Undergraduate Internship

Bryan Thomas is a rising senior at Pomona College, where he studies sociology and biology. Bryan recently interned in immigration law and wrote asylum applications for Afghan refugees. In 2021, he worked with the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City on its annual Inner City 100 Award. Bryan has a passion for conducting research and is interested in developing skills and exploring careers in research this summer. In the future, he hopes to explore his passion for the intersections of sociology and geography. Bryan will be working on projects in the Youth Development, Criminal Justice, and Employment and the Economic Mobility, Housing, and Communities policy areas.

Rachel Pena is a rising senior at Barnard College majoring in sociology and education. Rachel is passionate about pushing for systemic change through the creation of more equitable systems within our society, particularly in improving education policy that support schools in reflecting the needs of marginalized students. Before coming to MDRC, Rachel worked with other nonprofit organizations, such as Make the Road New York and College Access: Research and Action. In the future, Rachel would like to attend law school where she hopes to use her degree to help create and defend equitable policies. Rachel will be working on projects in MDRC’s Family Well-Being and Children’s Development policy area.

Michael Guerrero is a rising senior at New York University’s College of Arts and Science, where his academic pursuits encompass psychology, business studies, and Spanish. With a passion for research, Michael has gained experience in aiding dual-language learners in preschool settings and implementing motivational strategies to foster positive adolescent development. He has worked for America Reads, Proud to Be First, and the Social Perception Action and Motivation Lab. His keen interest in data analysis and behavioral research further highlights his dedication to understanding the workings of human behavior in the social policy field. Looking ahead, Michael envisions a future in public interest law, aspiring to pursue this path at NYU Law. Michael will be working on projects in MDRC’s Family Well-Being and Children’s Development policy area and Youth Development, Criminal Justice and Employment policy area.

David Alvarracin, born and raised in Queens, is a rising senior at the University of Rochester, where he majors in financial economics. David is passionate about the intersections of economics and life outcomes with a special interest in supporting students in the public education system. He previously worked at Legal Outreach as a college access intern, where he tutored rising high school seniors for the SAT and provided them with insights to the college process. In the future, David would like to pursue a military career and earn a PhD in Education Policy. David is the recipient of the Gueron Scholars Program undergraduate internship named in honor of the late Rebecca Blank, former member of the MDRC Board of Directors. David will be working on projects in MDRC’s Postsecondary Education and Economic Mobility, Housing, and Communities policy areas.