Introducing the 2026-27 Mo’s Policy Scholars!
Eight U of A undergrads join Udall Center researchers to work on active research projects in environmental and Indigenous governance.
The Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy is proud to introduce the fourth cohort of undergraduate Mo’s Policy Scholars!
The eight U of A students selected to participate in the 14-week program will be paired with faculty research mentors and will work with those mentors on active research projects related to Indigenous governance and environmental policy.
Named for Arizona Congressman Morris “Mo” Udall, who represented the 48th state in the U.S. Capitol from 1961-1991, this paid mentorship program invites undergraduate students with an interest in Indigenous governance and/or environmental policy to explore firsthand how their work can have a direct impact in the public policy sphere.
Read on to learn more about this year’s Scholars and the projects they will be working on!
Luiza Benavides
Junior, Environmental Science
Research Interests: Environmental policy, soil and water pollutants
Mentors: Andrea K. Gerlak, Gemma Smith, & Adriana Zuniga-Teran
Research Project: Building A Vision for Human and Environmental Health in Arizona
After completing her studies in environmental science at the U of A, Luiza Benavides hopes to find herself in a career working to restore and remediate land through processes like bioremediation. Luiza has a passion for learning about the natural world and is always actively working to become a better steward of the environment. This, she says, makes her excited to participate in research on PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in Arizona. Specifically, she says she wants to better understand the health impacts of PFAS and how to implement policy to address harm and mitigate risk associated with these harmful chemical compounds. In her free time, Luiza loves to hike and forage.
Elizabeth Brown
Senior, Nutrition and Dietetics
Research Interests: Improving government food assistance programs to decrease health disparities.
Mentor: Ibrahim Garba
Research Project: Reconnect Data to Communities
Elizabeth “Liz” Brown is interested in nutrition, public health, and improving food policy to better support Native American communities. Her academic interests center on improving the accessibility of government food programs, making those programs more culturally respectful, and maximizing their benefits for the people using them. Liz is especially interested in Indigenous food sovereignty and how policy can support healthier communities without ignoring culture and tradition. Her background in nutrition has made her passionate about equity in healthcare and food access. After graduating, Liz hopes to work in policy and advocacy in a way that improves long-term community health and promotes sustainable change.
Malia Hirasa
Sophomore, Political Science and Economics
Research Interests: Environmental justice and policy-related remediation
Mentor: Andrea K. Gerlak, Gemma Smith, & Adriana Zuniga-Teran
Research Project: Building A Vision for Human and Environmental Health in Arizona
Malia Hirasa is a political science and economics student originally from Prescott, Arizona. She is interested in how environmental policy can be enacted to uplift low-income and disproportionately impacted communities. With the Udall Center, Malia has researched policy-related remediation efforts for those affected by PFAS contamination on the local level in cities and towns across the U.S. She is incredibly grateful to be part of the Mo’s Scholars program and for the opportunity to continue analyzing PFAS challenges as they pertain to the state of Arizona. In the future, Malia hopes to attend law school and continue learning about how policy and law can be used to address and correct environmental injustices.
Cassandra Montano Arellano
Senior, Environmental Science
Research Interests: Ecosystem health and its impact on communities
Cassandra Montano Arellano was born in Tucson but grew up in a mining town in Sonora Mexico. Today, her studies in environmental science are focused on soil, air, and water quality. Seeing how mining shaped the environment and people’s lives while growing up made Cassandra want to study environmental science and look for ways to make a difference. She says she is excited to keep building a career that protects communities while caring for the natural environment. Moving forward, she hopes to find a career in environmental and occupational health supporting policies that make communities and workplaces safer and healthier while also being mindful of environmental impacts.
Jackson Peterson
Senior, Political Science
Research Interests: Equitable heat resilience policy and environmental planning in the southwest.
Mentors: Ladd Keith & Halley Hughes
Research Project: Explore Innovations in Heat Planning, Policy and Governance
Jackson Peterson is a political science student interested in public policy, governance, and institutional design. His academic interests focus on environmental policy and the ways research can inform equitable and effective policymaking. He is particularly interested in how governments and communities coordinate to address long-term social and environmental challenges. Through Mo’s Policy Scholars, he hopes to strengthen his research and analytical skills while gaining hands-on experience in policy research. Outside of academics, Jackson has been involved in student leadership and community-focused initiatives that emphasize collaboration, representation, and civic engagement.
Zoie Staats
Senior, Economics
Research Interests: Environmental policy and reduction of unequal impacts.
Mentors: Ladd Keith & Halley Hughes
Research Project: Explore Innovations in Heat Planning, Policy and Governance
In addition to her major in economics, senior Zoie Staats is pursuing two minors in sustainable mineral resources and anthropology. A full-time student, Zoie also works at the U of A Finance and Budget department as a Student Project Assistant supporting the administrative and operational team. In her free time, she volunteers with clubs and honors programs in the Eller College of Management and with the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona. As a Tucson local, Zoie understands how crucial it is to consider the impact of our communities on local ecosystems. Zoie has strong interest in environmental policy and says she is “very excited to participate in the Mo’s Policy Scholars Program through the Udall Center!”
Sofie Thompson
Junior, Political Science
Research Interests: Strengthening Indigenous policy through sovereignty, equity, and community-centered solutions.
Research Project: The Relationships between Native Nation Citizenship Criteria and Constitutionally Specified Voter Rights
Sofie Thompson has a passion for human rights, law, and public policy. As an international student from Manitoba, Canada and a student athlete (she plays ice hockey for the U of A women’s team), Sofie says her perspective on policy has been shaped by living and engaging in multiple diverse communities. As a result, she is dedicated to supporting those communities through the development of inclusive systems. Sofie wants to continue her academic journey by attending law school after graduation and ultimately hopes to contribute to strategies that empower underrepresented groups and lead to long-term change.
Hayle Bobbie Trujillo
Senior, Microbiology
Research Interests: Contamination, Indigenous health disparities, and environmental sovereignty in Northern New Mexico.
Hayle Bobbie Trujillo is a first-generation college student and a member of Nambé Pueblo. At U of A, she is nearing the completion of a degree in microbiology with minors in American Indian studies and environmental science with emphases in soil and water. Her undergraduate research examines the cascading effects of heavy metal and chemical contamination on ecosystems and human health with a focused analysis of how environmental degradation disproportionately impacts Indigenous Peoples in rural Northern New Mexico communities underserved by existing healthcare infrastructure. Grounding her inquiry in both microbiological methodology and Indigenous knowledge systems, her work advances the reclamation of Indigenous environmental sovereignty and culturally informed, community-driven solutions. Hayle previously served as a Resident Assistant for the Indigenous Living Learning Community and has mentored Native youth through Native SOAR.