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Like so many of their predecessors, members of the PPA Class
of 2008 earned honors and recognition. Christina Lee
(Sociology) graduated cum Laude. Christina was also
initiated into Phi Beta Kappa and was a senior member of
Sigma Ki. David Sherer (Psychology) graduate com Laude and
won the Russell M. Story Prize for PPA. Jameson Lam
(Biology) won the Asian American Studies Prize and the
Senior Service Award. Christina Lee also won the Robert D.
Herman Prize in Sociology.
Below is
a brief profile of each senior and his or her internship and
thesis.
Kelly Hewitt, Politics (Scripps),
interned with the Claremont Unified School District. Kelly
aided the Director of Secondary Education in the development
of two new district projects – a foreign language program
for the elementary schools and a vocational program at the
high school level. Kelly conducted research and created
materials to help guide the Planning Committees. This
internship led directly to her thesis, Narrowing the
Achievement Gap? The Transition from Vocational to
Career-Technical Education in California Public Schools.
Kelly has accepted a position as Director of the Scripps
College Academy,
which focuses its recruitment on first-generation,
college-bound students from low-income families.
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Jameson Lam, Biology,
worked for the American Red Cross in their Pomona office
doing quantitative analysis. Jameson analyzed data from
blood drives, looking for trends and frequencies. One
project involved looking at efficiency, another looked for
high school penetration. Jameson’s thesis, The National
Hepatitis B Act: Addressing the Health Disparity of
Hepatitis B in Asian Americans, examined the biology of
this disease and reviewed strategies that advocates can use
in an attempt to improve the chances of approval for the
National Hepatitis B Act. Jameson is now in Washington,
D.C. interning with the APIA Health Forum for the summer.
He plans to attend graduate school in public health after
working for a couple of years.
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Christina Lee, Sociology,
worked for the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and
Homelessness in downtown L.A. Christina’s work focused on
educating others about homelessness; she designed a
presentation and fact sheets to go on their website. Her
interest in issues of poverty also inspired her thesis
entitled Unpacking Individualistic Perspectives on
Poverty: Asian American Perceptions of Poverty in Rowland
Heights.
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Jodie Pham, Biology,
interned with COPE Health Solutions, a nonprofit health
organization that aims to create a cohesive, integrated
system of care for the uninsured/underinsured. Jodie’s
focus was on developing the Mobile Echo Project. The
Project’s goal was to bring mobile echocardiograms to local
community clinics in a timely, convenient, and cost
effective manner. Her thesis, Deceptive Probabilities:
Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer Genes BRCA1/2 and Broader
Policy Implications, examined the biology of hereditary
breast cancer, the marketing of commercial genetic testing,
the interpretation of test results, and the resulting policy
implications. Jodie has accepted a project manager position
with COPE Health Solutions, where she completed her
internship.
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Christopher Ramos, Sociology,
interned at the Housing Rights Center of Los Angeles. This
organization’s purpose is to give general landlord/tenant
counseling and to pursue discrimination claims. Christopher
worked under the lead attorney to conduct research,
including networking with other organizations, obtaining
reports and testimonies, and writing editorials. His thesis
was entitled The Latino/a Home Owning Class: Navigating
wealth, securing property and utilizing social capital.
Upon graduation, Christopher will work as a Research
Assistant for the Williams Institute of the UCLA Law School.
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Karla Ruiz, Sociology,
interned with the Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services
of Montclair – an organization that provides education on
homeownership for low-income buyers. Her projects included
creating a survey, helping with customer intake, marketing,
and office duties. Karla’s thesis was entitled Acquiring
Americanidad: Examining Young Latino Adults in US Consumer
Culture and their Presence in Policy. Karla’s research
aimed to explore the arguments about consumption in
populations of color by asking about the internal
negotiation between a dominant value system and the means of
reaching its prescribed end.
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David Sherer, Psychology,
worked for Public Works, an educational consulting group
contracted out by schools, districts, and boards to monitor
and evaluate various school reform and intervention policies
and programs. David consolidated and summarized survey
responses, compiled test performance data, and interviewed
teachers and administrators. David’s thesis was also
education-related: Do Small Learning Communities Help
Teachers? An Investigation of Teacher Self-Efficacy and
Professional Community at a Los Angeles High School.
After graduation, David will be working as a K-8 special
education teacher with Teach for America in San Francisco,
CA.
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Koko Umoren, Politics,
worked with the
ACLU of Southern California. Koko interned in the legal
intake department, screening calls and conducting research.
Koko’s thesis dealt with issues of elections and government
accountability – The European Union Final Report: The
Aftermath of the 2007 Nigerian Elections.
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Kari Wohlschlegel, Economics,
interned with Crossroads, an organization that provides
housing, education, support, and counseling in a home-like
environment for women who have been incarcerated. Kari
coordinated the Crossroads Advocacy Project, which seeks to
raise awareness regarding the Governor’s overturning of
parole suitability for women who are in prison for life.
Kari’s internship led directly to her thesis,
Discretionary Sentencing and Recidivism Rates: An
Examination of the Relationship Between Release Decisions
and Recidivism Rates. Kari received a fellowship with
the
Public Interest Research Group as an Issue Associate. After
the fellowship ends, she plans to attend law school.
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Jessica Ladd, Special Major (Human Sexuality),
did not complete an internship as part of her special
major. Jessica’s thesis was entitled Condoms and
Corrections: Condom Distribution Policy in California
Correctional Facilities.
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