Meet the Summer 2024 Victory Congressional Interns!
We are so proud to announce and introduce the Summer 2024 Victory Congressional Intern cohort. This cohort of 16 incredible emerging LGBTQ+ leaders are joining the 13th year of the program and continuing the legacy of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute to increase LGBTQ+ representation in all levels of government.
The Victory Congressional Internship (VCI) is developing the next generation of out public leaders. This summer’s eight-week program will include a rigorous in-person weekly leadership development series, community outreach, and mentorship component. LGBTQ+ Victory Institute is proud of our continued and growing partnership with the Congressional Equality Caucus, its members, and other LGBTQ-friendly members of Congress.
Throughout the semester, the interns will blog about their experiences in the Out on the Hill blog on our website. Get to know our interns more by following along!
A brief overview of our Summer 2024 LGBTQ+ Victory Congressional Interns:
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Clare A’Hearn (she/her)
Hometown: McLean, VA
School: Pomona College
Placement: Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY)
Clare A’Hearn is a sophomore at Pomona College majoring in Public Policy Analysis with a minor in Religious Studies. She is inspired by her previous work with formerly incarcerated people to advocate for the expansion of reentry services and rights for incarcerated populations. Clare is involved in a variety of organizations around campus and among other commitments she writes for the Claremont Journal of Law and Public Policy, works at her school’s Policy Lab, and volunteers with California’s Small Claims Advisory Services. She hopes to earn her JD/MPP after graduating and working towards systemic change in criminal justice reform.
Kylan Bartel (he/they)
Hometown: Mazomanie, WI
School: University of Chicago
Placement: Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI)
Kylan Bartel is a junior at the University of Chicago studying sociology with a minor in Spanish. After college, he hopes to attend law school and work in impact litigation at a nonprofit organization that advocates for civil rights. Kylan sings in University Chorus and serves as the co-director of voting ambassadors for UChiVotes. They are an editor for the Chicago Journal of Sociology and a member of the Environmental Justice Task Force. They also participate in the Public Policy Leaders Program, a career development program for students interested in public service. Kylan has been on the Dean’s List for two years and is a Robert Maynard Hutchins Scholar. As a senior in high school, Kylan took classes at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and served as a student council representative on the Associated Students of Madison, sparking his passion for public service. In summer 2022, Kylan interned with Ballotpedia, updating the pages of judges and school board members. Last summer, Kylan was an intern for Michigan Indian Legal Services. In this role, he revamped the organization’s website, expanding the self-help legal resources. When not studying or interning, Kylan enjoys circus arts, watching football, and playing board games.
Jayden Bodey (they/she)
Hometown: Paul, ID
School: The College of Idaho
Placement: Rep. Tony Cardenas (CA)
Jayden Bodey is a first-generation student at The College of Idaho. She is a Political Economy major, minoring in Geography and Communications, and specializing in Pre-Law. Her passion for law and policy has led her to continuously working alongside organizations such as with Generation Conscious as an Ecological Systems Intern where she works to fight hygiene insecurity. Jayden cares deeply about supporting her community on all levels and expresses this through community service with Idaho Harm Reduction Project and Babe Vote.
They have worked alongside Blaine County School District to provide direct educational intervention to immigrant children. There, they facilitated lesson plans that resulted in a well-rounded educational experience for the struggling students. In the fall of 2023, they proudly spearheaded grassroots efforts to voters as a member of Travis Manning for Caldwell School Board’s Campaign Field Staff that resulted in the successful election of three school board members.
She plans to attend law school and pursue a career as an attorney. In her free time, Jayden can often be found enjoying live music or at a small coffee shop enjoying a cortado and reading Judith Butler.
Jack Bradley (they/he)
Hometown: Lafayette, LA
School: Wake Forest University
Placement: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX)
Jack Bradley is a recent graduate from Wake Forest University, where they majored in sociology and minored in Spanish. On campus, they were a student coordinator at the LGBTQ+ Center, where they created and carried out inclusive programming for queer and trans students. They worked as a Resident Adviser, where they fostered community connections in a residential setting. Additionally, they served as a President’s Aide, where they acted as a liaison between the University President and the student body. They are passionate about HIV/AIDS policy and anti-corruption policy. They plan to pursue a career in public policy research.
Matteo Busterna (he/him)
Hometown: Glenmoore, PA
School: University of Pennsylvania
Placement: Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA)
Matteo Busterna is an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania. He is studying politics, philosophy, and economics in the School of Arts and Sciences. He is also pursuing a minor in history and legal studies at the Wharton School of Business. Before joining the Victory Institute’s Summer Program, Matteo interned for government relations and communications firm, Invariant, LLC. He joined their technology and commerce practice group– monitoring congressional shifts on recent AI legislation and discussion. Matteo has also interned for Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) in West Chester, PA where he supported the office with legislative affairs and communications. Before his college career, Matteo started his political journey with state-level experience as an operations intern for State Senator Katie Muth (D-PA).
