John Robert Lewis Scholars & Fellows 2024-2025
Scholars
Alexis Dorman was born and raised in Orlando, Florida and is a junior at Florida State University, pursuing dual degrees in International Affairs and Political Science with a minor in education. Alexis is the President of FSU College Democrats, an active member of Student Government, and the Campaign Coordinator for FSU Student PIRGs’ hunger and homelessness campaign. She is also the Legislative Aide for a Florida State Representative, the President of Florida College Democrats, and a member of the Florida Democratic Party’s Youth Council. Alexis focuses her organizing efforts around educational accessibility and is committed to advocating for inclusive educational standards in primary, secondary, and higher education.
Alexis Dorman
Orlando, Florida ∙ Florida State University
Faith L. Massey is a dedicated orator and Afrocentric advocate. At the age of 16, founded the only Afrocentric club in her high school, by 18, enrolled and gained recognition for her oral presentations at American University. By 19, became a sought-after public speaker. Recently, was selected for the Voyager Scholarship through the Obama Foundation. Her time at “SPATIAL,” a summer program for applied statistics at Georgetown University, inspired her to develop research on the impact of the transatlantic slave trade using interdisciplinary analysis. Faith plans to be first in her family to earn a PhD and become a social policy analyst focused on reducing systemic inequalities for the black community.
Faith massey
Chicago, Illinois ∙ American University
Gideon M. Gruel is a student at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Having grown up in different places around the United States, he is now in his second year studying Philosophy and Classical Languages and Literatures, with a plan to attend law school after Dartmouth. On campus, Gideon is involved with the Mock Trial Society, Dartmouth’s Latter-day Saint Student Association, the Dartmouth Law Journal, and the Energy Justice Clinic. He also conducts research on the history of newspaper media through the Leslie Center's C19 Research Fellowship. This fall, he was on an exchange program with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he studied Arabic and Hebrew.
Gideon Gruel
Hanover, New Hampshire ∙ Dartmouth College
Hananeel Morinville is a student at Vanderbilt University studying Latin American History and African American Diaspora Studies. Hananeel is a proud Haitian with a passion for civic engagement and racial & social justice. This passion to serve others and work to alleviate their plight began in middle school after she noticed a plethora of community issues that negatively impacted people of color that weren’t being addressed. She continues her racial & social justice work and advocacy on Vanderbilt’s campus by serving as the Student Government Economic Inclusivity Chair and playing a key role in economic equity for first-generation / low-income students. Hananeel is a 2019 Princeton Prize Recipient, 2021 Coke Scholar, and a social justice fellow with the Memorial Foundation.
Hananeel Morinville
Overland Park, Kansas ∙ Vanderbilt University
Originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Juan Pablo “JP” Neri is a student at Appalachian State University studying History and Political Science. A passionate advocate, JP has been actively involved in various student organizations, culminating with his time as the university’s Student Body President. Together with other campus leaders, he spearheaded an overhaul of the Student Government Association to improve its equity and mission. JP works as a Substitute Teacher, Campus Tour Guide, and also serves as the Student Fundraising Coordinator with App Builds a Home, a partnership between App State and Habitat for Humanity.
Juan Neri
Boone, North Carolina ∙ Appalachian State University
Kyla Holton is an Honors, 3rd-year student at North Carolina A&T State University studying Liberal Studies with a concentration in Pre-Law and minors in English and Political Science. She aspires to attend law school after her undergraduate studies and enter the field of public policy. Kyla has realized that many people are not civically and politically engaged because they need more time and resources to understand the information. She also has a particular passion for children, especially those impacted by mental health issues in environments lacking resources. Her overall passion is to build power within people rather than over people so that they have the necessary skills to uplift and develop their own communities for the overall betterment of society. She values advocacy, activism, and social justice for those impacted by incarceration and white supremacy.
Kyla Holton
Greensboro, North Carolina ∙ North Carolina A&T State University
Marie Andre Joyce Onana Mfege is a sophomore sociology major with a minor in comparative women’s studies currently attending Spelman College. She grew up in an immigrant family as a black woman put her in spaces that transformed her advocacy. She began working in social justice when she was in high school working to create student coalitions to create police free schools in the Maryland district. It continued onto the work she does at Spelman with student advocacy to get black collegiate students registered and informed to vote. She is passionate about using advocacy as a tool to create peaceful communities among all.
