2025
Undergraduate
Interns
Isabel Campos
BA in Law and Spanish
College of Law, College of Humanities
Isabel is a first-generation Mexican American born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She is a senior at the University of Arizona, double majoring in Law and Spanish.
Isabel is passionate about community-focused work and is actively supporting her neighborhood. She worked at an assisted senior living community, which helped her gain critical thinking and problem-solving abilities when interacting with conflicts. One of her professional goals is to achieve higher leadership abilities to help her gain experience and skills in challenging situations.
During the Spring, Isabel will intern at Chicanos for La Causa. This nonprofit organization has a rich legacy of empowerment, creating change, and protecting the basic human rights of borderland communities.
Darlene Peralta
BA in History
SBS College
After transferring from Pima Community College, Darlene is pursuing a history major and a chemistry minor at the University of Arizona.
Throughout her educational journey, Darlene has been committed to supporting community-based aid programs. She founded a club dedicated to supporting Undocumented and Daca-mented students at Pima Community College and participating in a successful political campaign that granted in-state tuition for Undocumented students in Arizona. She is passionate about advocating for underrepresented communities in Arizona, including mentoring high school students navigating the challenges of higher education.
During the Spring, Darlene will work at MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Tucson.
Olivia Gard
Bachelor of Science and Arts in Political Science and Law
Colleges of Law and SBS
Olivia is a Junior pursuing a double major in Political Science and Law at the University of Arizona. She was involved in several student-based organizations at the University of Arizona, including the W.A. Franke Honors Service Club and the W.A. Franke Honors Ambassadors Program.
Olivia has also worked at the Pima County Superior Court as a Judicial Extern and at the School of Government and Public Policy Research. These public service experiences have given her a sense of purpose and opened her up to a career path as a civil rights attorney. She now aspires to ensure everyone has equal access to legal representation, regardless of background or personal identity.
Olivia will work at Blue Lotus Artists' Collective during the Spring.
Nathaniel Cross
BA in Political Science (Foreign Affairs) and Spanish
W.A. Franke Honor College
Nathaniel is in his final year of his bachelor’s program at the University of Arizona, intertwining human rights, political science, and Spanish with an emphasis on border cultures and issues. He is also a first-year graduate student pursuing an Accelerated Master of Public Policy.
Nathaniel’s experience volunteering as a Teen Attorney with Pima County Teen Court, a juvenile diversion program that drastically reduces teenage recidivism rates, accelerated his passion for community work and advocating for underserved border communities. In the near future, Nathaniel expects to return to postgraduate education to pursue a degree in immigration or humanitarian law.
During the Spring, Nathaniel will work at Chicanos Por La Causa Immigration Services, an immigration service nonprofit helping low-income migrants with their applications.
Daniel Herrera
BA in Latin American Studies
Center for Latin American Studies
Daniel is a senior at the University of Arizona pursuing a BA in Latin American Studies. He has volunteered with grassroots collectives, including Flowers and Bullets, Las Milpitas Community Farm, and Interdependent Collective, which has taught him what it looks like and what it means to advocate for people, their rights, and their needs.
Daniel is interested in Indigenous research ethics, global human rights, Central American migration, and public health. As a learner and researcher, Daniel pays close attention to detail and practices active listening and presence in dialogue. As a worker, he keeps a person-first approach. He aligns his choices and actions with people-centered values.
During the Spring, Daniel will intern at Derechos Humanos.
Cara Buchanan
BA in Environmental Studies, World Literature and Spanish
Colleges of SBS and Humanities
Cara is a senior pursuing a BA in Environmental Studies with minors in World Literature and Spanish at the University of Arizona.
Cara has participated in various internships focused on community engagement with the local environment, policy, and culture around indigenous land rights, anti-imperialism, and justice issues. This experience has given her opportunities to contribute to storytelling, outreach, and education projects. These experiences have led Cara to root her career in community building and political advocacy. She is interested in continuing to do community-centered work with local residents of various ages, backgrounds, and political orientations.
Cara will intern at Derechos Humanos during the Spring.
Sahari Marquez
BS in Psychological Science and BA in Spanish
Colleges of Science and Humanities
Sarahi is pursuing a double major in Psychological Science and Spanish with emphasis in Translation & Interpretation at the University of Arizona.
Sarahi's identity and experience as a proud daughter of immigrant parents significantly shaped her perspective on diversity and equity in the medical field, giving her a unique understanding of the underlying layers underrepresented communities face in accessing healthcare. She has engaged in projects that have provided her with the knowledge to solidify further some of the societal issues surrounding minorities and migrant families, including Owl and Panther, a nonprofit organization serving refugee youth, and collaborating in therapeutic programs to help migrant children overcome trauma.
Sarahi will work at Humane Borders during the Spring.
Emma LaPointe
BA in Journalism. Political Science, and German Studies
W.A. Franke Honors College
Emma is a junior at the University of Arizona studying Political Science, Journalism, and German Studies. She is a news reporter for the Daily Wildcat.
Emma has worked with political leaders and covered elections, including volunteering at the University of Arizona School of Journalism at a political rally on campus, including speakers such as Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords, and Barack Obama. Emma is the Vice President of the School of Journalism Student Council, where she organized a Q&A with BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet. Emma is interested in learning about the existing immigration policies, their impact on people, and the experiences of people dealing with border issues.
Emma will intern at Derechos Humanos during the Spring.
Natalia Morales
BA in Mexican American Studies and Gender & Women's Studies
SBS College
Natalia is pursuing a double major in Mexican American Studies and Gender & Women's Studies at the University of Arizona. She is graduating in May 2026 but is already planning on attending graduate school to get a PhD in Chicano Studies with an emphasis on Chicana and queer studies.
Natalia works as a tutor at the University of Arizona's Writing Center. She has participated in BIPOC activism, experiencing firsthand what activism looks like in different contexts and the importance of fostering community in all places. Natalia likes to keep humanity and passion at the center of everything she does, including her professional and academic career as a scholar, researcher, and, eventually, professor.
During the Spring, Natalia will work at MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Tucson.