Meet the 2025 Cohort of Mo’s Policy Scholars!
The 10 U of A juniors and seniors selected to participate in the paid mentorship program will gain firsthand experience working on an active research project with an expert faculty member.
The Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy is proud to introduce the third cohort of undergraduate Mo’s Policy Scholars!
The 10 U of A juniors and seniors selected to participate in the 14-week program will be paired with one or more faculty researchers and will work with those mentors on an active research project.
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 this semester!
Brooke Aijala
Senior; Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in Physical and Chemical Dynamics, minor in Sustainable Built Environments
Academic Interests: Urban planning to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Mentors: Ladd Keith and Minwoo Ahn
Research Project: Explore Innovations in Heat Planning, Policy, and Governance
Originally from outside of Philadelphia, Penn., the Sonoran Desert in southeastern Arizona has become a second home for Brooke Aijala and has inspired her to further her studies in sustainable development. A senior at U of A, Brooke says she is eager to pursue a career in sustainable development and construction after graduating. Her interest in the built environment stems from a desire to complement urban development with environmentalism. As a Mo’s Policy Scholar, Brooke says she is excited to contribute to research at the Udall Center while learning from experienced faculty members and peers.
America Blackketter
Senior; Sustainable Built Environments, accelerated Master of Science in Urban Planning
Academic Interests: The intersection between public policy and planning, especially as it relates to extreme heat and sustainability.
Mentors: Ladd Keith and Minwoo Ahn
Research Project: Explore Innovations in Heat Planning, Policy, and Governance
A native of the Sonoran Desert, America Blackketter is intimately familiar with the effects of extreme heat in the southwest. She currently works as an outdoor adventure guide and is passionate about enacting public policy that protects the delicate natural spaces in which she recreates. Through the Mo’s Policy Scholars program, America hopes to gain valuable hands-on experience in extreme heat policy and governance while connecting more deeply with the place she calls home.
Lauren Clerihue
Junior; Environmental Studies, minors in Political Science and Journalism
Academic Interests: Reducing the harmful effects of pollution to protect marginalized communities and endangered animals.
Mentor: Andrea K. Gerlak
Research Project: Support Communities to Protect Human and Environmental Health through Safe Drinking Water
Originally from Littleton, Colo., Lauren Clerihue says she has had an affinity for the environment for as long as she can remember. She is currently working towards applying to graduate school while learning as much as she can during her tenure at the U of A. Lauren is looking forward to studying abroad this year, as well as conducting research at the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy as a Mo’s Policy Scholar. She says she intends to use the knowledge she gains from participation in the Mo’s Scholars program to set her up for success in her future career in water and environmental policy.
Ryan Green
Senior; Urban and Regional Development, minor in Environmental Studies
Academic Interests: Creating inclusive cities with a primary focus on the intersection of policy, planning, and environmental justice.
Mentor: Adriana Zuniga-Teran
Research Project: Support Communities to Protect Human and Environmental Health through Safe Drinking Water
Since coming to the U of A, Ryan Green has fostered a passion for creating inclusive cities with a primary focus on the intersection of policy, planning, and environmental justice. Committed to public service, he aims to create a world where communities are privileged in the decision-making process. An Arizona native, Ryan has a keen understanding of the challenges unique to working in the desert and the vital role that water plays in upholding personal, social, and environmental wellbeing. In the future, he hopes to make a real and meaningful impact through policy advocacy and community engagement.
Michelle Hein
Junior; Bioinformatics, Statistics, and Data Science
Academic Interests: Using data science to support Indigenous data sovereignty and drive robust environmental policies.
Mentor: Riley Taitingfong (Chamoru)
Research Project: The CARE Data Maturity Model
With a strong background in teaching, Michelle Hein knows firsthand how important it is to center Indigenous voices in education and environmental policy. As a data scientist, she sees the potential for data science to be a catalyst for this type of change. As a Mo’s Policy Scholar, Michelle says she is thrilled to dive into data repositories, governance structures, and collaboration opportunities to accomplish goals with her mentor, Dr. Riley Taitingfong.
