Occidental proudly welcomes the new cohort of Barack Obama Scholars: eight exemplary students from around the world who will take part in the prestigious leadership training program over the next two years.
The Obama Scholars Program at Occidental College supports accomplished students who are passionate about driving positive change. Open to students in any field of study, the program seeks individuals with a strong academic record and a deep dedication to the public good—particularly first-generation college students, veterans, and community college transfers.
Grounded in President Obama’s experience as an Occidental student in the 1980s, the program offers a transformative two-year journey that prepares Scholars for lives of leadership and service. Scholars connect with a dynamic network of mentors, including faculty advisors, leaders from partner organizations, and members of the Obama Scholars Advisory Council.
Key components of the program include:
- A fully funded, 10-week summer immersive experience focused on leadership development and hands-on learning.
- A second summer of funding for Scholars who enter the program as sophomores to pursue an independent internship, research project, or community service initiative, in the U.S. or abroad.
- Up to $10,000 in postgraduate support to help launch a career advancing the public good.
During the academic year, Scholars participate in the Obama Scholars Seminar and additional leadership development opportunities, building the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to make a lasting impact.
Meet the 2026-27 Obama Scholars
Ariadna (Ari) Rosas Garcia ’28 is double majoring in diplomacy and world affairs and Spanish studies with a focus on literature. Originally from Mexico City, she has also lived in the Dominican Republic and Guatemala, and these experiences shaped her passion for culturally grounded education. Inspired by José Martí, the Cuban poet and independence leader who emphasized the importance of knowing one’s history and culture, Ari hopes to use Latin American literature as a tool to expand access to quality education in marginalized communities in Los Angeles and across Latin America while preserving cultural knowledge and strengthening students’ confidence in their identities. In the past, she interned with the U.S. Agency for International Development in Guatemala City, supporting evaluations of educational programs for Indigenous communities by interviewing local experts in Spanish. She later designed and taught poetry-based workshops for economically disadvantaged Guatemalan teens to foster self-esteem and resilience. At Occidental, she has worked with the Multicultural Summer Institute to welcome incoming first-generation and minority students. After graduating, Ari aspires to one day work at UNESCO to expand educational opportunities while preserving cultural heritage. She plans to pursue this goal by volunteering with the Peace Corps, serving on a UN peacekeeping mission, and pursuing her career in diplomacy and Spanish literature education.
Gabriela Gomes ’28 is a sophomore from Porto, Portugal, double-majoring in economics and diplomacy and world affairs. As someone who grew up threatened by wildfires and economic instability, she is passionate about tackling climate change and economic poverty. In 2019, she began organizing protests against governmental inertia regarding climate change within Fridays For Future (FFF), a youth-led climate movement predominant in Europe. In the months prior to each protest, Gabriela relentlessly organized community-based actions such as beach clean-ups, presented about climate change science and conscious protesting at local schools, and spoke to the Portuguese media to build national awareness and support. The fruits of her work paid off in October 2019, when the Portuguese government accepted FFF’s demand to close the last two coal plants by 2021 and begin a just energy transition. In 2022, Gabriela also met with the Portuguese Minister of the Economy and Sea to negotiate the movement’s demands after a week of protests in Lisbon. This work earned her a scholarship to attend the United World College Robert Bosch in Germany, where she engaged with a community of more than 90 nationalities in intersectional climate justice. As Gabriela crossed borders from Germany to the United States, she has become increasingly more aware of her identity as a student immigrant and is working against the recent assaults on immigrants’ rights. At Occidental, she has carried these passions through IntOxy, the Student Government’s Sustainability Fund, Sunrise, and the Young Initiative on the Global Political Economy. In the future, Gabriela plans to pursue a career in academia as a professor, researching how climate change exacerbates economic poverty within countries and working alongside governments and NGOs to ensure that research findings translate into tangible, community-centered policy change.
Andrea Ibarra ’28 is a first-generation student from Altadena, CA pursuing a double major in politics and critical theory & social justice. Her work uses a holistic approach to address immigration and civil rights inequities, fostering an intersectional understanding of the unique experiences of historically marginalized groups. During her first year at Oxy, she conducted an independent research project through the ASP Research Grant examining gender-based violence against migrant women, with a focus on uncovering the layers of oppression embedded in migrant women’s journeys and how they intersect with gender and structural vulnerability. Andrea’s direct work with clients at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights taught her the importance of using the law as a tool for social change. Currently, as a JusticeCorps intern, her focus is to support self-represented litigants throughout their process in filing restraining orders, requests for orders, and unlawful detainers by offering comprehensive legal education. After graduating from Oxy, Andrea plans to pursue a legal career as an international human rights attorney to challenge unjust structures, advance equitable legal reform, and advocate for the rights of marginalized communities across borders.
