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
Marilu Aguilar
Marilu Aguilar is a first-generation Latina and rising senior at New York University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy on an accelerated BA–MPA track at NYU Wagner. She is an alumna of the Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Passionate about immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, and environmental equity, Marilu brings experience in grassroots organizing, policy research, and strategic communications. She has mobilized voters in competitive legislative races and produced research to guide advocacy and philanthropic strategies. In government, she supported communities in navigating complex policy landscapes while serving as an intern in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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 serves as 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, specializing 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
Tanay Dhuldhoya is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Mathematics at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. He is also a member of the Honors College and holds an Associate of Science with highest honors from Georgia State University’s Perimeter College.
Tanay currently works as a research assistant for Dr. Jason Coupet, where his primary responsibilities include scraping data from Reddit using R and Python. He has completed coursework in intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, and mathematical economics, and is currently enrolled in econometrics while developing his Honors Thesis, which examines student debt and its long-term implications on labor market outcomes.
In mathematics, Tanay has taken courses in Calculus 1, Calculus 2, Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, and is currently studying Multivariable Calculus I. He has consistently been on the President’s List, maintaining a GPA above 4.0 each semester from Fall 2022 to Spring 2025. After graduation, Tanay plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics or Public Policy, with a focus 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 senior leader and scholar at the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College, pursuing an accelerated Bachelor's degree in Political Science/Public Policy alongside a Master of Public Administration (MPA). His academic excellence is reflected in consistent Dean’s List recognition and membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha honor societies.
Akhenaton brings practical experience to the New York State government, having served as a Legislative Intern for the State Assembly and State Senate. During his time in the Assembly, he authored an award-winning research paper on blockchain for government transparency.
Beyond government service, Akhenaton advocates for global community building. He serves on the Rockefeller College Dean’s Leadership Council. He is the inaugural President of the International Student Council with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), where he champions the needs of international students and mentors individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds in navigating the complexities of U.S. academic and social systems.
A polyglot fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole, with proficiency in Spanish and Italian, Akhenaton is uniquely equipped for a career dedicated to innovative public service and inclusive policy analysis.
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