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Home>2025 Equity & Inclusion Fellowship Undergraduate Recipients

2025 Equity & Inclusion Fellowship Undergraduate Recipients

The Equity & Inclusion Undergraduate Fellowship program introduces the field of public policy to undergraduates who might not otherwise be familiar with it. It also increases the pipeline of diverse students into APPAM institutional member graduate public policy and public affairs schools. The recipients will be recognized for their accomplishments. They will also have opportunities to formally network with each other, Student Equity and Inclusion Fellowship Recipients, and with Policy Council and Diversity Committee members. They will also have many opportunities to network informally with other students and professionals during the conference.

Congratulations to the 2025 Equity & Inclusion Undergraduate Fellowship recipients!

Marilu Aguilar, New York University

Isabella Castro, University of Florida

Tanay Dhuldhoya, Georgia State University

Vanya Funez, Williams College

Akhenaton Lazarre, University at Albany, SUNY

Marilu Aguilar

Marilu Aguilar is a first-generation Latina and rising senior at New York University. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy on an accelerated BA–MPA track at NYU Wagner and is an alumna of the Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Marilu is passionate about immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, and environmental equity and brings broad experience across grassroots organizing, policy research, and strategic communications. During her work in the U.S. House of Representatives, she has mobilized voters in competitive legislative races, produced actionable research to guide philanthropic and advocacy strategies in consulting settings, and supported communities in navigating complex policy landscapes.

Marilu aspires to build a career at the intersection of policy analysis, advocacy, and public service. She hopes to leverage her lived experience and professional expertise to design and implement data-driven, equity-focused solutions that address systemic inequities and empower marginalized communities to shape the policies that impact their lives. Her ultimate goal is to drive transformative and inclusive change, ensuring that government is a bridge to opportunity rather than a barrier.

Isabella Castro

Isabella Castro is a junior at the University of Florida, majoring in International Studies with a concentration in Europe. She is also pursuing a second major in Dual Language studies, with specializations in French and Russian and a minor in Latin American Studies. Isabella is a Peer Leader for First Year Florida, primarily mentoring first-generation students. Additionally, she is a Fellow at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and a Haskell Scholar. As a Haskell Scholar, Isabella received a stipend to research far-right movements in Europe.

In the summer of 2025, Isabella was selected as a recipient of the U.S Department of State's Critical Language Scholarship for intensive Russian study. She spent eight weeks in Daugavpils, Latvia, refining her Russian language skills and expanding her global competence through immersive academic and cultural experiences.

Her previous work includes contributing to the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, volunteering as an English teacher at a local church, and co-authoring an article on resistance music in Latin America, which is currently under review for publication. Isabella's academic and professional interests encompass government, diplomacy, foreign affairs, languages, and the nonprofit sector, and she has research interests in Europe and Latin America.

Tanay Dhuldhoya

My name is Tanay Dhuldhoya. I am pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Mathematics from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. I am also part of the Honors College. I hold an Associate of Science with highest honors from Georgia State University’s Perimeter College. I am currently a research assistant for Dr. Jason Coupet. My primary job in this role is scraping Reddit using R and Python.

I have also taken intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, and mathematical economics courses. I am taking a course in econometrics and have started my Honors Thesis. For my thesis, I am looking at student debt and its long-term implications on labor outcomes. For my math courses I have taken classes in Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, and I am currently taking Multivariable Calculus l. I have also been part of the President's List (GPA greater than 4.0) every semester from Fall 2022 to Spring 2025. After graduation, I plan to pursue a Phd in Economics or Public Policy focusing on Labor Economics.

Vanya Funez

Vanya Funez is a senior at Williams College. She is majoring in Economics with a concentration in Coastal & Ocean Studies and Latina/o/x Studies. She is an active member of All Campus Entertainment, Campus Environmental Advisory Committee, Central Americans for Empowerment, and Williams Catholic on campus. She also works as an economics tutor and teaches science lessons to elementary school students. She aspires to combine her interests and pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Economics or Environmental Policy. In doing so, she hopes to address complex challenges, such as inequality and climate change adaptation.

Vanya looks forward to learning more about public policy and how it addresses those complex challenges and other societal problems. She is particularly interested in the conference’s theme and looks forward to learning about collaborative problem-solving. As a first-generation, low-income Latina, she is also interested in learning from diverse perspectives.

Akhenaton Lazarre

Akhenaton Lazarre is a current senior leader and scholar at the University at Albany's Rockefeller College, pursuing an accelerated Bachelor's in Political Science/Public Policy and a Master of Public Administration (MPA). My academic excellence is marked by consistent Dean's List recognition and memberships in the Omicron Delta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha honor societies. I possess deep, practical experience within New York State government, having served as a Legislative Intern for the State Assembly, where I authored an award-winning research paper on blockchain for government transparency, and the State Senate.

Beyond government, I advocate for global community building. I serve on the Rockefeller College Dean’s Leadership Council and was recently appointed as the inaugural President of the International Student Council with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). In this vital role, I champion the needs of the international student body and mentor individuals from diverse cultures, guiding on navigating the complexities of the U.S. academic and social systems. A polyglot fluent in English, French, Haitian Creole, and proficient in Spanish and Italian, I’m uniquely equipped for an impactful career dedicated to innovative public service and inclusive policy analysis.

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