Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellows Profiles

Rosemary Segura is a Criminal Justice Studies and Studio Art student at San Francisco State University with a strong passion for social justice, community advocacy, and creative expression. Growing up in a low-income household raised by a single mother, she experienced firsthand how inequality and underfunded communities can shape people’s opportunities. These experiences inspired her commitment to public service and activism.

Her academic work often focuses on issues such as environmental racism, criminal justice reform, immigration criminalization, and the impact of systemic inequality on marginalized communities. Through both art and advocacy, she hopes to create meaningful change and uplift underrepresented voices.

Kenya M. Arias Zarate is a senior at San Francisco StateUniversity, pursuing a double major in International Relations and Sociology, with a minor in Race & Resistance Studies. Born and raised in Santa Barbara CA, Kenya learned early on how access to resources can shape the trajectory of a family’s life.

Financial limitations and systemic barriers were not abstract concepts, but everyday realities that influenced how she navigated education, healthcare, and opportunity. Through her time in University, she has worked with multiple non-profits throughout the Bay and Latin America, where she’s worked on food insecurity and human rights issues for women.

With the help of Willie L. Brown Fellowship, Kenya hopes to gain more hands-on experience in the public sector, helping support the city she has called home for the last 3 years. She hopes this opportunity will allow her to become more actively engaged in domestic policy while learning from leaders who are shaping their communities through government and public service. After graduation, she wishes to attend Law school where she will pursue becoming an Attorney.

Amethyst Burgos is a rising senior at San Francisco State University pursuing majors in Criminal Justice, Women and Gender Studies, and Political Science, with a minor in Spanish. She is deeply committed to public service and seeks opportunities to support and advocate for marginalized communities. Her experiences as a Latina and as someone who spent a significant portion of her youth in the foster care system have shaped her interests in social justice, structural oppression, criminalization, immigration issues, and the epidemic of sexual violence.

Amethyst is particularly interested in pursuing public service work within the legal field. She believes strongly in the transformative power of education and is passionate about community engagement and creating meaningful opportunities for underserved communities.

Milly Adom is a first-generation transfer student from Berkeley, California, currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration at San Francisco State University. She is interested in building a career in the entertainment industry, with a particular interest in creating more inclusive and welcoming spaces that celebrate people from diverse backgrounds.

Her passion for creativity and storytelling extends beyond the classroom. Milly enjoys making music and playing video games, interests that have strengthened her appreciation for creative expression, entertainment, and the ways media can connect people and shape experiences.

As a first-generation college student, Milly is proud of the academic and personal journey that has brought her to San Francisco State University. Through her participation in the Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellowship, she looks forward to expanding her professional experience, developing new skills, and continuing to grow as a future professional.

Sabrina Sandoval is a senior at San Francisco State University, pursuing a degree in Political Science. Sabrina’s goal in this fellowship to is better understand the balance of city government and to better understand the mechanisms of politics at every level. Her educational goals is to graduate in the spring and then spend some time in the public sector, narrowing her focus for her master’s program. She hopes to accomplish more community engagement providing equitable and sustainable education programs for first generation students. She is interested in exploring a career in public policy, working with elected officials and will be graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in 2027.

Jennifer Moreno is a senior pursuing a Political Science degree and double minoring in Criminal Justice and Latino/a Studies, will graduate in Spring 2027. Jen is passionate about uplifting underserved communities— inspired by their experiences as a child of immigrants. Their goal in the Willie L. Brown Jr. Fellowship is to gain hands-on experience in the public sector and deepen their understanding of community involvement in local governance. When Jen isn’t studying, they enjoy exploring the vast California nature offered around the Bay Area.

Telmar Lochridge is originally from rural Montana but feels a renewed sense of purpose living here in San Francisco. As a justice-impacted individual, he has a greater awareness of factors that influence mass incarceration and the subsequent barriers to education and career. Since relocating to the city, he has volunteered with the SFLGBT Center and will complete his Bachelor's Degree in 2027 in Liberal Studies. His goal is to explore the path toward a Master’s in Public Administration and ultimately pursue a career in public service. Telmar is eager to serve the community that supported him during his own transition. Hiking, playing the piano and collaborating with fellow musicians are a few things that bring him joy.

