The Archer Fellow Alumni Association was founded in the spring of 2003 by former participants of the Archer Fellow program to provide a structure by which alumni can come together for social opportunities and to support the ongoing efforts of the Archer Center. The Archer Fellow Alumni Association has been instrumental in continued marketing of the program during recruitment season as well as in fundraising efforts. The Archer Fellow Alumni Association hosted its first fundraising event on October 2, 2003 in Austin. About 75 people attended including Larry Faulkner, former president of The University of Texas at Austin, Charly Walker, alumnus of The University of Texas and former deputy secretary of the Treasury, and Bill Archer, former Congressman and Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee and namesake of the program. The 2005 Archer Fellow Alumni Scholarship Fundraiser held in the UT System Office of Federal Relations allowed for the start of an endowed scholarship for a deserving Archer Fellow each semester. The endowment continues to grow each year through the generosity of our Alumni, Advisory Board and support from foundations.
All former participants of the Bill Archer Fellowship Program are automatically deemed members of the AFAA. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the social and networking events as well as in recruiting and fundraising efforts. Since 2003, regular AFAA events occur in both Washington, D.C. and in Texas to encourage continued friendship among alumni. To learn more about how you can help out, please contact your class representative or any member of the Alumni Leadership Board.
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President - Christine Powers (Fall 2001)
christinepowers@alumni.utexas.net
Christine Powers is an associate at Hiersche, Hayward, Drakeley & Urbach, P.C. practicing commercial litigation after graduating cum laude from the SMU Dedman School of Law. In law school, she was on the mock trial team, received a Trial Advocacy scholarship, and was voted Executive Board Member of the Year of the Board of Advocates. Christine has been an active big sister in Big Brothers Big Sisters for several years in Dallas. Christine interned at the White House in Fall 2001 in the First Lady's Projects Office. At the University of Texas at Austin, she was President of Beta Alpha Rho Pre-Law Fraternity and founded the Archer Alumni Association in 2002. |
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Vice President & Spring 2008 Class Representative - Dareth Finn
DarethF@aol.com
Dareth currently works as a Program Coordinator for The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, an organization that provides college students across the country with opportunities to work and learn in Washington, DC. Dareth graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in May 2009. While at the University, Dareth was an active leader on the University Panhellenic Council and was highly involved with the Archer Center’s recruiting efforts on campus. As an Archer Fellow in the spring of 2008, she interned in the press office of Senator Joseph Lieberman. Dareth is thrilled to give back to an organization that has meant so much to her by serving on the AAA Leadership Board. |
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Events Chair - Amber Ahmed (Fall 2007)
jamberahmed@gmail.com
Amber graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas in December 2007. At UTD, she was involved with the Collegium V Honors College, the First Year Leader Program, Kappa Alpha Theta, Panhellenic Council, Order of Omega, and Student Government; she also interned at the Center for American and International Law. As an Archer Fellow in the Fall of 2007, Amber had the opportunity to intern for the UT System, Office of Federal Relations. Amber stayed in Washington after her semester as an Archer concluded, and served as a Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). In August 2008, Amber moved back to Texas to attend the University of Texas School of Law. In the Summer of 2009, she served as a law clerk for the Texas Railroad Commission. Amber currently lives in Austin, Texas. She enjoys golf, travel, Texas history, and spending time with other Archer fellows. Amber will graduate from law school in May 2011.
