valentina G. Lozano
7th Class, 2024

Valentina G. Lozano, originally from Medellín, Colombia, studies Global Politics, Sociology, and Anthropology with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Washington and Lee University. As the co-founder of FempowerUs Organization at Washington and Lee University, Valentina is committed to advocacy efforts that leverage policymaking to address food insecurity and poverty while bridging the gap in gender equality. This summer, Valentina is interning at Congressional Hunger Center on the FHI 360 team. She looks forward to collaborating with domestic and international Zero Hunger Interns, broadening her perspective on food insecurity and its global impact.

Danny Ly
7th Class, 2024

Danny Ly is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and currently attends Swarthmore College as an intended Political Science and Economics double major. Danny is the News Editor for Swarthmore’s student-run newspaper The Phoenix, a graphic design intern for Swarthmore’s Center for Innovation and Leadership (CIL), and a former Development of Fundraising Strategy Intern for non-profit Inin Rabi. This summer, he hopes to learn more about the nonprofit space and food inequity in his home community. He is interning at the Congressional Hunger Center.

Peyton Marshak
7th Class, 2024

Peyton Marshak is a native of Duluth, Minnesota, and is a recent graduate of Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he majored in International Political Economy. At CC, Peyton was the head coach of the women's club soccer team, preformed stand-up comedy, and had the opportunity to study abroad in Berlin, Germany. Peyton is interested in advocacy that amplifies the voices of people worldwide who experience hunger and poverty. This summer, he hopes to better educate himself on issues of hunger and also develop advocacy skills to launch a career in the anti-hunger space following the internship. He is interning at the Congressional Hunger Center on the USDA FNS team.

Elijah Rassoul
7th Class, 2024

"My name is Elijah Rassoul, and I am a junior at the University of Michigan. I am from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am pursuing a political science major and a history minor. On campus, I am involved with Tutors for Refugee Education Equality as well as a pre-law fraternity. I have recently founded LEAP, a club focusing on helping low-income students with college applications. Working to end food insecurity and alleviate poverty are issues I wish to focus my career on. I am looking forward to gaining experience solving these problems this summer through interning with CLASP!"

Danielle Richard
7th Class, 2024

Danielle Richard is an honors student at the Pennsylvania State University studying Global and International Studies and minoring in International Agriculture. At Penn State, Danielle is involved in clubs such as Latino Caucus and UN USA. She also conducts food allocation research in the Spatial Archaeology and Historical Network Dynamics Lab. She is particularly interested and intrigued by anti-hunger advocacy in rural communities around the globe. As an intern with InterAction, Danielle will be joining the Food, Security, and Nutrition team this summer. She hopes to gain valuable experience in the policy field and aims to discover strategies that can help mitigate global food insecurity.

Zinnia Robinson
7th Class, 2024

Zinnia Robinson is from Bryans Road, Maryland, and attends Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in Anthropology and Human Biology and minoring in Art History. At Emory, Zinnia serves as distribution day liaison and graphic designer for the Menstrual Health & Resources Coalition, managing print editor for Blackstar* Magazine, co-president of Emory’s Black and queer community group BlackOUT, and is a member of Project Downtown Atlanta where she has assisted with packing events to feed the unhoused population. Zinnia is interested in centering marginalized experiences and voices in poverty and hunger, and making health, hunger, and public policy information more accessible through art. This summer, she hopes to strengthen her public policy knowledge and artistic activism skills. She is interning at the United Nations World Food Programme USA on the Marketing and Communications team.

Raina Sparks
7th Class, 2024

Raina Sparks is a rising senior at Yale from Cape Elizabeth, Maine. She studies Global Affairs and Humanities. At Yale, Raina serves as a farm manager at the Yale Sustainable Food Program, where she works on food security efforts for the New Haven community. She also has a background in farming, cooking, and food security policy work. Raina is interested in the intersection of food security and environmental protection, and looks forward to learn advocacy frameworks in the NGO space. She is interning with The Root Cause Coalition.