(From left) Lilith Breazeale, Oklahoma State University; Phoebe Truong, University of California, Berkeley; Karina Villeda, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities; Savanna Worley, University of Minnesota—Twin Cities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today’s Students Coalition (TSC) announced its newest cohort of Student Ambassador Fellows today. In its third year, the fellowship annually recognizes four outstanding student-advocates and aims to expand their advocacy and civic leadership skills while deepening their knowledge of federal postsecondary education policy.
The fellows were selected from a competitive pool of applicants from across the U.S. Following in the footsteps of fellowship alumni, student ambassadors will receive training on the federal legislative process, build on their civic engagement skills, and learn the power of storytelling to shed light on critical issues and inspire change.
Founded on the principles of commitment to equity, federal policy for today’s students, and sustainable change, fellows will elevate the voices of students to help inform policymakers on their experiences in higher education. The fellowship program empowers students interested in pursuing public sector careers and leadership roles through training, mentorship, and professional development, educating them on the political, civic, and operational dimensions of policy work.
Meet the 2024-2025 fellows:
The third cohort of TSC Student Ambassador Fellows runs through May 2025.
Lilith Breazeale, a psychology student at Oklahoma State University and a professional youth advocate whose work includes advancing student mental health, improving sex education, and drug prevention. She is also a member of Omega Phi Alpha, a national community service sorority.
Phoebe Truong, a senior transfer student at University of California, Berkeley, studying society and environment with a minor in public policy. While serving as a student trustee at her community college in the San Diego Community College district she developed an interest in public service. Truong has also interned for Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, the UC Berkeley Basic Needs, and the California High-Speed Rail Authority. She is interested in increasing affordable internet access, basic needs, and supporting transfer students in higher education.
Karina Villeda, a nontraditional, first-generation student and single mother who was pregnant and faced job instability during the pandemic when she enrolled in college despite many doubts. During the past three years, she has advocated for better higher education policies in Minnesota, especially for marginalized groups. Now a senior at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, Villeda plans to graduate with a bachelor’s in political science and psychology and attend law school in fall 2025
Savanna Worley, a first-generation and parenting student, is a senior working toward a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in family social sciences at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities. A single mother of two children, she’s engaged with the UMN Student Parent Help Center, a member of the Student Parent Advisory Council and a second-year scholar with Raise the Barr, a program founded by 4x Pro Bowl linebacker Anthony Barr. Worley also currently holds an internship as a resource advocate with Tubman Chrysalis Center in Minneapolis.
About Today’s Students Coalition
Today’s Students Coalition (TSC) sits at the heart of a diverse group of the nation’s leading policy and advocacy member organizations, affiliates, and student advocates united for impact on federal policy changes that better serve today’s students. The Coalition is dedicated to forging the future of higher education through bipartisan initiatives focused on the needs of learners who are working adults, parenting students, military-connected, and first-generation students.
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