Archer Fellowship offers transformative internships for Roadrunners in the nation’s capital

The Archer fellows visit the White House in Washington D.C.

JULY 1, 2025 — During the 2024–2025 academic year, 11 UTSA undergraduate students were selected to participate in the Bill Archer Fellowship Program. The competitive program picks top students from across the UT System to complete semester-long internships in Washington, D.C., at places like the White House, Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, and other federal agencies and nonprofit organizations.

The fellowship gives students a unique chance to live and work in the nation’s capital, where they get hands-on experience with policymaking and civic engagement while gaining access to invaluable networking opportunities. Students also earn course credit by enrolling in classes on policy, history and advocacy taught by UT System faculty and policy experts in the Washington, D.C. community.

To increase accessibility to the program, the UTSA Honors College ensures that fixed costs, such as program fees and housing, are fully covered for any UTSA student selected for the fellowship. The college also offers students guidance during the Archer application process and internship search and provides students with support throughout their semester living in D.C.

“Our internships weren’t just about policy and paperwork. They were about learning what it means to be a public servant.”

Jasmin Paquet-Durand Ford ’24, a recent economics graduate and Honors College student, completed her fellowship during the fall of 2024 at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where she worked as a youth engagement and communications intern.

“I gained a deeper understanding of how change happens at the federal level,” she said in a previous article about her experience. “From managing youth engagement programs to writing communications for senior officials, every task felt purposeful and impactful because the work that NOAA does is so important.”

Her internship led to a full-time job offer as a public affairs specialist with NOAA in D.C., which she began shortly after graduating from UTSA.

Allen Brown-Zubillaga ’25, who graduated in May with a sociology degree, completed his fellowship at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, a research institute housed in the Georgetown University Law Center. While there, the Honors College student gained experience as a grant writer and policy researcher.

“Our internships weren’t just about policy and paperwork. They were about learning what it means to be a public servant — to listen deeply, to write with purpose and to lead with empathy,” Brown-Zubillaga said. “And none of that would have been possible without the Archer Fellowship Program.”

The remaining UTSA Archer Fellows completed internships at various organizations across Washington, D.C. during the fall and spring semesters:

Fall 2024 Archer Fellows

• Ricardo Ayala, Institute of World Politics
• Kaitlynn Brackens, Research!America
• Thomas Carroll, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
• Cristian Garcia Pecina, D.C. Witness
• Kathryn Hipolito, Office of U.S. Representative Pat Fallon (TX-4)
• Fiona Valorz, EarthDay.org​

Spring 2025 Archer Fellows

• Lennon Maldonado, DCEFF: Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital
• Amy Salazar-Molina, Office of U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20)
• Karisa Scott, Office of U.S. Representative Julie Johnson (TX-32)

The Bill Archer Fellowship was established in 2010 by the UT System in conjunction with former U.S. Representative Bill Archer with the goal of bringing high-achieving Texas undergraduate students to Washington, D.C. for internships, education and to develop the next generation of leaders in the public and private sectors.

The UTSA Honors College offers all Roadrunners the opportunity to participate in programs like the Archer Fellowship that expand their knowledge and help them grow as students and leaders. From internships and community-based service learning to study abroad programs and undergraduate research, the college’s emphasis on experiential learning and career readiness ensures that students develop both in and out of the classroom, preparing them for success after graduation.

— Chloe Johnson