Chau Nguyen is a junior at San Francisco State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with dual concentrations in Information Systems and Management. As an immigrant student, she has taken on a key role supporting her family in navigating healthcare and public service systems.

These experiences have shaped her commitment to improving access to essential services for underserved communities. Through roles at San Francisco International Airport and the San Francisco Public Library, Chau has developed strong communication, problem-solving, and public-facing skills while working with diverse populations.

As a Willie L. Brown Jr. Fellow, Chau aims to gain hands-on experience in public sector work and deepen her understanding of how government systems operate. She is interested in pursuing a career in public service and civic technology and will graduate in 2027. Outside of school, she enjoys exploring San Francisco and learning about different communities and cultures.

Safal Kunwar is a senior at San Francisco State University studying Computer Science. Through this fellowship, he wants to build real-world experience and learn how to apply what he’s studied in class to actual work environments. He’s especially interested in working with data systems, digital infrastructure, and how technology is used in the public sector, with a focus on supporting public service and improving how communities are served. 

Safal's main goal is to improve his skills in programming, data analysis, and system design. He also wants to understand how large systems work and how they support decision-making, especially in ways that benefit the public. He hopes to gain hands-on experience with how government organizations use technology in their daily operations to deliver better services. Safal is exploring career paths that combine computer science with analytical and strategic thinking, such as information systems, data analysis, or CS-related roles, particularly in areas that contribute to public service. He plans to graduate with his Bachelor’s degree in 2027.

Raysean Jones Jr. is a San Francisco native, community advocate, and graduate student pursuing his Master of Public Administration at San Francisco State University. Raised in Bayview Hunters Point, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies with a minor in Race and Resistance Studies from San Francisco State University.

As a Willie L. Brown Jr. Fellow, Raysean interned with Grants for the Arts, where he gained firsthand experience in local government and public administration. Through his work within San Francisco’s arts ecosystem, he deepened his understanding of the role public institutions play in supporting communities and strengthened his commitment to civic engagement and public service.

Since completing his fellowship, Raysean has continued to grow professionally while pursuing his interests in public administration and the culinary arts. He currently works as a chef and remains actively involved in community organizing, serving as the Entertainment and Event Chair for the 2027 Afrikan Black Coalition Conference at San Francisco State University.

Looking ahead, Raysean hopes to bridge his experience in public service with his passion for the culinary arts by establishing a nonprofit organization in Bayview Hunters Point that introduces young people to culinary education and career opportunities. Ultimately, he hopes to create meaningful pathways for the next generation.

As a fifth-generation Californian, Breanna Barton-Shaw calls the Golden State her home from her childhood in the forests of Humboldt County to the stars of Los Angeles; now in the Bay Area she is loving the weather, people, and possibilities at San Francisco State. Having experienced homelessness on and off her first fifteen years of life, Breanna has a keen sense of protecting the accessibility of public services, as she herself had to rely on them as a child nonetheless, and the battle is uphill with the “convenience” of digitization. With a wonderful job at Project Rebound, Breanna was able to see a new path emerge through a Master's program and with the encouragement of Project Rebound and Associated Students, she continues to take advantage of her opportunities. To Breanna, this feels like a call to action and it simply just makes sense.

Trinity Avalos is a Master of Public Administration student at San Francisco State University (GPA: 3.85) committed to creating equitable policies for working-class communities. The son of immigrants, Trinity left high school at fifteen to support his family, later earning his GED and degrees in Culinary Arts Management and Political Science.

His 25 years in the service sector, currently as Beverage Manager at Canela Bistro & Wine Bar, provide firsthand insight into working families' challenges. During COVID-19, he organized mutual aid for displaced restaurant workers. His community engagement includes volunteering with Daybreak PAC for vaccine equity, DSA's Labor Action Committee, and campaigning for Proposition M.

Trinity focuses on labor policy, housing policy, and immigrant advocacy. The Willie L. Brown Fellowship enables his transition from hospitality to public service, with the goal of ensuring all San Francisco residents can thrive. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.