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Events Co-Chair & Fall 2008 Class Representative - Ana Tavares
anajtavares@gmail.com
Ana Tavares was an Archer Fellow in Fall 2008 representing the University of Texas at Dallas where she majored in Historical Studies and Literary Studies. While in D.C. she interned for the Association of American Universities. Following her fellowship and graduation Ana began work at the Dallas Regional Chamber as their Manager of Healthcare Initiatives. Starting in Fall of 2009 Ana will be pursuing a Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration at the University of Texas in Austin. |
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Scholarship Chair - Sarah Islam (Spring 2004)
sarahislam@gmail.com
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Scholarship Development Chair - Catherine Pepper (Spring 2006)
catherinepepper@gmail.com
Catherine Pepper was a Bill Archer Fellow in Spring 2006 and interned in the Government Relations department of Applied Materials. After graduating, she worked for U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) as Deputy Scheduler. In September 2007, Catherine joined the Republican State Leadership Committee and is currently the Program Director for the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee. Catherine is a member of the Junior League of Washington and volunteers as a docent at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
A Texas native, Catherine attended The University of Texas at Austin where she received a B.S. in Public Relations and a B.A. in Government and was active in the Distinguished Speakers Committee and Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Relations and expects to graduate in December 2010. |
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Public Relations Chair - Krupa Patel (Fall 2007)
krupa.patel1@gmail.com
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Spring 2001 - Jacob Holder
jacob_holder@hotmail.com
After the Archer Program, Jacob moved to Spain where he learned Spanish, lived and worked for two years. Later he returned to the States and took a PR position for Dell for another couple of years. He currently resides in Santiago, where he is working for a Chilean company in marketing communications. |
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Fall 2001 - Andrea Guidry
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Spring 2002 - Marisela Salayandia
salayandia.marisela@gmail.com
Marisela Salayandia was an Archer Fellow in Spring 2002. She was born and raised in El Paso Texas and graduated in 2002 from The University of Texas at Austin. Presently, she is a Legislative Assistant for the Democratic House Committee on Homeland Security. |
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Fall 2002 - Jennifer Mock
jmock25@gmail.com
Jennifer Mock worked at Congressional Quarterly during her time in Washington covering the 2002 elections. Following her graduation for UT-Austin in May 2003 with a degree in journalism, Jennifer went to work for The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City. She was only there six months before CQ brought her back to D.C. to cover the 2004 elections. She covered the House, Senate, gubernatorial and presidential elections in 13 states, including Texas. Following the elections, she returned to The Oklahoman Capitol bureau, where she currently covers the state House of Representatives. She is also the head of the Oklahoma City chapter of the Texas Exes. |
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Spring 2003 – Erin Dougherty
erin.dougherty@utdallas.edu
Erin Dougherty is currently the Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving for UT Dallas. After completing the Archer program, she spent a semester in Boston working as a MassCorps volunteer for Massachusetts Community Water Watch, and then returned to UT Dallas to complete her Master’s degree in Public Affairs. She and her husband, Ray, live in Wylie, TX. |
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Fall 2003 – DeLisa Lay
delisa.lay@gmail.com
DeLisa Lay interned at the United Nations Information Centre during her semester in Washington in the fall of 2003. She currently works as a research analyst for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and plans to attend law school next fall. |
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Spring 2004 - April Adams
aprilaadams@hotmail.com
April A. Adams (any resemblance to the Archer Alumni Association is mere coincidence, we are of no relation) came to DC as an Archer Fellow in the spring of 2004. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she moved to Washington and has remained very active with the Archer Center. She currently works at Denny Miller Associates and resides in Alexandria, Virginia. |
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Fall 2004 – Katie Short
katieshort@mac.com
Katie, a Fall 2004 Archer Fellow, graduated from UT Austin in May 2006 with a BA in Government and Anthropology. She moved to Washington, DC and began working for America Votes tracking legislation. She has since left America Votes for a position at the Brookings Institution where she works today. |
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Spring 2005 - Carl Holshouser
carl_holshouser@hutchison.senate.gov
Carl has a BA in Government with Liberal Arts Honors from UT Austin. In May of 2006 he was named Special Assistant and Personal Aide to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with former Archer Center Assistant Director April Adams. |
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Fall 2005 – Daniel Noll
daniel.noll@mail.utexas.edu
As a member of the Fall 2005 class Daniel interned with the Center for International Policy’s National Security Department. Currently, Daniel is finishing his BA in Government with Liberal Arts Honors while working for the UT System Administration as an assistant web developer/graphic designer. After graduation, he intends to pursue a graduate degree in U.S. foreign policy and to travel overseas to continue studying Arabic. |
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Spring 2006 – Crystal (Longoria) Villarreal
crystal.longoria@gmail.com
Crystal was a Communications and Marketing Intern for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Spring of 2006. She will graduate with Honors in May 2007 from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she hopes to attend an accredited law school. |
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Fall 2006 - Dmitri Shneider
dmitri.shneider@gmail.com
Dmitri Shneider graduated The University of Texas at Dallas with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in Economics. At UTD, he served in the Student Government, as Vice-President of the Financial Management Association and as captain of the chess team.
