Meet the Kohn Scholars
Paulina Trujillo (2024): Born and raised in the sunshine state of Florida, Paulina Trujillo received her Bachelor's degree at the University of Florida (UF) in political science and gender, sexuality, and women’s studies. Raised by her mami from the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico and her papi from the Central American country of Panama, she carries her rich Latin American culture into public policy. Her parents grew up in distinct places from the continental United States, not only geographically, but even more notably, culturally. Her abstinence-only sexual education upbringing showed her how a lack of comprehensive education creates harmful knowledge. As a legislative intern in the Florida Senate, Trujillo counteracted the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and a 15-week abortion ban. Later, as a Congressional intern, she constructed memos on the expansion of VA insurance to cover reproductive services, the Keeps Girls in School Act, and changing NDA laws to lessen sexual harassment. As the political director of the UF Planned Parenthood chapter, she organized for Florida's 2024 Amendment 4, a pro-abortion ballot initiative. Trujillo spearheaded "The Brown Bag Project <3", providing discreet access to free contraceptives for 100+ students.
Brooke Tran (2023): Informed by my identities as a first-generation student from a low-income, refugee/immigrant community in southern California, my undergraduate research investigated cultural capital and educational persistence and tracking. My inquiries were also shaped by numerous student-centered roles: AmeriCorps Academic Mentor, Undergraduate Admissions Campus Events Manager, Resident Assistant, and Student Body Vice President. Prior to starting graduate school, I served as a racial equity council member for NewSchools Venture Fund and interned for the California State Senate in the district I grew up in. I am excited to pursue a career in social policy in the areas of education equity, urban and regional planning, or anti-poverty programs after I obtain a Master of Public Policy. I received a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in data science, sociology, and film studies at the University of the Pacific (Stockon, CA).
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Lizett Aguilar (2022): My name is Lizett Aguilar and I am currently a student in the Masters in Public Policy program at the Ford School. I was born and raised in Southern California’s Central Valley and received my Bachelor’s degree in History with minors in Chicana/o Studies and Labor and Workplace studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. After graduating, I worked as a Paralegal at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. In this role, I assisted tenants facing housing issues and evictions amidst the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. My time in this role reaffirmed my commitment to public service and inspired me to obtain a graduate degree to foster the skills needed to uplift and advocate for disenfranchised communities like the one I grew up in. I look forward to continuing my career in public service and impacting social policy in the United States following my time at the Ford School.
Marco Ramirez (2021): My name is Marco Ramirez, and I received my B.A. degree in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley in 2018. Shortly thereafter, I was a recipient of the 2018-19 John Gardner Public Service Fellowship and placed at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) in San Francisco. At KFF, I worked as a member of their Program for the Study of Health Reform and Private Insurance. I have since worked on health policy at the state level with stints at Covered California—the state agency that manages California’s individual market—and Public Consulting Group (PCG) where I advised state research work regarding Utah's section 1115 Medicaid waiver. My passion for public service stems from my desire to improve the lives of my community and I believe health policy is the perfect vehicle to accomplish such.