Centers/Programs
Team Members
Stephanie Brown
Stephanie Brown is a senior double majoring in Political Science and Public Policy & Planning, with a minor in Psychology. Stephanie is half Ecuadorian and half Filipino and grew up in Jersey City then went to high school in West Orange. She spoke Spanish before she spoke English. After college, Stephanie plans on attending law school and hopes one day to be an influential leader in New Jersey politics. In addition to interning at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, she is also an intern in Trenton, in the Democratic Assembly Office. Stephanie believes that, although we live in an unequal society, education can serve as an equalizing factor, opening doors otherwise left locked to those living in less fortunate areas. So hopefully, working with leaders past and present, we can find a way to make that education more equal across the board.
Thor "Andy" Eklund
Thor "Andy" Eklund of West Haddonfield, New Jersey, is a senior at Rutgers University majoring in Political Science with two minors in Philosophy and Theatre Arts. He graduated in 2007 from Haddonfield Memorial High School where he served as Student Body President, Senior Patrol Leader of his Boy Scout Troop and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Currently, he serves on the Executive Boards of his eating club and his service organization. In addition to interning at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, he interns at a casting director's office in NYC. Last spring he was a nominee at the Rutgers University Supervisor's Award ceremony for his 3 years of student leadership in the Recreation Department. After graduation, Andrew hopes to venture to the big apple and become a fulltime writer. In his free time he enjoys writing, reading, and laughing.
Samantha Fumosa
Samantha Fumosa is a junior in the School of Arts and Science at Rutgers majoring in Political Science. Starting off as a freshman at University of Rhode Island, transferring to a new state university twice the size as sophomore was not an easy task to overcome. She is now an active sister of the National Pan-Hellenic organization, Gamma Phi Beta in addition to working with the RU Ready program and having a part-time job. After having a memorable study abroad experience in England in the summer of 2010, she plans on taking a year off upon graduating in May 2012 to travel and work. Beginning in the Fall of 2014, she plans to continue her education in law school in Washington D.C.
Ashley Mills
Ashley Mills is a senior in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University. She is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Spanish and also working towards a certificate in International Studies. She is a member of the Rutgers Women's Crew team, which takes up much of her time outside of academics and RU Ready. Her study abroad experience in Peru in the summer of 2009 and her internship at the United Nations in the summer of 2010 has given her an interest in international politics and she hopes to work for the US State Department after graduation, eventually obtaining her masters in international affairs. She enjoys her work with RU Ready and hopes to continue promoting civic engagement in her community after leaving Rutgers.
Sevinc Nuralis
Sevinc Nuralis was born and raised in southeastern Turkey and is currently a senior at Rutgers University majoring in Political Science, minoring in Geography, and working on a certificate program in International Relations and Business. She is a certified substitute teacher who teaches when she is home for breaks. She has been involved in different clubs and activities throughout her college career including cultural clubs and political action organizations. This will be her second year being a Resident Assistant. She plans on working for an organization, like Oxfam, in order to dedicate her life and career to ending hunger, poverty, and social injustice. She is very grateful for having the opportunity to do this internship because it gives her an outlet to do research and apply techniques to engage youth in political processes.
Kayla Zoleta
Kayla Zoleta is currently a senior at Rutgers. She transferred here her sophomore year of college. She's a Political Science major and a Women and Gender Studies Minor. She commutes from her town of Hillside in NJ. At home, she is very involved in her community by working as the head Cheerleading coach for Hillside Catholic Academy, and swim instructor for children with special needs at Caldwell Community Center. After graduation, she hopes to go to law school, which will be her last three years of school then hopes to work at the United Nations in New York City.