School of Public Policy

Randall Lewis Policy Fellowship Program Launches at UCR

by Urban Cross

On Friday, September 26th, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) School of Public Policy will celebrate the launch of its new Randall Lewis Policy Fellows Program and the first cohort of Fellows, comprising UCR Master of Public Policy (MPP) students.

The program is housed within the Center for Community Solutions, a research center of the UCR School of Public Policy. Participating fellows receive stipends of up to $8,000 to complete 400 hours of paid policy work. This opportunity empowers MPP students to give back to their communities by applying the knowledge and skills they gain throughout their education to develop real-world solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.

“We are profoundly grateful to Randall Lewis for his generosity and vision in launching this program,” said Justine Ross, the Executive Director of the Center for Community Solutions, and program lead. “Our MPP students are some of the most driven, civic-minded emerging leaders in our region, and the Randall Lewis Policy Fellowship opens the door for them to gain real-world experience while tackling the Inland Empire’s biggest challenges. By joining forces with our outstanding host organizations, we’re building a powerful pipeline that will help keep policy talent local, with the goal of strengthening both our students’ futures and the future of our region… As the School of Public Policy marks its 10th anniversary, we are especially proud to launch a program that honors this milestone by investing in our students and the future of our communities.”

MPP student and inaugural fellow Rachel Strausman shared her excitement about the program. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to be a Randall Lewis Policy Fellow this upcoming year,” she said. “As a master’s student, it is truly invaluable to be able to work in a professional environment much like one I hope to work for in the future and gain meaningful, hands-on experience. I am especially eager to work with the Riverside County Office of Homelessness Services, where I will be able to learn from dedicated policy professionals all while giving back to the Riverside community.”

2025-2026 Fellowships:

• Jocelyn Escobar - Inland Empire Health Plan
• Esther Mejia -  Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, Inland Empire
• Juna Park-Rogers - Growing Inland Achievement
• Sravika Pillarsietty - Housing Authority of San Bernardino County
• Elizabeth Lopez - Inland Empire Community Collaborative
• Munazza Khalid - Inland Empire Community Foundation
• Lincoln Yang - Inland Southern California Housing Collective
• Jessica Jiannino - Parkview Legacy Foundation
• Rachel Strausman - Riverside County Homelessness Solution
• Brenda Tontz - Riverside County Workforce Development
• Niloofar Shoja Razavi - Western Municipal Water District
• Michael Iniquez - Neighbor Partnership Housing Services
• Charles Dorado - City of Riverside

To learn more about the Randall Lewis Policy Fellowship, visit https://communitysolutions.ucr.edu/randall-lewis-policy-fellowship or contact Justine Ross at justine.ross@ucr.edu.