This year has changed how we work in ways that none of us have ever experienced before. And building out our Research & Policy internship program was no exception. However, despite the new “normal” and way of working we have adopted, we amended our process, held multiple interviews and are so glad that we can introduce an amazing group of interns! This amazing cohort are located across the US (and one outside of the US) and will be supporting the Research & Policy Division in our mission to bring health & healing, safety & justice and economic opportunity to all. We know that they will bring amazing perspective, support, and work to our division and entire organization.
Meet the newest members of our team!
Victor Fuentes Campos
Currently studying: Harris School at the University of Chicago
What do you like to do in your free time?: I love to spent time with my fiance and our four dogs and one cat.
What are you looking forward to doing, learning, or working on most during your time with Research & Policy?: I want to learn about the initiatives to alleviate poverty and promote equity as well as put in practice the skills I have acquired at graduate school.
Emily Dobson
Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas
Currently studying at: The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. I’m a second-year Master of Public Policy student.
What do you like to do in your free time? In my free time I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and camping. I also find great joy in reading and playing board games. Most often, though, I find myself serving as a one-person audience for my theatrical husband, Noel, and our two cats, Bear and Panther.
What are you looking forward to doing, learning, or working on most during your time at Heartland Alliance?
Heartland is a unique organization in that it bridges multiple important avenues for creating social change, from direct services to policy advocacy. I am excited to contribute to the work of the organization and to participate in research that is grounded in the needs—and led by the voices—of the community. I’m also looking forward to developing a better understanding of the administrative data that exists on public assistance programs, and using that data to advance good policy and make strides toward equity.
Aces Lira
Currently studying at: Loyola University Chicago. I am entering my final year for my dual degree masters program with Women and Gender Studies along with Social Work. My focus is looking at policy implications that target and criminalize queer people and more specifically the demographics impacted most by the HIV Criminal Statute.
What do you like to do in your free time?: I enjoy maintaining an artistic practice either through sketching/painting or showing some public love when I host community radio. When possible, I hope to continue visiting some national parks!
What are you looking forward to doing, learning, or working on most during your time with Research & Policy?: I enjoy establishing connection and supporting positive change in any capacity. With Research & Policy, I am looking forward to learning the craft that the team has been maintaining to build my own skills and better understanding around the policy process. I have a rough idea about how supporting policy change might look so I want to work on my education around the details and work that goes into large scale changes specifically around overlooked barriers or efforts not yet in popular thought.
Jamal McPherson
Currently studying at: I am currently studying at Depaul University.
What do you like to do in your free time?: When I’m not too busy snoring, I enjoyed delving into a great book. If I am not reading then I enjoy spending time with my family, as well as coaching and educating my children.
What are you looking forward to doing, learning, or working on most during your time with Research & Policy?: I look forward to working in tandem with fellow researchers and policy makers to begin addressing the economic needs of marginalized communities. Ultimately, using research to shape and develop policies that will advance economic sustainability for impoverished neighborhoods.
Lani Roberts
Currently studying at: Harvard University, with a concentration in Social Studies and focus on Social Movements and Inequality in the American Criminal Justice System.
What do you like to do in your free time?: I love to hike, dance, and impulsively cook recipes I see on youtube.
What are you looking forward to doing, learning, or working on most during your time with Research & Policy?: I look forward to learning as much as possible about movement building and how to craft policy directly informed by affected individuals. I really appreciate Heartland Alliances’ commitment to highlighting impacted voices in the work that they do, and I hope to gain skills that will allow me to bring that focus into any policy work I do in the future!
Miranda Santillo
Currently studying at: University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration
What do you like to do in your free time?: I love to road trip and visit friends and family around the country whenever I get the chance. More frequently, I like to cook/bake, eat, and enjoy live music (when we aren’t in a pandemic).
What are you looking forward to doing, learning, or working on most during your time with Research & Policy?: I am excited to apply my understanding of human behavior to the work of research and policy design. I look forward to learning how to collect, analyze, and interpret data in a way that can be translated to effectively minimize existing inequalities. I am excited to learn how the research of Heartland Alliance can be leveraged to structurally change the systems that have historically perpetuated poverty and inequalities.
Jadan Vines
Currently studying at: Eckerd College, where I am majoring in International Relations and Film Studies
What do you like to do in your free time?: In my free time, I like to watch movies, sing, play guitar, and go to the beach.
What are you looking forward to doing, learning, or working on most during your time with Research & Policy?: While on the Research and Policy team, I am looking forward to getting first-hand experience in changing the lives of others for the better through legislative reform. I hope to work with those who are at-risk health wise as well as immigrants in the Chicagoland Area. I know the work at Heartland Alliance changes lives and I am very excited to be a part of such an amazing organization.
