Introducing the newest cohort of Barack Obama Scholars at Occidental College.
Melani Svenson '24: Melani is a diplomacy and world affairs major from Los Angeles and a non-traditional transfer student from Los Angeles City College awarded a Jack Kent Cooke transfer scholarship in 2022. Raised in Tampico, Mexico, Melani is the founder of the nonprofit Tampico Project to help create pathways for students in her hometown to access educational opportunities and cultural enrichment programs in the liberal arts. At Occidental, she serves as the student representative of the Board of Trustees' Institutional Advancement and Communications Committee and has joined the Young Initiative on the Global Political Economy team. After graduation, she plans to get a master's degree and pursue a career in the U.S. State Department in public diplomacy, specializing in Latin America.
Raul Cruz Robinson '25: Raul is a psychology major from Brooklyn, N.Y., and is deeply committed to increasing youth civic engagement and enhancing the quality of life in underserved neighborhoods. This past summer, he gained valuable experience as a tutor and soccer coach, alongside an internship in Warby Parker's brand design department, where he learned about crafting advertising with a political message. Raul aspires to use this knowledge to drive meaningful social change and hopes to serve as a mentor and role model for those looking to make a difference in their communities. As a dedicated senior fellow in Occidental College’s Office of Admission, Raul is also passionate about helping underserved students access transformative higher education experiences. With an understanding of the unique challenges that marginalized students face, he is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that supports both academic and personal growth. Through mentorship, outreach, and advocacy, Raul aims to guide prospective students through the college admission process, ensuring they have the resources and encouragement needed to thrive. After graduation, Raul plans to continue his work in advocacy, supporting underserved communities in both Los Angeles and Brooklyn.
Yenni Guadalupe Gonzalez Salinas '25: Yenni is a first-generation college student from Nashville, Tenn., majoring in history with a minor in Latino/a and Latin American studies. As the daughter of immigrants, Yenni has dedicated her work to supporting immigrant communities. She revived Comparte, a student-led program at Occidental College that provides English-speaking and writing classes for the college’s cleaning staff. During her time abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, she interned at a migrant shelter. Last summer, Yenni worked with the Human Rights Special Prosecution Section of the Department of Justice, conducting in-depth open-source investigations into the military and administrative structures of countries of concern for human rights violations. Yenni has also interned at the Nashville District Attorney’s Office, worked as a boycott intern with UNITE HERE Local 11, conducted independent research through the Undergraduate Research Center (URC) on Mexico’s responsibility to its citizens during the Bracero Program, and served as an equity ambassador at the Intercultural Community Center (ICC). In her future career, Yenni hopes to continue her work supporting migrants.
Raja Bella Hicks '25: Raja, a Diplomacy and World Affairs major from Salt Lake City, Utah, brings a multicultural perspective and a passion for addressing poverty through social and economic development policies. At Occidental College, she has engaged in global affairs at local, regional, and international levels. Raja served as the Policy, Press, and Political Affairs Intern at the British Consulate in Los Angeles, where she contributed to events such as 1000 Black Voices, Women in Leadership, and a Climate Cinema Gala. This past summer, she worked as a Senior Research Intern at the South African Institute of International Affairs, focusing on BRICS and issues affecting the Global South. Currently, she is a Political Intern at the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York, working on matters of global peace and security. After Oxy, Raja plans to pursue a master’s in international development and is committed to a career in international policymaking.
Joy Mopeli '25: Joy is a diplomacy and world affairs major with a double minor in urban and environmental policy and public health from Lesotho. Joy is committed to advancing anti-poverty efforts in Africa and the African diaspora by working in international development and promoting intercultural knowledge exchanges. Joy has worked on diverse community development initiatives, including researching indigenous African agricultural practices, campaigning for climate protection policy, tutoring at the Baylor Clinic in Eswatini, and interning for Sentebale, which provides medical and social welfare support for young people living with HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. At Oxy, Joy currently holds leadership positions in the Black Students Alliance and is serving as a resident advisor, an ICC equity ambassador, and a program assistant with the Young Initiative. She hopes to pursue a career in global health.
Francesca Romero '25: Francesca is a first-generation student and a diplomacy and world affairs major with minors in politics and Latino/a and Latin American Studies. She is the president of the First-Gen and Low-Income Student Union and an Involvement Program Coordinator at Occidental’s Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement. Francesca is currently a Digital Equity Fellow at Michelson Philanthropies conducting research on the internet as a public utility in Los Angeles. Francesca has also served as a Policy Intern with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and a Housing and Communities Intern at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA). Originally from the Bay Area, Francesca hopes to become a movement lawyer and advocate for affordable housing while working with community-based organizations.
Jessie Salinas '25: Jessie is a first-generation geology major from Phoenix, Arizona. He is passionate about improving the representation of Hispanics in STEM and preserving the natural environment for future generations. As an Eagle Scout, he has held leadership positions in various student organizations on campus, including COSMOS Scholars, Oxy Club Soccer, and Oxy Fishing Club. Jessie recently conducted summer research with Professor Evan Dethier using, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and Python to identify changes in desert river connectivity over time. He hopes to pursue a master's degree in hydrology after graduation and aspires to work in water conservation and policy.
Matthew Vickers '25: Matthew is a diplomacy and world affairs major and English minor from Kōloa, Hawai’i, who is committed to improving housing access and equity. As a student researcher, Matthew studied the works of Trinidadian thinker C.L.R. James and his influence on 20th-century Marxist movements, the historiography of the Haitian Revolution, and Caribbean politics. He is chair of Oxy’s Young Democratic Socialists of America and has volunteered for various organizations and campaigns. He writes for the student newspaper The Occidental and is a student-athlete on Oxy's cross country and track and field teams. After graduation, Matthew plans to pursue a Ph.D. in political science.