In 2023, Matteo finished his tenure as the President of his college Democrats organization, the University of Pennsylvania Democrats (Penn Dems)– he actively engaged Penn’s student body on numerous issues and local campaigns. Additionally, he finished his tenure as Diversity and Inclusion Director of Penn’s student newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Camille Cypher (she/her)
Hometown: Oakland, CA
School: University of Chicago
Placement: Equality Caucus – Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (WI)
Camille Cypher is a second-year Creative Writing and Public Policy major at the University of Chicago. At UChicago’s Institute of Politics, Camille serves on two boards: Chicago Style, a student-led speaker series working to connect students with local politics, and Spectrum, UChicago’s queer political organization. She is also a columnist for The Maroon’s Op-Ed section, Viewpoints, and Firebird, UChicago’s music publication. Camille is also a Research Assistant for Margeret Beale Spencer’s Primed to React study that analyzes police rhetoric to predict adverse interactions with male minority youth. The project annotates and analyzes police radio transcripts and primary interviews with law enforcement and young men of color to ultimately create a better and safer framework for police communication.
And though less academically but more personally important, Camille is an active member of UChicago’s Off-Off Campus—the nation’s oldest collegiate sketch and improv comedy group—writing and performing in weekly shows. She also recently co-founded and co-captains UChicago’s first women’s club soccer team!
Her political interests include LGBT rights, public safety, and economic policy. She hopes to research queer identity formation as a product of political mobilization and polarization.
Tyler Harding (he/they)
Hometown: Commerce, MI
School: Columbia College Chicago
Placement: Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA)
Tyler Harding is a senior at Columbia College Chicago pursuing a degree in Film/Television and Pre-Law Studies. He is passionate about public service and committed to making a positive impact through his work.
Since Tyler’s sophomore year at Columbia, he has served as the President of the Student Government Association, representing the student body to the upper administration of the college. During his tenure, Tyler has spearheaded major initiatives to improve college environmental sustainability, provide free menstrual product access for all students regardless of identifying gender, and worked to enhance transparency with the student body by hosting events for students to communicate directly with the chairs of their departments and the president of the college.
Beyond his work at Columbia, Tyler has interned for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in the Press and Communications Office. There, Tyler wrote numerous remarks for the mayor, prepared press releases, collaborated with the digital team on social media posts and strategy, and compiled morning and afternoon news clippings.
Tyler is excited to continue learning and growing as he pursues his career in politics and government.
JC Rubinstein
Hometown: Highland Park, IL
School: University of Chicago
Placement: Rep. Chris Pappas (NH)
JC is a third-year student at the University of Chicago studying public policy. She cares deeply about public service, and is particularly passionate about gun violence prevention. She has been an organizer with March For Our Lives, supported efforts to pass an ultimately successful assault weapons ban in Illinois, and was named a 2023 Giffords Courage Fellow. On campus, she serves as president of her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, plans civic engagement initiatives with her university’s Institute of Politics, and mentors local high school students in an art and identity program.
Looking ahead, JC plans to attend law school. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, concert going, and walks to the beach near her home.
Logan Kaelin (he/him)
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Placement: Rep. Sharice Davids (KS)
Logan Kaelin is a current junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in Public Policy and Political Science, and a minor in Data Science. He has been on the Dean’s List every semester and is originally from Raleigh, North Carolina where he graduated summa cum laude from Leesville Road High School. Beyond his coursework, Logan is involved in a wide variety of extracurriculars at UNC, including serving on the Executive Board of the Campus Y, the main hub for social justice on UNC’s campus.
Additionally, he is a current Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellow in the UNC Office of Diversity and Inclusion and an Operations Supervisor at UNC Campus Recreation. He has also served on the Student Advisory Committee to the Chancellor for two years, and is currently President of his a cappella group, the UNC Walk Ons! Having grown up gay and Egyptian in NC, Logan has a strong passion for advocating for marginalized communities, specifically LGBTQ+ and Arab-American people, and hopes to continue fighting for equitable policies to advance these communities’ interests.
Luke McDermott (he/him)
Hometown: Omaha, NE
School: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Placement: Rep. Adam Schiff (CA)
Luke McDermott is a first-generation second-year undergraduate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is triple majoring in Political Science, Economics, and History while concurrently earning a Certificate in Public Policy Analysis.
He is the Government Liaison Committee Director of his university’s student government, the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In this position, he advocates on behalf of the student body at the state and national levels on issues relating to higher education funding, LGBTQ+ inclusion, faculty tenure, and pending DEI bans. His interest in state politics, especially policies concerning LGBTQ+ individuals, stems from his experience as a Legislative Page at the Nebraska Unicameral. He also serves as Chairman of the Husker Vote Coalition, the premiere civic engagement organization at the University of Nebraska.
