Alyssa Seufert
(She/Her)
Hi! My name is Alyssa, and I’m a freshman from Houston, majoring in International Relations & Global Studies and Plan II! In my free time, I like to read, write, paint, play guitar, listen to music, and volunteer. I have a huge soft spot for animals. In high school I fostered many puppies and kittens, and I love to volunteer at animal shelters. I also love to travel, and one of my goals is to go to as many countries as I can in my lifetime. I’m looking forward to becoming more involved in the Austin community and am so excited to be a Walker Fellow!
Kate Mader
(She/Her)
Kate Mader is a freshman majoring in Chemistry and Plan II, and is in the Polymathic Scholars Honors Program. She grew up in Dallas, TX, where she discovered a deep love for the environment and the sciences. She is passionate about using the sciences to combat the climate crisis, and spreading awareness about waste pollution and sustainability. In her free time she loves watching movies, reading, making jewelry, painting, listening to music, and training with Texas Taekwondo. Her favorite movies are directed by Christopher Nolan (especially Interstellar), and she loves music by Hans Zimmer, AURORA, and Stray Kids. As a Walker Fellow, Kate would love to learn how to effectively address environmental concerns in the Austin community, and learn more about the city!
Joycie Brass
(She/Her)
Joycie Brass is a first-year student from Houston, TX. She is currently dual-majoring in Biology and Plan II, and is pursuing a certificate in Core Texts and Ideas through the Jefferson Scholars Program. Joycie is passionate about mental health advocacy and accessibility, and was regularly involved in the promotion of these issues in high school. She pursued independent scientific research surrounding the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of high school students. Joycie is also a lover of music, and greatly enjoyed playing the keyboard in her student-organized rock band Electric Lunch. In her free time she enjoys cooking for her friends, reading (currently in a Sally Rooney phase), and trying new Austin restaurants. She hopes that her time in the Walker Fellowship will help her learn the skills to bring ideas into practice so that she can become a better asset to her community.
Riley Chesney
(She/Her)
Riley is a second-year student from Austin, Texas double majoring in Plan II Honors and Human Dimensions of Organization. Being from Austin, Riley has been able to deepen her relationships with the city’s charitable organizations, and has been introduced to new ones through the Walker Fellowship. On campus, Riley is a member of the KIPP Partnership program, where she mentors middle-school students at KIPP charter schools around Austin. This program has given her an interest in education equity and policy, and reiterated her commitment to working with children. Riley hopes to show others the fun in service work, and encourages those with all levels of volunteer experience to give back in a way that feels rewarding to them. In her free time, Riley loves to visit her family (for the dog) and watch movies with her friends. She likes to watch other people’s favorite movies, so if you see her, give her a recommendation.
Sriya Dommaraju
(She/Her)
Sriya Dommaraju is a third-year student from Dallas, Texas majoring in Human Biology and Plan II with a certificate in Patients, Practitioners, and Cultures of Care. Driven by a passion for reducing healthcare access disparities, Sriya actively engages in the women’s healthcare cohort. In her free time, Sriya enjoys playing volleyball with friends and learning to play new songs on the guitar.
Klaudia Misztal
(she/her)
Klaudia is a third year student double-majoring in Plan II Honors and Psychology (B.S.) on the pre-med track. She was born in Poland and grew up in a variety of places, including California, Colorado, Scotland, and finally Austin, where she moved during high school. Klaudia’s deep fascination with psychology and human behavior from a young age fueled her passion for healthcare, particularly mental health, and she hopes to become a psychiatrist one day to help those suffering with mental health conditions. Klaudia is currently a volunteer Crisis Counselor for the Crisis Text Line, a research assistant at Dr. Jessica Church-Lang’s Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab at UT, and volunteers in the emergency room at a local hospital. One of her favorite hobbies is learning languages (currently speaking Polish, Spanish, and French and hoping to add more to that list!) and she is pursuing a certificate in Spanish for the Medical Professions. As a Walker Fellow, Klaudia is incredibly excited to collaborate with her cohort using a shared passion for civic engagement to create a positive impact on the Austin community!