image: Six University of Texas at Arlington students are participating in The Archer Fellowship Program, a prestigious University of Texas System initiative that offers firsthand experience in public policy and decision-making. Undergraduate and graduate students in the program spend either the fall, spring or summer semester at The Archer Center on the UT System campus in Washington, D.C., living, learning and working alongside peers from across 14 UT System institutions. Fellows complete a full-time internship aligned with their academic and professional goals and take courses taught by UT System faculty and policy experts.
Credit: UTA
Six University of Texas at Arlington students are participating in The Archer Fellowship Program, a prestigious University of Texas System initiative that offers firsthand experience in public policy and decision-making.
Undergraduate and graduate students in the program spend either the fall, spring or summer semester at The Archer Center on the UT System campus in Washington, D.C., living, learning and working alongside peers from across 14 UT System institutions. Fellows complete a full-time internship aligned with their academic and professional goals and take courses taught by UT System faculty and policy experts.
“Participating in The Archer Fellowship Program has a profound impact on students' lives,” said Bobbie Brown, director of advanced placement in UT Arlington’s Honors College. “They have the chance to work alongside influential individuals who create and shape federal policy, network with professionals and mentors, learn from their peers and experience Washington, D.C., in a way that few other programs offer.”
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Destiny Aladeyelu, a UTA public health graduate student and aspiring attorney, said her experience as an Archer Fellow reaffirmed her desire to attend law school and pursue a career in public service.
“It has been extremely rewarding,” Aladeyelu said. “From having my first Archer class at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial to starting my internship with Girl Up, a leadership development initiative within the United Nations Foundation, I have had many opportunities to learn more about myself and the world around me.”
Serena Karim, a senior Honors College student and nursing major, completed an internship at the American Nurses Association (ANA).
“I had the opportunity to accompany ANA lobbyists on their meetings with representatives on Capitol Hill, participate in the regulatory process by helping ANA produce comment letters for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and assist in researching the impact of Medicaid funding on nurses and patients,” Karim said. “During my time as an Archer Fellow, I learned how valuable a nurse’s voice can be in conversations about public service and advocacy.”
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Daniela Pedraja, who is pursuing her master’s degree in data analytics, called her internship at the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress one of the greatest honors of her life.
“I've always had an interest in policy,” she said. “No matter the academic path I take, I always find my way back to the place where change is at the forefront of people's minds.”
Graduate student Ariana Hernandez, a member of the 2025 summer cohort, said she is enjoying attending classes at historic locations and immersing herself in the Washington, D.C., culture.
“I’m excited to deepen my understanding of policies affecting women at the national level,” Hernandez said. “I hope to gain insight into how these policies are shaped and what we can do to influence them from within government spaces.”
The UTA students who have participated—or are currently participating—in the program encourage students to embrace the unique opportunities available through initiatives like The Archer Fellowship Program.
“One piece of advice that’s really stuck with me—and that I’d pass along to future students—is to take advantage of every opportunity here: attend events, meet new people, and step outside your comfort zone,” Hernandez said. “That’s where the real growth happens.”
Meet the 2024-2025 UTA Archer Fellows:
Destiny Aladeyelu
After finishing her undergraduate degree in public health at UTA in 2024, Aladeyelu is pursuing a master's degree in public health with a concentration in urban health. She plans to attend law school and work on public health policy issues.
Ariana Hernandez
A graduate student in communications, Hernandez plans to pursue a career focused on research in media framing, policy and advocacy.
Serena Karim
Karim’s interest in advocacy stems from bioethics research, such as her previous work on how unclaimed bodies are used for medical education. After graduation, she plans to become a critical care nurse and pursue a doctoral degree in nursing.
Daniela Pedraja
A master’s student in economic data analytics, Pedraja plans to use her policy knowledge in economic disparities to reduce income inequalities.
Evan Saunders
A political science major, Saunders completed an internship at The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress before graduating in spring 2025. Saunders plans to attend law school and pursue a career in civil rights law.
Lei-Sea Sky
A senior pursuing a dual degree in social work and political science, Sky served as an intern for the D.C. Office of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing. At UTA, she has served as an American Sign Language tutor, an IDEA Fellow and a Deaf student mentor. After graduation, Sky intends to pursue a master’s degree in social work.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.