Introducing the newest cohort of Barack Obama Scholars at Occidental College.
Jose Bustamante ’27 is a First Generation Economics and Computer Science major from East Los Angeles whose work sits at the intersection of technology, education, and equity. He serves as a Teaching Assistant and Intern with Ednovate Charter Schools, where he designs and deploys AI-based tutoring systems for multilingual learners and helps manage classroom EdTech infrastructure. This past summer, Jose worked as a Machine Learning Evaluation Intern at Bucket Labs, creating business-focused tests and metrics for a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) platform. His work improved model usability for small and mid-sized businesses and strengthened his experience in ethical AI research and applied educational technology. Across these experiences, he has grappled with adapting AI tools to not just real classroom needs but also addressing limitations across under-resourced and underserved communities like non-profits, small businesses, and immigration firms. After Oxy, Jose hopes to continue to create meaningful solutions that don’t stop at the classroom, but extend into society, expanding opportunity and dignity for communities everywhere. updated 11/18/25
Jaymes D. Griggs ’27 is a first-generation biology major with an environmental science focus who is originally from Louisville, Kentucky. Inspired by their years of experiencing environmental injustice as well as the mentorship of many loved educators, Griggs is dedicated to combating climate change by making environmental studies more accessible to marginalized communities. Griggs’ research uses Critical Environmental Justice and Indigenous perspectives to analyze human impact on climate and the environment with a special focus in urban environments and remediation. In Louisville, Griggs engaged with various non-profits through philanthropy and volunteering. As Equity Ambassador for the Intercultural Community Center at Oxy, they engage with JEID efforts daily and have helped hire JEID staff and create community through identity-based programming for black, queer, first-generation, low-income, and multiracial students. After graduation, they plan to pursue a doctorate in Environmental Science and sustainability, allowing them to represent and advocate for communities experiencing environmental injustice. updated 11/18/25
Derek Jimenez ’27 is a first-generation college student and student-athlete double majoring in art and art history & urban and environmental policy. Originally from Wellesley, Massachusetts, he was raised by a single mother and experienced housing instability, growing up in government-subsidized housing. These experiences shaped his passion for exploring the intersection of art, urban spaces, and community-driven design. In the summer of 2024, he conducted research on eco-conscious architecture, exploring sustainable building practices. This experience reinforced his commitment to designing equitable and environmentally responsible housing solutions. In the summer of 2025, he expanded this work through a research project on Chicane muralism and its relationship to the built environment, studying how murals function as spatial interventions, tools of cultural memory, and forms of community self-determination in Los Angeles and Mexico City. This research deepened his understanding of how art can transform public space, influence neighborhood identity, and challenge traditional planning frameworks. As an artist, he works under the name Sol del Mar, creating paintings that draw from family photography, traditional realism, and Black and queer storytelling. His practice centers on themes of memory, resilience, and belonging, using portraiture to honor the communities that shaped him. He is dedicated to pursuing a Master’s in Architecture post-graduation, focusing on reimagining affordable housing to create spaces that are both functional and reflective of the communities they serve. updated 11/18/25
Chioma Kalu ’27 is a junior majoring in Urban and Environmental Policy with a minor in Education. Since her freshman year, she has interned with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. She continues to support the LA office through administrative and logistical tasks, including informing members about community events and actions, and mobilizing Oxy students to get involved in housing and labor campaigns in the city of Los Angeles led by ACCE and other tenant-worker organizations. Chioma also volunteers in elementary classrooms, providing one-on-one support to students, while researching in pursuit of finding tangible solutions for individualized attention, encouragement, and holistic education within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). During summer 2025, Chioma conducted independent research on the McKinney-Vento Housing Assistance Act and its manifestation throughout LAUSD. She plans to expand her research––working with housing and education organizations to create a collaborative senior comprehensive project that includes city-wide statistics, familial testimonials, and policy recommendations for the city. Her goals are to improve the conditions of public schools through accessible and holistic support for students and their families. As well as, bring experiential learning into classrooms. Chioma wants students in urban schools to be knowledgeable in growing their own food in community gardens, participate in field trips to see rock formations and bodies of water, experience famous monuments in this country, and learn about the various species of creatures in our seas. updated 11/18/25