Marie Andre Joyce Onana mfege
Bethesda, Maryland ∙ Spelman College
Pat Wang is a senior at Washington University in St. Louis studying biology, anthropology, and film. Raised in Duluth, GA, Pat is passionate about LBGTQ+ advocacy, medicine, film, and all of their potential intersections. During his time at WashU, Pat has interned with the Alzheimer’s Association as a Morris Fellow, served as a Civic Scholar under the Gephardt Institute, and advocated for queer elders as an Intern for Equality with the Human Rights Campaign. Informed by these experiences and inspired by the resistance of his communities, he hopes to one day have the privilege of uplifting patient stories as a physician-advocate and filmmaker.
Pat Wang
Duluth, Georgia ∙ Washington University in St. Louis
Originally from Nigeria, Sarah Ogundare is a senior at Brown University passionate about centering activism in her scholarship and her organizing. Her international experiences ground her in empathy for people of all backgrounds that she brings into every aspect of her work. Core values of equity and empathy guide her leadership of groups like Black Christian Ministries and the Carceral State Reading Group – where centering the needs of her community is essential. For Sarah, whether she’s presenting policy recommendations on decarceration or doing direct housing justice outreach, she is motivated knowing that every step towards justice is a step worth taking.
Sarah Ogundare
Providence, Rhode Island ∙ Brown University
Sara Marshall is a student at Whitman College majoring in Politics and Environmental Studies with a minor in Hispanic Studies. Her main area of research centers on the intricate political dynamics of community infrastructure. Beyond academics, she served as a program leader for the Food Justice Project, recruiting and managing volunteers to support food justice efforts at the local food distribution warehouse, and was the Resident Assistant for an on-campus Community Service Co-op. Marshall maintains a passion for creating positive change and making a meaningful impact in her community. She believes lasting social transformation has to begin in one's own community before broader change can occur.
Sara Marshall
Spokane, Washington ∙ Whitman College
Fellows
Ahmaad Edmund is a third year Master of Divinity candidate at Harvard Divinity School, from Louisville, KY. He is passionate about the history of the Black Church in America from 1954-1968 and public policy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Leadership Studies from Hampton University. Through his work, Ahmaad aims to “seek justice” and “reject all injustice” inspired by the example of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ahmaad is an ordained minister in the Baptist tradition.
Ahmaad Edmund
Boston, Massachusetts ∙ Harvard University
Aimee Clesi is currently reading for the MPhil in Criminology and Criminal Justice and serves as a graduate research assistant for the Death Penalty Research Unit at the University of Oxford. She has worked at every level of the judiciary in Florida, including the state supreme court and federal trial court, and aims to challenge wrongful convictions and the death penalty as a lawyer in the American South. She is from the cave diving capital of the world, Branford, Florida, and enjoys distance running and swimming the Ichetucknee River just five minutes from her home.
Aimee Clesi
Branford, Florida ∙ University of Oxford
Jacob A. Mason is a Robert W. Woodruff Fellow and Master of Divinity student at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia. Originally from Firth, Nebraska, Jacob completed his undergraduate studies at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. With deep family roots in the United Church of Christ, Jacob is a passionate spiritual leader affecting positive social change through moral collaboration, community building, and individual empowerment. His ethical leadership has led to success on the school board campaign trail and also in student government, where he influenced climate-focused policy change. Jacob is a proud member of First-Plymouth Congregational UCC where he serves as Assistant Carillonneur and choir member.
Jacob mason
Firth, Nebraksa ∙ Emory University
Johana Dauphin, originally hailing from Orlando, Florida, is a recent graduate of Florida State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs. Her journey has been marked by a deep-seated passion for the convergence of racial justice and education. In her advocacy endeavors, Johana played a pivotal role in opposing the Stop WOKE Act in Florida. She engaged in the fight through powerful public testimonies, the mobilization of students, and active participation in the legal sphere, notably in Pernell V. Florida Board of Governors alongside the ACLU and NAACP Legal Defense Fund. During her time as an undergraduate, Johana showcased her commitment to civic engagement as a legislative intern in the Florida House of Representatives. Additionally, she served as a Critical Black Studies Factotum with the Telluride Association and currently holds a position on their board of directors. As a PPIA-JSI fellow and a White House Intern working with the Domestic Policy Council, Johana has demonstrated her dedication to making a tangible impact in policy and governance. Looking forward, Johana aspires to pursue a career in law and policy, driven by her unwavering commitment to advocating for Black liberation, education justice, and the rights of marginalized communities.
