Meet the 2026-27 Foundation Fellows

Adedayo Adeniyi

Senior Manager, Advocacy & Operations
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Adedayo Adeniyi leads AFSP’s national Advocacy Ambassador Program, directs Congressional advocacy initiatives, develops policy and advocacy resources, and supports federal legislative and regulatory priorities. Prior to his current role, Adedayo worked for GO2 for Lung Cancer, the office of Rep. Nikema Williams of Georgia and the Association of American Medical Colleges. He holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science degree in public health from East Carolina University.

Musical artist on repeat: Frank Ocean

Favorite comfort food: Fufu and egusi

Travel bucket list: Any Southeast Asian country

Mark Borges

Senior Manager, Issue Advocacy
National Association of Manufacturers

Mark Borges develops and executes integrated public affairs campaigns advancing the priorities of manufacturers across the United States. Before joining the association, Mark worked across government, consulting and nonprofit organizations in California, including the California Natural Resources Agency and Lucas Public Affairs. Mark holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in environmental management and protection from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He is also a former Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellow.

Musical artist on repeat: Beyoncé

Favorite comfort food: Butter chicken

Travel bucket list: Anywhere in Asia

Darian Burrell-Clay

Senior Manager, Federal Affairs
Children’s Hospital Association

Darian Burrell-Clay leads his organization’s advocacy efforts in the U.S. Senate and advances federal policy initiatives that improve the health and well-being of children nationwide. His policy portfolio includes Medicaid, children’s health coverage, workforce development, youth mental health and medical innovation. Prior to joining the association, Darian worked in both the public and nonprofit sectors, including in the Senate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Musical artist on repeat: Beyoncé

Favorite comfort food: Tacos

Travel bucket list: Reykjavík, Iceland

Carolina Gonzalez

Senior Policy Advisor
UnidosUS

Carolina is a public health professional whose commitment to advancing health equity is deeply rooted in her upbringing in an immigrant seasonal farmworker family. Her career has spanned the federal government and nonprofit sectors, including roles with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the HEAL Food Alliance. She holds a Master of Public Health degree and is passionate about bringing together lived experience, community priorities and policy expertise to help shape a more equitable health care system, particularly for communities that have historically been underserved.

Cameron Griffin

Engagement Advisor
Southern California Edison

Cameron Griffin develops stakeholder engagement, communications and policy strategies that support his company’s clean energy, infrastructure and reliability goals. Prior to joining Southern California Edison, Cameron worked in the California State Assembly, holding positions with Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, Senator Ling Ling Chang and Assemblymember Marc Steinorth. Cameron holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Claremont McKenna College.

Musical artist on repeat: Vince Staples

Favorite comfort food: Gumbo

Travel bucket list: South Africa

Abigail “Abi” Haigh

Director, Strategic Initiatives
Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Abigail Haigh’s work focuses on Face the Fight, a coalition of more than 300 corporations, foundations, nonprofits and government partners working collectively to raise awareness, reduce stigma and engage communities around veteran suicide prevention. Before joining the foundation, she advocated on veterans’ affairs and defense policy at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. A native of Portland, Maine, Abi holds dual degrees in international politics and African studies from Pennsylvania State University. Her commitment to public service and the military community is personal: Both her parents served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and her husband served in the U.S. Air Force.

Musical artist on repeat: Mac Miller

Favorite comfort food: Thai takeout

Travel bucket list: Loire Valley, France

Julio Hernandez

Advocacy and Policy Manager
American Association of Endodontists

Julio Cesar Hernandez supports his organization’s state and federal legislative monitoring, grassroots member engagement and policy communications. Prior to this role, he worked for the Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Public Schools, the U.S. Social Security Administration and the office of U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. Julio holds a Master of Public Administration degree in public management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Illinois Chicago. He has also earned the Association AI Professional (AAiP) designation.

Musical artist on repeat: Karol G

Favorite comfort food: Deep-dish pizza

Travel bucket list: French Polynesia

Micaiah Kimble-Glover

Director
LSG

Micaiah Kimble-Glover manages public affairs and communications campaigns for clients across the energy, healthcare, transportation and democracy sectors. Before LSG, Micaiah worked at Quadrant Strategies, Scott Circle Communications and GBH News. Her approach to communications took shape while she was organizing on a high-profile U.S. Senate campaign, an experience that instilled a lasting belief in the power of truthful, motivating storytelling to move people to action. Micaiah holds a master’s degree in journalism from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from the University of Georgia.

