2017 SPI Participants [H-N]

Alphabetical by last name.

Go to: [A-G] [H-N] [O-Z] [2017 SPI Homepage]

David Hall

Twitter: @davidsamuelhall

David has come to be known as a man of many “firsts”. His favorites include creating, facilitating, and advising the first homeless youth advisory board for the City of Oklahoma City, serving as the first president of the Oklahoma Foster Youth Advocates Leadership-Council, and giving an impromptu presentation for the inaugural White House Foster Youth Hack-a-thon. Today, this public servant is proactively engaged in changing his community on a local, state, and federal level as a political activist and strategist and consultation through the various contracts he holds, including the Capacity Building Center for States.

Ashley Harvey

Ashley Harvey is a Ph.D. student at Oklahoma State University (OSU) studying Human Development and Family Science. She is interested in working with disadvantaged populations, particularly families impacted by involvement in the criminal justice system. Ashley is a current Albert Schweitzer Fellow implementing a family engagement initiative within the Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice. Furthermore, she is a graduate research assistant at OSU’s Center for Family Resilience (CFR) involved in the evaluation of various grant funded projects. Ashley’s current work includes a community-wide teen pregnancy prevention initiative and a Native American prison reintegration program.

Colby ‘Bow Tie’ Holman

My name is Colby Holman, but I go by Bow Tie. I am currently a student at Connors State College studying Pre-Law with aspirations to become a lawyer and Child Rights Advocate for OKDHS. I was born and raised right here in Oklahoma. I am a Master Mason and a Bedouin Shriner and those things play a huge role in my life. My younger brother was born with severe Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is an incurable disease that affects all of your bones and joints. It is extremely hard because he is 16. From a very young age, I have been actively involved in my community. My mother is a social worker, my grandmother was a dispatcher, and so naturally my community is important to me. My mission in this life is very simple: Make the world a better place. Since my younger brother was diagnosed, it prompted me to reach out for help. At that time, we discovered the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Shriners Hospitals for Children operate 22 hospitals all over the United States for children with orthopedic diseases, cleft palates, and burns. They do all of this absolutely free to the patients. They don’t even have a billing department.

My brother was once confined to a wheelchair and now he can run. It was my honor and privilege to become a part of that. Ever since then, I myself became a Shriner and the amount of support I have gotten from children is phenomenal. I have never looked back! I dress like a clown so millions of kids can walk again and feel comfortable in their own skin.

Emma Hutchison

Twitter: @EmmaHutchh

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Emma is a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with distinction. While at OU, she worked as a tour guide and served in various student organizations such as the Student Alumni Association and the Panhellenic Association. She has had experience at both the state and federal level working for the Oklahoma State Senate in 2015 and the U.S. Senate in 2016. This fall, Emma will start law school at the George Washington University Law School in D.C.

Clayton Kinsey

I grew up in Norman, OK and attended All Saints Catholic School. I then moved to Mount Saint Mary’s Catholic High School in South Oklahoma City for my secondary education. I will be graduating from the University of California, Berkeley in December of 2017 with a Bachelors of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. My senior thesis focus is on comparative juvenile reentry systems. I currently work as a policy intern for Congresswoman Barbara Lee, of Oakland, California (D-13). Additional policy experience includes interning with the US Department of State’s liaison team to the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

Daniel Koehler Yaschine

My name is Daniel Koehler Yaschine and I am a student at the University of Southern California. I started out studying Computer Engineering, but I then decided that it was not the career path I wanted to follow, so I changed to Political Economy. I have varied interests but my goals are clear, I want to make the world a fairer place and to help those who are at a disadvantage in life. I believe the best way to accomplish this is through shaping and developing public policy to change the systems that shape our lives to provide more equal opportunities.

Nathan Levit

Twitter @natelevit

Nathan Levit just completed his freshman year at Princeton University, where he is studying History with minors in American Studies and Diplomacy. On campus, Nathan is a tour guide, member of the Princeton Club Sailing Team, member of the governing board of the Center for Jewish Life, and active in local New Jersey politics. He is from Tulsa, where he is also politically active. Nathan has worked on six campaigns, five of them in Oklahoma. This summer, he interned for Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado.

