Undergraduate Ambassadors

Public Policy

Real Estate Development

Urban Studies and Planning

USC Undergrad Ambassador Bios

Adam Allen is a first-generation sophomore from Las Vegas, Nevada, now studying Public Policy with a concentration in Health Policy & Management at the University of Southern California (USC). Allen plans to begin his progressive Master’s degree in Health Administration at USC during the Fall of 2022. Having a family who specializes in both health care and medical services, Allen is both very passionate and dedicated to bringing better health care policies to Low-income minority communities across the Los Angeles community and his own.

Kendall Damon (she/her) is a junior from Massachusetts majoring in Public Policy on the Advanced Policy Analysis track, with a concentration in Environment and Energy Policy. Damon was drawn to Price’s emphasis on developing practical knowledge and skills that will translate into promoting change. Damon is passionate about climate organizing and plans to use her Price education to pursue a career at the intersection of climate policy and politics. This past year, Damon took a gap year to intern for Sara Gideon’s 2020 Senate campaign and to work on Capitol Hill. On campus, Damon is a member of the nonprofit consulting club Los Angeles Community Impact (LACI), as well as Women and Youth Supporting Each Other (WYSE), which is the University of Southern California’s largest feminist club.

Hannah Franco is a sophomore from Montebello, CA studying Public Policy with a concentration in Advanced Policy Analysis and a double-minor in Behavioral Economics and Spanish. She plans to complete her Master’s degree in Urban Planning and stay in Los Angeles to work in urban development. Having interned with An Alliance for a Better Community and with work experience at the Price Center for Social Innovation, Franco is passionate for grassroots advocacy and aims to use the opportunities offered at the Price School to make a difference in her community.

Vanessa Nguyen, originally from Wichita, Kansas, is a rising junior pursuing a Bachelor’s in Public Policy with a concentration in Advanced Health Policy Analysis and a Minor in Economics and Business Law. As someone captivated by the idea of diagnosing and addressing problems with an innovative mindset, Price School of Public Policy was the perfect fit. In addition Nguyen’s passion for improving communities, Price provides the critical thinking skills necessary for her future plans of higher education and a career in law. On campus, Nguyen is the Director of Finance and Lead Editor for the Journal of Law & Society, Treasurer for the Blackstonians Pre-Law Honor Society, Policy Analyst for the Roosevelt Institute, and a Varsity Member of the Trojan Debate Team. Off campus, Nguyen loves cooking, shopping, and hiking.

Jenna Ogawa is a junior transfer student from Palo Alto, California, now majoring in Public Policy and minoring in East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Southern California (USC). Ogawa studied at the American University of Paris before transferring to USC last fall. Over the summer, Ogawa interned as a student mentor with middle school students at the Koreatown Youth Community Center (KYCC) and is passionate about making a difference in the local community. In the future, Ogawa aims to utilize her experience and knowledge as a Price student to enact positive change within the nonprofit sector.

Yehuda (Hudi) Potash is a sophomore originally from New Orleans now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy. Potash has been interested in public policy throughout high school and is excited to get involved in housing policy or policies that address poverty. He chose Price because of its tight community and seemingly endless amount of resources. Potash is very excited to be in Los Angeles, go to museums, watch football games and to Fight On!

Rianna Rios is a junior transfer student from Pasadena City College, now pursuing a Major in Public Policy and a Minor in Performance for Social Change. Rios is from Whittier, CA; born and raised in LA County. Before attending University of Southern California (USC), Rios volunteered in India and Vietnam for four months as an English and Math teacher. This experience solidified her passion for nonprofit work and prompted her to explore the aspect of fundraising and volunteer project development. Soon after, Rios’ study abroad experience in Spain allowed her to study the interconnecting themes of language, history, and policy making in a globalized context. Accordingly, Rios is ardent to extend these global experiences into the criteria of roles in civic engagement, urban policy, and cultural/historical analysis. Rios chose the combination of policy and the arts because it adheres to the value of policymaking she wants to highlight: the importance of the “in between” stories on a frame that have not been acknowledged in today’s governments. By practicing a nexus of creativity and theory in policy making, Rios can collectively lead with a more empathetic and realistic framework. Throughout her academic career at Price, Rios plans to conduct her own research on how community performing arts projects cultivate a more inclusive and concrete mission of social change in the policy areas of sustainability (water policy) and education.

