Our Current Cohort
Meet Our Spring 2023 Baylor in Washington Cohort!
Angel Ramirez
Internship: Center for Public Justice
Ms. Angel Ramirez is a junior from Axtell, Texas and will be graduating in spring 2024. She is majoring in political science with minors in English and history while on the pre-law track. This spring, she will be interning at the Center for Public Justice on the Communications Team. Throughout these past few years, she has been volunteering at a variety of places and has accumulated over 350 volunteer hours. On campus, she is serving as the merchandise chair for the Pre-Law Society at Baylor. Off campus, she is certified in Ethics and Integrity in Ministry and assists with a local church youth group. Following graduation Angel plans on attending law school.
Anna Grace Hale
Internship: U.S. Department of State
Ms. Anna Grace Hale is a junior majoring in International Studies and double minoring in Journalism and Spanish. She is a military child and has lived in many different places across the United States and abroad. This spring, Anna Grace is interning at the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of African Affairs. At Baylor, she is a sports writer for the university newspaper, the Baylor Lariat, and the intramural chair for the sorority Alpha Chi Omega. After college she looks to pursue a career in journalism or international affairs.
Aubrey Gilliam
Internship: Hudson Institute
Ms. Aubrey Gilliam is a junior from Arlington, Texas, studying political science, international relations, and Great Texts within Baylor’s Honors College. This semester, she is interning with the Hudson Institute's South and Central Asia Program. In the past, Aubrey has virtually interned with the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, supporting its Public Relations and External Affairs team. Additionally, she was a 2022 Political Studies Program Fellow with the Hertog Foundation. Though she just returned from a semester study abroad program in the Netherlands, Aubrey has previously served as an ambassador for Baylor’s Center for Global Engagement and participated in the National Model United Nations conferences in New York and Washington, D.C. After graduation, Aubrey plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career as a Foreign Service Officer.
Brandon Clarke
Internship: Rep. Pete Sessions
Mr. Brandon Clarke is a sophomore political science and business marketing dual major on a pre-law track who will graduate in 2024. He is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, and he plans on working for Congressman Pete Sessions during the spring semester. At Baylor, he is a member of several organizations, including the College Republicans, the Bull Moose society, and Baylor’s Model Organization of American States team. Brandon was also a former gubernatorial campaign intern for Greg Abbot. After going through the Baylor in Washington program, he hopes to pursue a JD at a Law school or enter into a career on capitol hill.
Cade Doerfler
Internship: Rep. Chip Roy
Mr. Cade Doerfler is a junior from Allen, Texas majoring in political science with a minor in environmental studies. This spring he will be interning with Representative Chip Roy from Texas district 21. He interned with Representative Roy in his district office in San Antonio last summer and is excited to continue to assist the Representative in his work. After graduation, Mr. Doerfler aims to work in government agencies that deal with conservation and environmental protection. At Baylor, Mr. Doerfler attends the campus chapter of Reformed University Fellowship, a worship group, and is a member of the university’s Young Conservatives of Texas chapter.
Caitlin Babcock
Internship: Rep. Jason Crow
Ms. Caitlin Babcock is a senior from Fort Collins, Colorado. She will graduate Baylor University in spring 2023 with a major in international relations with a minor in Spanish. This spring, she will be interning for Congressman Jason Crow. Caitlin has previously worked as a marketing intern at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, and as a staff writer for Hope College’s campus newspaper, The Anchor. She has gained leadership experience as a participant in Model United Nations, as a Program Head at a summer camp, and as secretary of the Women’s Coalition Project at Baylor. After graduation, Caitlin hopes to work in immigration policy before pursuing law school.
Chana Dandridge
Internship: White House
Ms. Chana Dandridge is a junior from Memphis, Tennessee studying Political Science on the Pre-Law track with minors in French and entrepreneurship. Chana is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She serves as the Historian and Parliamentarian. During the semester, Chana volunteers weekly with Mentoring Alliance, mentoring youth in the Waco community. Last Spring, Chana previously worked as an undergraduate legal intern at Pakis, Giotes, Page, and Burleson, P.C., where she focused on tax law, business law, and estate planning. She has experience in small business management. Notably, her eyelash extension business, The Mink Station, has earned over $35,000 in profit since July 2020. Chana will intern at the White House this spring to gain experience in the public sector. She will then intern at Marsh McLennan’s New York office this summer to gain experience in the private sector. After graduating, Chana plans to attend law school in the fall of 2024.