Johana Dauphin
Orlando, Florida ∙ Florida State University
Johntrell Bowles is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences and Global Health from Yale University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Global Development and Medical Anthropology from the University of Virginia in 2020. After witnessing his mother succumb to preventable public health deficiencies, Johntrell vowed to pursue a public-facing career that allows him to stand with courage and conviction to represent the needs of underserved communities. Believing that “gratitude is the gateway to greatness,” Johntrell is thankful for this fellowship and the valiant community to come. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.
Johntrell Bowles
Chicago, Illinois ∙ Yale University
Michael “Mike” Hernández, a Master's in Public Policy and a Master's in Divinity candidate at the University of Chicago, focuses on urban policy and the intersection of religion in American public life. A University of Connecticut graduate, he holds a dual degree in Political Science and Economics from the Honors Program, with minors in English and Urban and Community Studies. On-campus, Mike served as the Student Body President and Vice-President of the Connecticut Young Democrats. Off-campus, he contributed to political campaigns, the U.S. Census, and the historic Afford to Dream Act. Mike aspires to attend law school, returning to his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut, for a career in public service.
Michael Hernandez
Stamford, Connecticut ∙ University of Chicago
Roshan Sapkota is currently a Firefighter/EMT and incoming medical student for the fall of 2024. He graduated from Brown University with high distinction and is a strong promoter of health equity both nationally and abroad. He and his family immigrated from Nepal, escaping an unstable country amid a civil war. Juxtaposing the violence present in his upbringing, Roshan, with his Hindu ideals, is passionate about promoting peace and non-violence through improving health accessibility for all. In an honor to this commitment, he has co-founded public health organizations, committed his time to volunteering, co-authored numerous papers, and participated in fellowship programs aimed at uncovering and solving healthcare inequity.
Serene Singh, a Rhodes Scholar pursuing a Criminology Doctoral degree at Oxford, examines the material experiences of women on U.S. death row. A Truman, Fulbright, Global Leadership Institute, and Boettcher Scholar, Singh aims to uplift the voices of all women and has done this through notable contributions including winning the world’s largest National All-American Miss pageant title, authoring The Queen Machine children’s book, and founding a women's empowerment nonprofit. Committed to justice, she has also led historic Sikh advocacy and education projects at Oxford. Singh is a professional bhangra dancer, public speaking teacher, and published artist. Her multifaceted approach merges academia with initiatives, showcasing a dedication to challenging stereotypes in pursuit of a more just society.
Roshan Sapkota
Omaha, Nebraska ∙ Brown University
Serene Singh
Oxford, United Kingdom ∙ University of Oxford
Tyler Haggerty is a graduate of Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Service and Public Policy. He has had a long-time interest in politics and ability of public policy to make the world a more just and equal place. As someone on the autism spectrum, Tyler is a fierce advocate for disability rights and accessible health care, a passion that started him off on his public policy journey -- inspired by his hero, Congressman John Lewis. He hopes to get a master’s degree in public policy, and work in state and local government before someday running for public office.
Ursa Beckford is a third-year student at Georgetown Law in Washington, D.C. Born and raised in Maine, he attended College of the Atlantic, where he focused on international conflict. After college, Ursa decided to attend law school after learning about Bryan Stevenson’s work representing people on death row in Alabama. In law school, he has helped represent people facing the death penalty in West Texas, interned at the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation in Philadelphia, and conducted research on contested racial memory for Professor Emma Coleman Jordan. Ursa has also worked for the Human Rights Campaign, the Maine Legislature, and U.S. Senator Angus King.
Tyler haggerty
Tempe, Arizona ∙ Arizona State University
Ursa Beckford
Liberty, Maine ∙ Georgetown University Law Center
