Eight University of Florida students have been selected to the 2024-25 cohort of the Reubin Askew Scholars program by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. As they progress through their fellowship, the center is pleased to recognize their contributions to public service through their research and engagement efforts.
Askew Scholars are chosen annually through a competitive selection process based on their academic excellence and dedication to civic engagement. In addition to gaining valuable undergraduate research experience, scholars receive a $2,000 award over the academic year to support their projects. Faculty mentors and Graham Center staff provide guidance throughout the program.
Caroline Ali
Caroline is a junior majoring in English with minors in art history and innovation. She is involved in Phi Alpha Delta and its mock trial program. Her research, under the mentorship of Dr. Laura Gonzales, examines how divisive rhetoric in Florida’s government influences undergraduate activism and students’ engagement in public service. She hopes her findings will help create a roadmap for students interested in activism and public service. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in law.
Aron Ali-McClory
Aron is a senior majoring in anthropology and political science. Aron co-founded UF’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America and has served as a senator in UF Student Government. With experience working on political campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels, they are researching student activism at UF since 1963. Under the mentorship of University Archivist Sarah Coates, Aron is documenting key movements to build a historical narrative of activism on campus. They plan to attend graduate school to continue research in history or anthropology.
Chelsea Hernandez
Chelsea is graduating in December with a double major in anthropology and political science and a minor in Asian studies. She has been involved in DEI advocacy through UF Student Government and as a sister of alpha Kappa Delta Phi. Through the Graham Center, she interned for Florida Community Innovation and the office of Florida Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book. Her research, under Dr. Moodjalin Sudcharoen, examines how domestic perceptions of international conflict shape racialized spaces, focusing on Southeast Asian and Asian American communities in Florida. She hopes to inform policymakers on challenges facing these communities.
Daniela Hoyos
Daniela is a junior majoring in public health with minors in international development and humanitarian assistance and health disparities in society. She is a member of the UF Honors Program, the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, and Dr. Sarah McKune’s lab in the Department of Environmental and Global Health. Her research, mentored by Dr. McKune, examines the impact of U.S. foreign aid on partnerships between American and developing-world universities. She hopes to pursue a career as a global health policy advisor.
Jade Hua
Jade is a junior majoring in philosophy and soil, water, and ecosystem sciences. She is involved in local community organizations through the Path to Purpose fellowship and has attended national policy and leadership conferences. She studied abroad through the UF in Environmental Ethics program, examining environmental policies in Europe. Her research, under Dr. Jamie Ahlberg, compares academic and community perspectives on environmental justice, aiming to bridge gaps between them. She plans to attend law school to specialize in environmental law.
An Le
An is a senior majoring in public health and medical geography in global health, with minors in anthropology and health disparities in society. She is involved in Gators for Refugee Medical Relief and serves as a study abroad peer advisor at UF. Her research, mentored by Dr. Heather Stark, examines how cultural beliefs influence maternal nutrition in Rwanda. Working with University of Rwanda students, she uses a mixed-methods approach to identify barriers to adequate nutrition. She hopes her findings will inform public health strategies to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Kaylynn Nguyen
Kaylynn is a senior majoring in political science and economics. She serves on the executive board of Phi Alpha Delta and has completed legal internships with Cardinal Group Companies, Finberg Firm, and UF Student Legal Services. Her research, under Dr. Michael McDonald, examines how country of origin influences political participation among Asian American immigrants, integrating qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze political engagement.
Dylan Pace
Dylan is a senior majoring in agricultural education and communication. He has served as a Bob Graham Center Student Fellow, a College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Ambassador, and a legislative aide in the Florida House of Representatives. His research, mentored by Dr. Sadie Hundemer, examines the impact that political affiliation may have on the risk perceptions of Floridians who live in select counties on the west coast of Florida. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, Dylan’s investigates how people from different political parties react to environmental threats. He plans to attend law school and pursue a career in public policy.