Cal Kreuter ’27 is a history and group language (spanish/linguistics) double major from St. Louis, Missouri, whose work focuses on addressing educational inequalities. This past summer, he designed and completed an independent research project, Mapping Educational Inequality: The COVID-19 Impact on St. Louis Public Education, which explores how the pandemic affected student learning, attendance, and discipline across 24 school districts in his hometown. He shared his interactive data tools with local parents, educators, and school administrators to spark conversations about school accountability and equitable education in a post-pandemic world. In Fall 2025, he completed an 8-month internship at USC’s Rossier School of Education with Professor Huriya Jabbar, working on a mixed-methods study investigating how cross-class and cross-racial peer networks influence educational opportunity and social mobility in Detroit high schools. From July to December 2025, he studied abroad in Argentina, where he interned at Fundación Pilares, a non-profit organization providing free early childhood education in one of Buenos Aires’ lowest-income neighborhoods. At Occidental, he works as a peer writing adviser in the Writing Center, is the Social Chair of the Pilipinx United Students Organization, Vice President of the History Society, and has co-founded OxySpike and Oxypreneurship student clubs. After graduation, Cal plans to pursue graduate studies in educational policy to explore solutions to strengthen public schools and expand educational opportunities in St. Louis and beyond. updated 11/18/25
Villathina “Thina” Ly ’27 is a diplomacy & world affairs major and a SHE-CAN scholar from Cambodia. As a first-generation Phnom Penh native, Thina is passionate about using diplomatic and economic skills to solve issues associated with labor migration and intercountry tensions. In the summer after her sophomore year, funded by the Barack Obama Scholars Program, Thina interned at the Humanitarian Response and Migrant Assistance Department of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) where she was responsible for building and maintaining the department’s infrastructure of case management and logistics and assisting in the Rapid Response Network Operations during the ICE raids. At Occidental, Thina’s international experience and passion for global affairs are reflected through her extracurricular activities. Thina is a student worker at the International Programs Office and the John Parke Young Initiative on Global Political Economy. Thina has served on the E-Board of INTOXY and DWAMA, organized events for the DWA department’s United Nations Week program, and volunteered as a team leader for the international student orientation. In the future, Thina hopes to contribute to the field of diplomacy in Cambodia. updated 11/18/25
Julian Castañon Villa ’27 is a Diplomacy and World Affairs major from Seattle, Washington. Informed by Seattle’s 1999 WTO protests, he is committed to bridging the gap between global decision-making and civil society through expanding democratic participation and diverse representation within international affairs. An avid reader and former staff member at the Seattle Public Library, Julian draws inspiration from authors such as bell hooks, Angela Davis, and Eduardo Galeano. His departmental research examines historical shifts toward grassroots internationalism, including transnational solidarity movements in Los Angeles and the early vision of the Peace Corps under President Kennedy. On campus, Julian works for the Young Initiative on the Global Political Economy, covering various events and conducting podcast interviews. He also tutors social studies through Upward Bound, serves on the executive board of Occidental Model UN, and writes occasionally for The Occidental. Beyond campus, Julian has interned with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and Amnesty International to apply his biliterate background and support human rights advocacy within Spanish-speaking communities. He also enjoys teaching performing arts at local community sites, helping students develop confidence and self-expression. Julian plans to pursue an English Teaching Assistantship Fulbright in Latin America and chart a career as an educator—whether through advocacy, authorship, or otherwise—to serve the public good. updated 11/18/25
Isabella Villagomez ’26, a first-generation community college transfer, is a psychology major with a minor in interdisciplinary writing. As a child of immigrants, she has a strong dedication to diversity, democracy, and equity, and a special interest in improving social media literacy. Isabella’s passion for community outreach and student leadership began at Clackamas Community College where she served as Phi Theta Kappa President, Psi Beta Vice President, and Department Chair of Community Wellness. Her enthusiasm for campus life and community involvement has continued at Occidental where she is currently the Elections Chair for ASOC, a staff writer for The Occidental, and a member of Alpha Lambda Phi Alpha. Beyond her studies, Isabella is interested in communication studies and has presented her original research on the spread of misinformation and bigotry on social media and the importance of literacy within digital spaces at national and regional communication conferences. In addition to her research within communications, Isabella has worked on practical communication issues through her internship at the Clackamas County Clerk and Elections Division where she worked to increase voter outreach and combat misinformation and discrimination within the 2024 elections process. With the support of the Obama Scholars Program, Isabella hopes to pursue graduate or law school where she will strengthen her skills in public service, civic engagement, and advocacy and empower underrepresented communities through research and policy.