He is an International Chess Master, a two-time Pan-American Gold medalist and the recipient of the Samford Fellowship (2003). Dmitri founded BGS Chess, an organization that provides chess educational services to children in the North Texas area, and served as President from 2005-2007.
During his time as an Archer Fellow, Dmitri interned at CNFA, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the standard of living in rural areas in the less developed parts of the world. Currently, Dmitri is an analyst in the Private Bank at J.P. Morgan in New York City. |
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Spring 2007 – Pamela (Palagonia) Hughes
pamelahughes08@gmail.com
During the spring 2007 semester, Pamela interned at the White House in the Office of Media Affairs. Upon receiving her BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas in May 2007, she returned to the office as the Executive Assistant. She has since departed the White House and currently works as an Account Executive at Powell Tate, the DC-based office of Weber Shandwick PR. |
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Fall 2007 – Katie Naranjo
katie.naranjo@gmail.com
In the fall of 2007 Katie Naranjo interned for Congressman Lloyd Doggett and the Democratic National Committee. A life long Democrat, Katie was recently elected the President of College Democrats of America. As a senior at UT, Katie will spend her year completing her PR/Government double major and working for success for the Democratic Party in November. |
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Fall 2007 – Allison Tisdale
allisontisdale@gmail.com
Allison was an Archer Fellow in the Fall class of 2007. As an Archer she worked with former Congressman Tom Loeffler at his lobbying firm, The Loeffler Group. After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Government and Ethical Leadership, Allison was eager to get back to DC. She is currently pursuing her law degree at George Mason. |
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Fall 2008 - Manfred Mecoy
mmecoy@gmail.com
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Spring 2009 – Kimberly Miller
KimberlyMiller06@gmail.com
During the spring 2009 semester Kimberly interned with former Congressman Tom Loeffler of The Loeffler Group, a bi-partisan government affairs firm. Currently Kimberly is finishing her BA from the University of Texas at Dallas majoring in Political Science. After graduation Kimberly plans to attend law school. She is a currently interning in Dallas at WFAA-Channel 8 News where she is pursuing her interest in political broadcasting. |
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Fall 2009 – Lorena Garza
lorenagarza90@gmail.com
Lorena was an Archer Fellow druing the Fall of 2009. While in DC she interned for the Department of Labor Office of Small Business Programs. Currently, Lorena is back at the University of Texas-Pan American finishing her double major in Political Science and Philosophy. After graduating with her Bachelor’s, she plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin to begin studying for her Master’s in Public Policy followed by Law School. |
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Fall 2009 –Cait McCann
caitmccann@gmail.com
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Fall 2009 – Maricruz Molina
maricruzmolina.v@gmail.com
Maricruz was born in Brownsville, Texas. She is a third year student at the University of Texas at Austin working on her Bachelors in Government and minor in Latin American Studies. While at UT, she has been involved with student organizations and worked at the State Capitol during the 81st Legislative Session. Currently she is a member of the Liberal Arts Council and sits on the Student Affairs Committee. She is also a scholarship recipient of the Rapoport Scholars, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and Texas Exes. In the Fall 2009, she interned for a non-profit, Public Education Network PEN) in DC. After graduating in May 2011, she would like to attend law school or graduate school and focus on international law and studies. She is interested in studying US policy in Latin American and other parts of the world. Her ultimate goal is to work with State Department or Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, DC. |