Bella Robakowski is a sophomore from Los Angeles, California, majoring in Public Policy. Bella plans on attending law school to prepare her for a career in politics. Formerly, Robakowski worked as an intern for State Senator Henry Stern, and more recently as an intern for Mayor Garcetti. Robakowski now currently interns for the USC Football Team in recruiting, and dances on the sidelines at the Galen Center and Coliseum as a member of the USC Song Girls. As a Price Ambassador, she has loved getting to share how passionate she is for Public Policy and Price. With an incredible staff of professors and advisors, and students who make the effort to build a strong community, she is proud to call Price her home.

Daniel Aung is from Yangon, Myanmar a sophomore studying Real Estate Development. Aung chose the University of Southern California’s (USC) Price School of Public Policy for the close knit community and the interdisciplinary curriculum that Price offers for real estate development. Aung is also involved in the Trojan Real Estate Association and the Burmese Student Association outside of his studies. Last year, Aung interned at a real estate investment firm in Myanmar and hopes to go into the construction related fields after graduating.

Monica Hamra is a second-year student studying Real Estate Development in Price School of Public Policy. She joins the University of Southern California (USC) and the Trojan Family from from Anaheim, California. Hamra was attracted to Price’s program by its intersection of public policy and real estate; she aims to pursue a future in real estate law. A few of Hamra’s favorite hobbies include playing trumpet in the Trojan Marching Band, exploring opportunities in the Trojan Real Estate Association, and getting involved in religious life at USC. Fight on!

Andy Kim is a sophomore from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA studying Real Estate Development. Initially coming into USC aspiring to study a variety of academic disciplines like policy and business, he chose to study Real Estate Development because he gravitated to the major’s application of policy and business through the development of real estate in America. From his education in real estate development, he is interested in pursuing real-estate law in order to connect policy, business, and law to partake in real estate development projects in metropolitan areas. Outside of his studies, he is involved in USC’s Korean Campus Ministry and works at the USC Gould Law School Library.

Hailie Person is a sophomore transfer student from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Real Estate Development at the University of Southern California. Person is still in the process of determining which specific sector of the real estate sector she wants to pursue and is currently deciding between a minor in Business Law within the Marshall School of Business, or a progressive degree in Law Studies with a Business Law certificate from the Gould School of Law. Person loves the tight-knit community feel of Price, and enjoys the outstanding amount of support from fellow students and staff. Having to delay her enrollment at USC due to COVID-19, Pearson is super excited to finally be a part of the USC Trojan Family. Fight On!

Kennedi Templeton is a junior and transfer student from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas now pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Development and a minor in Business Finance at the University of Southern California (USC).Templeton chose the Price School of Public Policy because Price encourages a collaborative and driven environment for students passionate about fostering social change at USC and throughout the world.Templeton serves as a member of the Trojan Real Estate Association (TREA), as well as the Marshall Real Estate Finance Association (MREFA). Outside of the academic realm, Templeton also competes in dressage, a form of horseback riding, and works as the writer, co-director, and co-producer of the feature documentary #VEGASSTRONG, which honors the first responders from the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas.

Daniel Yang is a sophomore studying Real Estate Development in the Price school, with a minor in Business Finance. Yang is originally from Taipei, Taiwan but right now, LA is home. He loves how Price is a smaller community with abundant resources available for students. Yang is currently working for Savills as an intern, applying what he has learned in classes to real life and gaining more hands on opportunities in the industry. Outside of school, Yang enjoys discovering nice cafes and brunch places, and travelling!