Emma Wrona
Internship: House Foreign Affairs Committee
Ms. Emma Wrona is a junior from Fort Collins, Colorado. She is a University Scholar studying international relations, political science, and economics within the Baylor Honors College. This spring, Emma will be interning at the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She has previously interned for the Department of Defense doing intelligence analysis, virtually for the U.S. State Department working on Pacific Island issues and Chinese influence in the Pacific, and for an international news blog with a focus on issues in the Middle East. Her primary area of research interest is great- and regional-power politics and influence tactics, especially in relation to the Pacific Islands. On campus, Emma is Vice President of Sigma Iota Rho International Relations Honor Society, and is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Academic Honor Society, the Ampersand Society, the Alexander Hamilton Society, and Baylor’s Taekwondo Club. She also works as an academic tutor for Baylor’s athletic department. After her graduation in December 2023, Emma plans to attend graduate school for international relations prior to pursuing either an intelligence or diplomatic career.
Gabriela Vela
Internship: Rep. Mark Amodei
Ms. Gabriela Vela is a junior from Fort Worth, Texas. She will graduate from Baylor University in the Spring of 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science with minors in legal reasoning and analysis and Spanish. She is a part of the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, Baylor Honors Program, and on the pre-law track. This fall she will be interning in the House of Representatives under Congressman Mark Amodei. On campus, Gabriela is involved with Student Government as a student senator, served as Vice President for Kappa Alpha Theta fraternity, and currently serves as Associate Editor for the Baylor Undergraduate Law Review. She is also involved with Baylor University’s Institute of Faith and Learning where she was selected as a William Carey Crane Scholar. After graduation, Gabriela hopes to attend law school in order to prepare for a career in public policy and administration.
Jesse Drapela
Internship: Dana Weekes
Ms. Jesse Drapela is a senior from Austin, TX. Jesse is studying Political Science on the pre-law track at Baylor University and is set to graduate in December 2023. She is an awarded writer and participant of National Model United Nations, where she has attended numerous conferences in places such as Washington, D.C. and New York City. Jesse has worked a variety of jobs ranging from barista to horse wrangler, and most recently served as a campaign intern for Susan Hays. She has fostered dogs, cats and bunnies for several animal rescues and currently volunteers for Austin Siamese Rescue, where she helps manage social media and arrange transportation for rescue cats across Texas. This semester, Jesse will be interning with Dana Weekes and is eager to learn about the intersectionality between law, policy and non-profit work.
Jessica Alldred
Internship: National Museum of American History
Ms. Jessica Alldred is a junior majoring in American History. She is originally from Manchester, in the United Kingdom, and is spending her junior year at Baylor as an exchange student. She will graduate from her home university in August 2024. This semester she will be interning for the National Museum of American History. Previously she has interned with the Norfolk Museum Service and the Girlguiding Archive Resource Centre. In 2019, she worked as a camp counsellor at Wind in the Pines Day Camp, and she is currently a member of her residence hall committee. After graduation, she hopes to return to the United States to attend graduate school or to pursue a career within the museum industry.
Josie Sawyer
Internship: Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Ms. Josie Sawyer is a junior double majoring in political science and Slavic and Eastern European studies. She is going to graduate in May 2024. She is passionate about understanding U.S.-Eastern European relations, Slavic languages, and the U.S. legislative process. This spring, Josie is interning with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Previously, she interned for a U.S. Senator, in Austin, Texas. At Baylor, Josie is a member of Baylor Ambassadors and Student Government. After graduation, Josie intends to attend law school before pursuing a career in legislative affairs or international relations.
Kate Dougherty
Internship: Office of the U.S. Attorney
Ms. Kate Dougherty is a sophomore from Long Beach, California. She is a University Scholar and Political Science double major with minors in History and Great Texts in the Honors College. This Spring, Kate will be interning with the U.S. Attorney's Office where she hopes to gain litigation experience and opportunities for public service. She is a member of the Pre-Law Society, First In Line Student Society, and is on the Honors Residential College Academic Leadership team. Kate is also a recipient of the First Abroad Fellows Scholarship. Following graduation, Kate hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in either criminal or corporate law.
Nicole Cage
Internship: Religious Freedom Institute
Ms. Nicole Cage is a sophomore at Baylor from Spring, Texas. She is part of Baylor’s University Scholar major and concentrating in Political Science, Great Texts, and Classics. Nicole will be graduating in May 2025. This spring, Nicole will be interning with the Religious Freedom Institute and the Ethics and Public Policy Center’s Faith Angle Forum. Nicole serves as the Editor in Chief of The Standard, an independent newspaper on Baylor’s campus. She is an active member of her sorority, Chi Omega, and loves to volunteer as a leader in at her local church. Nicole is excited to spend this semester in Washington, and looks forward to all she will learn and experience in Washington D.C.
Rob Leavitt
Internship: American Enterprise Institute
Mr. Rob Leavitt is a junior transfer student from Saint Louis Missouri studying computer science and political science on the pre-law track at Baylor University. This spring he will be interning in the office of Jonah Goldberg at the American Enterprise Institute. His past experiences include working as a busboy for Avenue restaurant in Saint Louis, a building maintenance technician for BEB Managment, and interning for ArchGrants–a nonprofit dedicated to bringing businesses to Saint Louis. After graduation, he hopes to attend law school in the pursuit of a career in the legal field.