For the past year, Luke has worked at the UNL Digital Legal Research Lab, encoding historical habeas corpus cases of marginalized peoples. His research, spanning multiple disciplines, focuses on the intersection of constitutionalism, labor, and the law. Earlier in the summer, Luke will attend the Henry Clay College Student Congress as the Delegate for Nebraska. Luke intends to pursue law school after graduation, focusing on labor and employment law as well as legal history
Annie Sheehan-Dean (they/she)
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
School: Louisiana State University
Placement: House Democratic Caucus – Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA)
Annie Sheehan-Dean is a recent graduate of Louisiana State University, where they pursued a triple major in History, Political Science, and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Annie’s honors thesis, “Imprisoned for Self-Defense: Criminalized Survivors in Louisiana,” consists of oral history interviews examining the experiences of women who were incarcerated for defending themselves against abusive partners. During their time at LSU, they coordinated activism efforts and community connections with the student organization Feminists in Action, volunteered as an undergraduate research ambassador, and served as the Chair of the LGBTQ+ Caucus. She has previously interned with Amnesty International USA and Innocence Project New Orleans, as well as worked as a legal assistant providing assistance to clients faced with employment discrimination. They are interested in pursuing a career in civil rights law, specifically advocating for criminalized survivors and LGBTQ+ folks. In her free time, Annie enjoys playing with her dog, reading, and hiking.
Larissa Strong (she/they)
Hometown: Pickerington, OH
School: Ohio University
Placement: Rep. Mark Takano (CA)
Larissa Strong (she/they) is a recent graduate from Ohio University. They studied Political Science Pre-law and Sociology Criminology with certificates in Global Leadership, Political Communications, and Law, Justice, and Culture. During her time at OHIO, she served as president of the two student organizations, the OU College Democrats and one of OU’s competitive a cappella groups, New Chords on the Block. Next year they plan to earn their master’s degree and research intersectionality and the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. Ultimately, they hope to earn a law degree and advocate for people who have been wrongfully convicted. In her spare time, she likes to read, roller skate, and create music!
Bhavyasri Suggula (she/her)
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
School: University of Virginia
Placement: Democratic Women’s Caucus – Chair Rep. Lois Frankel (FL)
Adrian Tristán (he/him)
Hometown: Laredo, TX
School: University of Texas at Austin
Placement: Rep. Greg Casar (TX)
Adrian Tristán is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin studying Government and Public Policy through the Liberal Arts Honors Program. He worked as a Legislative Intern for the Office of State Senator José Menéndez (SD-26) during the 87th Interim & 88th Regular Legislative Sessions and assisted Dr. Ashley Moran as a Global Constitutions Analyst for her research under the Comparative Constitutions Project. On campus, he serves as the Administrative Director on the Student Government Executive Board and is an active member of the Senate of College Councils, The University Theatre Guild, and the Admissions and Registration Committee under the Faculty Council. Upon graduating, Tristán intends to pursue a dual degree in Public Policy and Law to continue advocating for the communities whose shoulders he stands on.
Ashley Valois (she/her)
Hometown: Waipahu, HI
School: Clark University
Placement: Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR)
Ashley Valois is a current undergraduate student at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, raised in Oahu, Hawai’i, and immigrated from the Philippines. She is majoring in Political Science with a track in comparative politics and is also minoring in Women’s and Gender Studies. She is a proud first-generation student and was one of the 2021 United States Senate Youth Program scholars, 2 students chosen from each state to receive a $10,000 scholarship.
She currently serves as Secretary for Clark’s Undergraduate Student Council and is also a Co-President of the Asian Student Union. Ashley is also a Resident Advisor and works as a Programs Assistant for the Center for Gender, Race, and Area Studies. For the past 2 years, she was an AmeriCorps Summer Associate at her high school tutoring first-gen BIPOC students. Ashley is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives including advocating for women’s rights and tackling food insecurity.
After obtaining her undergraduate degree, Ashley plans to get her master’s degree in public administration and attend law school to pursue immigration law to help other immigrants.
Kaylyn Walker (she/her)
Hometown: Rhineland, MO
School: University of Missouri- Columbia
Placement: Rep. Cori Bush (MO)
Kaylyn Walker is a Senior currently attending the University of Missouri-Columbia. With a passion for advocacy and growth, she strives to make her voice heard in numerous organizations across campus including the Missouri Students Association, the Legion of Black Collegians, and the Alumni Association Student Board. As a senator in the Legion of Black Collegians as well as the Chair for Social Justice Affairs in the Missouri Students Association, Kaylyn works to actively address issues occurring on campus and advocate for underrepresented students attending the University. After completing her degree in Microbiology, Kaylyn hopes to attend law school and continue to be a lawyer focusing on immigration and civil rights.