Gary Yang is a junior from Naperville, Illinois majoring in Real Estate Development. He came to USC in the Urban Studies and Planning program but transferred to Real Estate feeling it aligned more with his interest in finance and economics. This semester Yang is interning for Altus Investment Group, a private equity firm based in Chicago which specializes in rental and fix-and-flip investments. Outside of class he is involved in the Marshall Real Estate Finance Association (MREFA) as well as USC Dragon Boat.

Elisabeth Bogaard is an Urban Studies and Planning student at the Price School of Public Policy. Originally from Pasadena, California, Bogaard has a multitude of passions, including finding ways to restructure society for increased access to education, healthcare, and affordable housing for all. When Bogaard isn’t cheering on her beloved Trojans in football, basketball, volleyball, and many other sports, she enjoys running, walking, and exploring new cities. Fun fact: Bogaard’s favorite place on campus is the Doheny Library, as she loves the stunning architectural designs showcased throughout the entire building.

Phoebe Cook is a progressive degree student, who will earn her Masters in Planning and Bachelors of Science in Planning in May of 2023. A Los Angeles native, Cook has a specific interest in transportation and infrastructure planning. This past summer, she interned with Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors with the supervisor of the second district [South Los Angeles], Holly J. Mitchell. Beyond planning, Cook loves to cook, read, go to the beach, and spend time with her friends.

Celia Escobar is a junior at the University of Southern California (USC) in the Sol Price School of Public Policy pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning with a minor in Spatial Studies. Escobar currently interns for the Culver City Transportation Department within the Planning Division, and is particularly passionate about the public transportation industry, new mobility, designing walkable spaces, and improving the quality of life of community members through sustainable and effective city planning.

Tessa Ferrall is a sophomore majoring in Urban Studies and Planning with a minor in French at Dornsife. A San Francisco native, she is particularly interested in increasing opportunities for affordable and equitable housing as well as promoting environmental sustainability through city planning. In her free time, Ferrall loves hanging out with her dogs, experimenting with new recipes, watching movies and having casual debates with friends on politics and society.

Joan Lee is a junior majoring in Urban Studies and Planning with a minor in Spatial Studies. After graduation, she hopes to work in the public sector to improve equity in housing and transportation. Outside of Price, she is a Geodesign Fellow and holds leadership positions in Undergraduate Planning at Price, the Roosevelt Network at USC, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and the Student Coalition of Asian Pacific Empowerment. In her free time, Lee enjoys baking, biking, and exploring Los Angeles.

Daniel Perez is a sophomore studying Urban Studies and Planning, with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Planning. His time growing up in the beach city of Ventura, California helped shaped his passion for the environment. Perez also has a minor in Entertainment Industry as he hopes one day to work at the intersection of planning and the entertainment industry.

Issy Serna is a junior from La Habra, California, majoring in Urban Studies and Planning. Switching to Price his sophomore year, he found the Price community very welcoming and supportive of his interests within planning. He wants everyone who enters Price to have the same positive experience by providing them events to discover all the opportunities and resources at Price through his involvement in Undergraduate Planning at Price and Price Latino Student Association. This year, he is also interning at the USC Initiative to Eliminate Homelessness researching community land trusts across the United States.

Justin Smith is a sophomore in Urban Studies and Planning joining the University from Southern California (USC) from Champaign, Illinois. Growing up in a small town in the Midwest, Smith is very excited to explore the many different neighborhoods and activities Los Angeles offers. Outside of classes, Smith enjoys reading, watching movies, and playing guitar. Smith is a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Undergraduate Planning at Price, and the Environmental Student Assembly. With a strong interest in sustainability, public transportation, and affordable housing, Smith enjoys being part of the Price community and appreciates the opportunity to focus on these specific topics. Smith’s favorite thing about Price is the small class sizes that allow for engaging discussions between professors and students.