La Tasha Lucas

La Tasha obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Dillard University in New Orleans. She proceeded to serve in the public sector as a Case Manager, Residential Counselor and Research Assistant. She then moved into the private sector to enjoy success as a Corporate Recruiter. Given her passion for people, she is currently a graduate student at Oklahoma University where she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Social Work. In her free time La Tasha loves zumba, Lindy Hop and yoga. She holds a 200 hr RYT through the Yoga Alliance. La Tasha Renee Lucas lives in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Jasha Lyons Echo-Hawk

Twitter: @PaniHokti

Jasha Lyons Echo-Hawk (Seminole-Creek, Pawnee, Omaha, Iowa) is a justice seeker for indigenous causes. She sits on the boards for Matriarch and Live Indigenous OK, two inter-tribal non-profits focused on advocacy and empowerment of Native people in Oklahoma. Currently, she is a Senior at OSU, a member of the Native American Student Association fundraising committee, and interns for the Oklahoma Native Artists’ Project. She resides in Pawnee where she volunteers with Pawnee Seeds Preservation Project, Title VI Indian Education, and coaching youth sports. She has a passion for working with Native youth and women, and has been able to do so through advocacy, activism, and art, in promotion of an indigenous world view. She aims to channel these passions towards a law degree and policy work.

Beatrize Martinez

Twitter: @btrizzy24

Originally from Fresno, CA, she came to Oklahoma in August of 2010 to be a part of OCU’s Women’s Wrestling program. As a former foster youth she set out to complete a BS in Criminology and BBA in Economics and was successful May of 2015. The most notable experiences she’s had include being a two-term student body president, two-time All-American in Women’s Collegiate Wrestling, and involved as a founding member of the Phi Mu Fraternity and Ris4Thursday – OKCU Chapter. Beatrize will be a 2L at Oklahoma City University School of Law in the fall and is currently completing a Dean’s Pro Bono and Public Interest Law Fellowship at the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office this summer.

JJ Mitchell

Twitter: @JamesMitchOK

JJ (James) Mitchell is a graduate assistant at the University of Oklahoma – Tulsa, pursuing his Masters in Social Work. Before moving to the Tulsa area, JJ completed his undergraduate degree at Oklahoma State University in Human Development and Family Sciences. His work background includes over two years of experience with Oklahoma Department of Human Services in Child Welfare, and most recently a practicum with the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma. JJ is in his final year of graduate school and intends to obtain his licensure as a clinical social worker (LCSW) and advocate for underserved Oklahomans.

Kate Mohr

Twitter: @1_mohr_time

Kate is a student at the University of Central Oklahoma. She is completing her undergraduate degree in Community/Public Health with a minor in Race and Ethnic Studies. Kate is passionate about health equity and desires to work within the criminal justice system, to address racial disparities and emphasize rehabilitation for drug related offenses. Oklahoma born and raised, she has a unique understanding of complex issues related to drug use in our state. After graduating in May 2018, she hopes to work as a public health professional serving others and obtain a Master of Public Health degree.

Lauren Murray

Lauren Murray is a Program Manager for Reading Partners, an education nonprofit in Tulsa that serves struggling readers in kindergarten through 3rd grade. She moved to Tulsa over three years ago to serve Reading Partners as an Americorps member before joining the full-time staff. Lauren grew up in Maryland where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from McDaniel College. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa. Lauren is very involved in her neighborhood, Kendall-Whittier, through the resident council and other community events.

Erik Myers

Twitter: @Dragon74017

Junior/Senior Rogers State University, Majoring in Political Science with a minor in Justice Administration. Born and raised in upstate NY, proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Graduate of Saratoga Springs Senior High School in Saratoga Springs NY. Second Degree Blackbelt in Taekwondo. Trying to go to law school eventually. Active member of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature. Secretary of the RSU Delegation. Strong believer in the Constitution, wanting to better Oklahoma for all levels of education by returning funding to all levels, reform the Workman’s Compensation system, being a voice of change.

Carus Newman

Twitter: @carusnewman7

Born and raised in Oklahoma City and a graduate of Harding Charter Preparatory High School, Carus Newman is entering his junior year at the University of Arkansas where he studies Sociology and Political Science. He is an active member of the University of Arkansas Young Democrats and has been heavily involved in student government and the Mock Trial team. After college, he hopes to study public policy or law, focusing specifically on criminal justice and education.

Sheridan Nolen

Twitter: @sher_nolen

Sheridan Nolen, a rising sophomore at The University of Tulsa, is pursuing a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in French. During her first semester on campus, Sheridan established TU’s College Republicans chapter with over 50 recruited members. She has represented Oklahoma at the College Republican National Convention (CRNC) and Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Sheridan is also a member of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (OIL), serving in the House of Representatives and as TU’s Delegation Chair. When not on campus, expect to find Sheridan championing grassroots campaigns or planning events for the Republican Party of Tulsa County.

Roland Nuñez

Twitter: @GoodTimesRoland

Roland Nuñez works at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma as the Director of Student Development and a doctoral candidate in Oklahoma State University’s Educational Leadership and Public Policy program. His passion in education has led him to become more involved in Oklahoma policy to find ways to contribute to a better education climate in the state. His current research involves using educational entertainment, or “edutainment”, as a way to improve educational outcomes for high school and college students from underserved populations. Roland lives in Chickasha with his wife, Jasmine, and his family of furry foster friends.