Michaela Hollowhorn
Senior; Public Policy and Management
Academic Interests: How community engagement initiatives in Native communities strengthen cultural identity, improve health outcomes, and support self-determination.
Mentor: Stephanie Russo Carroll (Ahtna) and Jewel Cummins
A Native American woman from the Navajo and Sioux Tribes, Michaela Hollowhorn came to the U of A with hopes of ultimately attending law school. She is especially interested in helping her community through community engagement work. Michaela aims to conduct qualitative research through interviews and case studies in an effort to examine successful partnerships between Tribal governments, nonprofits, and local residents. She hopes that findings from that research will contribute to broader discussions on decolonization, equity, and the role of participatory approaches in supporting Native resilience and community wellbeing.
Levi Hood
Senior; Applied Computing
Academic Interests: The relationship between genetics, socioeconomic history, and health.
Mentor: Ibrahim Garba (Karai-Karai)
Research Project: Reconnect Data to Communities
A U.S. Air Force veteran from California, Levi Hood is passionate about using technical skills to support socially impactful research. His interests include exploring Indigenous data governance and contributing to solutions that protect sovereignty while advancing research. This perspective drives his commitment to ethical and respectful data practices. As a biracial student from traditionally underserved communities, Levi is driven to better understand how lived experiences and historical conditions shape long-term health and how this understanding can lead to more fair research and care. Through his participation in the Mo’s Policy Scholars program, Levi hopes to deepen his understanding of policy-driven research that uses data to represent and empower underserved communities.
Spencer Metz
Senior; Law, minor in Economics
Academic Interests: Addressing systemic injustices against individuals and groups through law, policy, and politics.
Mentor: Miriam Jorgensen
U of A Honors student Spencer Metz has experience volunteering with two legal aid organizations and assisting several professors with research projects. He also served as the founding president of the Jewish Pre-Law Association. In addition to his post as a Mo’s Policy Scholar this fall, Spencer is also a member of the Bobcat Senior Honorary for the 2025-26 academic year. After graduating from U of A, Spencer plans to continue his education in law, public policy, and/or political science.
Illiana Samorano
Senior; Environmental Sciences, minor in Spanish
Academic Interests: Pollution prevention, interventions, and risk communication in arid borderland regions.
Mentor: Gemma Smith
Research Project: Support Communities to Protect Human and Environmental Health through Safe Drinking Water
Illiana Samorano’s family has called the tri-national Sonoran Desert (which intersects the U.S., Mexico, and the Tohono O’odham Nation) home for many generations. She grew up and still currently lives near the Tucson International Airport, an underserved, Latino-majority part of Tucson, Ariz. that has grappled with TCE and PFAS groundwater contamination for decades. Illiana grew up with oral histories of water stress and environmentally acquired illnesses from polluted air and water. As a result, she wants to pursue a career in environmental policy to safeguard the health and homes of working-class communities like hers. As a Mo’s Policy Scholar, Illiana hopes to learn policy approaches that offer a positive impact for her community and ones like it.
Malika Tuychiboeva
Senior; Public Policy and Management
Academic Interests: Women’s empowerment and leadership development in Central Asia with a special emphasis on their participation in policymaking and public financial management.
Mentor: Ibrahim Garba (Karai-Karai)
Research Project: Reconnect Data to Communities
Malika Tuychiboeva is an international student from Uzbekistan who found her way to the U of A as a fully funded governmental scholar and recipient of Uzbekistan’s Presidential Award for Young Leaders. Malika is passionate about contributing to public sector reforms and promoting inclusive leadership. In her free time, she enjoys engaging in cultural projects and advancing women’s empowerment to promote gender equality and inclusive governance. By highlighting the importance of women’s leadership in shaping effective public finance systems, Malika aims to contribute to long-term institutional reforms and human rights development across the region she calls home.