Musical artist on repeat: Aretha Franklin

Favorite comfort food: Tomato soup and grilled cheese

Travel bucket list: Hiking Cotswold Way, ending in Bath and the Jane Austen Festival

Sarah Lin

Chief of Staff, Policy
Lyft

Sarah manages the agenda and operations of the office of the Chief Policy Officer, working closely with an international team of public policy and government relations staff covering more than 11 countries around the world. Prior to this role, she managed Lyft’s PAC and political giving operations and previously served as the national Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander engagement director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In 2023, Sarah was named to the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics and Public Affairs’ “40 Under 40” list of AAPI political operatives. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree with highest honors from Rutgers University and a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where she studied as a Center for Public Leadership Gleitsman Fellow. Sarah is also a proud hotline volunteer and volunteer supervisor for the National Sexual Assault Hotline, as well as a clinic volunteer for Restoration Immigration Legal Aid.

Musical artist on repeat: John Mayer

Favorite comfort food: Bubble tea

Travel bucket list: Amalfi Coast

Judy Ly

Senior Account Manager
Beekeeper Group

Judy partners with organizations to design impactful campaigns that amplify voices, influence decision makers and drive meaningful outcomes at the state and federal levels. Before joining Beekeeper Group, Judy worked for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. House of Representatives. She holds a leadership role with Women in Government Relations and was named a Judy Schneider Fellow in 2023. A Las Vegas native, Judy earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University.

Musical artist on repeat: Beyoncé

Favorite comfort food: Vietnamese beef pho or spicy beef noodle soup (bun bo hue)

Travel bucket list: South Korea

Taylor Nkollo

Manager, Government Relations
Austin Chamber of Commerce

Taylor Nkollo works to advance priorities that strengthen the economic competitiveness and continued growth of central Texas. Her experience includes serving in the office of the late Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, along with legal and policy roles with the federal judiciary and public interest organizations. Taylor earned her Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree in letters-constitutional studies, cum laude, from the University of Oklahoma. She is also a graduate of Leadership Austin and previously represented Texas as America’s Most Beautiful Miss Texas 2023.

Musical artist on repeat: James Fauntleroy

Favorite comfort food: Butter chicken and garlic naan

Travel bucket list: The Pyramids of Giza

Zayna Resley

Private Sector Partnerships Manager
Pacific Legal Foundation

At Pacific Legal Foundation, a nonprofit public interest law firm, Zayna Resley works with corporations and trade associations to advance litigation and policy priorities through strategic engagement and advocacy. Zayna began her career in Washington, D.C., working in state government affairs at a think tank. She holds a Master of Science degree in politics and communication from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Arizona. As the daughter of a Syrian Christian immigrant, Zayna grew up with a strong appreciation for the opportunities available to her and the importance of advocating for others.

Musical artist on repeat: Chet Baker

Favorite comfort food: Mediterranean food

Travel bucket list: Japan

Jasmine Scott

Government & Sustainability Affairs Lead
Syngenta

Jasmine L. Scott helps advance strategies at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability and public policy. She also serves as Syngenta’s PAC manager, supporting and engaging nearly 600 members. She previously held roles with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s Natural Resources and Environment division. Jasmine, a native of Madison, North Carolina, holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from North Carolina A&T State University and a master’s degree in agricultural and extension education from Virginia Tech. She is pursuing a doctorate in public administration and policy at Virginia Tech.

Musical artist on repeat: Kirk Franklin

Favorite comfort food: Shrimp and grits

Travel bucket list: South Africa

Nicholas Thompson

Senior Associate, Public Policy and Government Affairs
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Nicholas Thompson advises St. Jude on public policy, government affairs and external affairs across U.S. states and at the local level. Previously, Nicholas was a legislative research analyst for the Memphis City Council. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and his MBA in healthcare management from Freed-Hardeman University, and he completed postgraduate coursework at the University of South Florida.

Musical artist on repeat: Drake

Favorite comfort food: Memphis honey-gold chicken wings

Travel bucket list: Finland

About the Foundation Fellows Program

Launched in 2023, the Foundation Fellows program supports emerging public affairs professionals through mentorship, professional development and opportunities to build relationships across the field.

The program is made possible by the generous support of donors to the Foundation for Public Affairs. Their contributions help develop the next generation of public affairs leaders and strengthen the profession’s future.

Learn more about the Foundation for Public Affairs and its Fellowship program.