Kimberly (Julisa) Menjivar ’28 is a sophomore majoring in sociology with minors in education and gender, women, and sexuality studies, and she is from South Central Los Angeles. As an aspiring attorney for children with disabilities, she is dedicated to closing the gap between education and disability within historically marginalized communities so that every student has the opportunity not just to succeed, but to thrive. On campus, she works at the Intercultural Community Center and the Education Department as a student assistant, supporting equity-centered programming and student success. She also serves her class as Sophomore Senator and is the founder of the Alternative Spring Break Club, where she advances student advocacy and community engagement. Off campus, Julisa works as a special education paraeducator, directly supporting students with diverse learning needs and strengthening her commitment to disability justice. Looking ahead, she plans to attend law school and expand her impact through her nomination for Projects for Peace, where she aims to build a cross-university student organization that mobilizes support for immigrant and historically marginalized communities.
Coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rose Ngalamulume ’28 was the first woman in her family to receive a formal primary and secondary education. As a first-generation college student, her academic journey reflects both a historic personal milestone and a broader commitment to breaking barriers and expanding opportunities for future generations. She is a double major in politics and black studies with a minor in philosophy, and her academic work explores the intersections of race, policy, and justice. Her recent research has focused on the historical and ongoing trajectory of mass incarceration in the United States, and she is currently conducting archival research on the history of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party. Beyond research, Rose is deeply engaged in campus leadership. She serves as Communications Chair for the Black Student Alliance, as Educational Coordinator for the Pan-African Student Association, and as Director of Communications for the Occidental College Undergraduate Research Association, strengthening advocacy initiatives, designing diaspora-centered programming, and expanding access to research opportunities across disciplines. After graduation, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career in public interest law, using legal advocacy to challenge systemic inequities and advance justice for historically marginalized communities.
Kyle Eric H. Smith, ’28 is a double major in physics and mathematics originally from West Los Angeles, California. He is passionate about addressing the lack of diversity in STEM fields, particularly in astrophysics, and expanding access to scientific research opportunities for underrepresented students. Kyle Eric has conducted research on the effects of dwarf galaxy mergers on star formation in order to deepen our understanding of cosmic evolution. Kyle Eric has been dedicated to the public good by bringing STEM and robotics to his community and beyond through his time as the Lead of Outreach for his FRC robotics team. Among other contributions, he played a key role in funding the construction of a STEM school in Armenia, along with starting up its first FRC team. In addition, he tutors mathematics and physics at no cost to students who may not otherwise have access to academic support. After graduation, Kyle Eric plans to pursue a PhD in Astrophysics and develop programs that broaden participation in astrophysics, ultimately working toward his long-term goal of becoming an astronaut and contributing directly to the future of human space exploration.
Aiden Thatcher ’28 is an economics and urban & environmental policy double major from Phoenix, Arizona. In particular, Aiden is fascinated by the interplay between the built urban environment and the numerous social, economic, and environmental challenges that define the 21st century. Whether through a career in urban planning or quantitative public policy research, Aiden is committed to building cities that are more sustainable, prosperous, and just. Last summer, Aiden was awarded an Anderson Fellowship, enabling him to conduct policy research focused on housing and homelessness for the Arizona Housing Coalition. Previously, during high school, Aiden helped found Project Kuungisha, which used Zoom to connect teenagers in Kenya with volunteers from around the world for a bilateral exchange of language and culture. On campus, Aiden participates in faculty research and runs for Occidental's cross country and track & field teams, in addition to serving as student body officer on the Sustainability and Renewable Energy Fund, a branch of the Associated Students of Occidental College.
Qingxi Yang ’28 is a sophomore from Beacon, New York majoring in media arts and culture with a double minor in art history and cognitive science. Since arriving at Occidental, she has collaborated with community partners and arts-based organizations throughout Los Angeles to mobilize art to combat issues of resource disparity and marginalization. Informed by her experience facilitating arts programming with the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, she aims to work in direct partnership with marginalized communities to bridge media representation and storytelling gaps and cultivate relevant, accessible engagement with art. Through her involvement with nonprofits like API RISE, she works to provide a creative platform for communities to express the issues they experience and equip individuals with the tools to pursue sustainable creative paths on their own terms. As she continues to harness media-making as a catalyst for social change, Qingxi’s goal is to fuel collective practices of transformation and healing through shaping the implementation of existing community-based arts programs and aiding in the development of newer organizations. She hopes to explore participatory documentary as a means for building enduring relationships of trust and reciprocal support while elevating perspectives that have been systemically sidelined.
