Our mission

Apply human centered design thinking to design with equity in creating self-sustaining projects in the following semesters with the goal of long-term conscientious change.

Currently, we are brainstorming ideas to implement functional literacy programs into local Austin communities to increase accessibility and inclusivity for others.

Jeena Ahuja

(she/her)

Jeena Ahuja is a first-year student majoring in Civil Engineering and Plan II Honors, from Dallas, Texas. She is passionate about building sustainable infrastructure and community-centered spaces through thoughtful design to improve the built environment. On campus, she is involved in the Concrete Canoe design team and in Texas Bhangra, an Indian dance team. In her free time, Jeena enjoys cooking and baking, crafting, and playing fun card games. As a Walker Fellow, Jeena is excited to collaborate with the other cohort members to come up with innovative solutions related to functional literacy and make a positive impact on the Austin community!

Jessica Hector

(she/they)

Jessica Hector grew up in Cedar Park, Texas and is now a fourth-year student majoring in Chemistry with a certificate in Forensic Science. In her free time, she enjoys listening to all kinds of music, reading, and spending time with friends. At UT, she is involved in ACS as well as research in faculty lab. Starting research has driven her passion further for using science to understand and model problems related to understanding our cells and diseases to hopefully develop solutions that will help others. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry. Through the Walker Fellowship, she is excited to learn more about civil engagement and cultivate a community within the fellowship.

Calista Kayatta

(she/HER)

Calista Kayatta is a first-year student majoring in Classical Languages and Plan II Honors. Her academic interests centre on the intersection of language, history, and law, and she is particularly drawn to understanding how legal systems shape access to justice. On campus, she is involved in Model United Nations and serves as a blog writer for the Undergraduate Law Journal, where she explores contemporary legal issues for a broader audience. Outside of school, she enjoys crochet, reading, and learning new skills! Calista hopes to attend law school and pursue a career focused on making the law more understandable and equitable for the communities it serves. As a Walker Fellow, she is eager to engage deeply with the Austin community, collaborate with peers committed to public service, and contribute to meaningful change through thoughtful dialogue and action.

Andrea Martinez

(she/HER)

Andrea Martinez (she/her) is a third-year Psychology and Sociology student at UT Austin from Texas. She grew up curious about why people think and behave the way they do, and equally drawn to public service and community advocacy. At UT, she realized she didn’t have to choose between the two. Her coursework in behavioral science, government, and ethics has shaped an interest in how policy decisions impact real communities, especially within healthcare and education.

On campus, Andrea serves as a Student Ambassador for UT’s Bridging Disciplines Program and is completing the Ethics & Leadership in Healthcare certificate and a Government minor. She previously interned in the Office of Texas Senator Sarah Eckhardt, where she assisted with constituent communication and policy research. She also interns with Latinitas, a nonprofit that empowers girls in media and technology, and with the Media Ethics Initiative, supporting case writing and research. After graduation, Andrea hopes to attend law school and pursue work that blends healthcare, policy, and public service.

Isha Moorjani

(she/HER)

Isha Moorjani is a first-year student pursuing a Mathematics and Plan II major on the pre-med track from San Antonio, Texas. On campus, she is involved in a Bollywood-fusion dance team and Alpha Phi Sigma, a pre-health honor society, where she connects with fellow pre-med students through service. She is also involved in the Freshman Research Initiative in the Discovering Signals stream Outside of academics, Isha enjoys running, exploring new coffee shops around Austin, and practicing yoga. She hopes to attend medical school after graduating from UT Austin, where she plans to apply the problem-solving skills developed through her mathematics education. As a Walker Fellow, Isha is excited to make a meaningful impact in the community and build strong connections with her peers through service and engagement.

Arushi Nath

Hi, I’m Arushi Nath and I am from Houston. I’m a junior studying Neuroscience with a minor in Statistics & Data Science and a BDP in Health, Social Inequality, and Policy. I an interested in learning about community health, equity, and systems level policy. I’m motivated by understanding why health disparities persist and working toward solutions that are practical and community informed because I grew up seeing how health directly shapes families and communities. Outside of school, I cook a lot, love listening to live music , crafting, and spend time with my amazing friends. I also have a goldendoodle named Bali.

Ashley Nieto

(she/HER)

Ashley is a first-year public health major and a member of the Health Science Scholars program, hoping to pursue a career in medicine. Growing up in Laredo, Texas, she witnessed firsthand the lack of resources, from a limited number of specialists to the city’s high poverty rate, which inspired her to pursue studies focused on understanding and addressing these disparities to give back to her community and others like it. In her free time, Ashley enjoys attending workout classes, baking, and spending time outdoors. She is involved in several organizations, including Matriculate, Longhorn Baking, HOSA, Health Leaders of Tomorrow, and the Dell Medical Pre-Distinguished Health Scholars program, among others. Through the fellowship, she is excited to explore more of Austin and contribute to its vibrant and diverse community!

Reva Prodduturi

I'm a junior from Frisco, TX. I'm a Plan II major, with minors in Philosophy of Law, Business & Public Policy, and French. I'm also pursuing a certificate in Criminal Law, Justice, and Inequality. On campus, I am also involved with the KIPP Partnership program, where I mentor a middle school student at a KIPP school here in Austin. I am also a part of Student Conduct Board and Texas Lonestars! I am passionate about service and look forward to engaging in meaningful and impactful community engagement with the Walker Fellowship. Specifically, I am interested in reforming the disparities in the criminal legal system and the prison industrial complex. My passion for justice and equality drives my interest in innovation and change. In my free time, I love to bake for my friends, watch trashy reality TV, and buy overpriced lattes at cute coffee shops.

Adithi Rallapalli

(SHE/HER)

Adithi is a third year student from Dallas, Texas, majoring in Biology, Economics, and Plan II Honors. Her passion for science and research has led her to pursue Microbiology and she currently works with synthetic biology within the Microbe Hackers lab. In addition, Adithi’s involvement in local social change issues has inspired her to work towards legislative change, working as a legislative aide within the Texas House of Representatives and volunteering with Texas Votes on campus. In her free time, she likes to spend time outside, listen to music, and explore the city around her. Following her undergraduate studies, Adithi is planning to work further in policy and consulting fields, aiming to impact others through public service. As a Walker Fellow, Adithi hopes to immerse herself in the Austin community and see the positive impact of the work of herself and her peers.