The William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law has awarded summer 2026 named fellowships to thirty-two outstanding rising 2L and 3L students. The fellowships provide a stipend of $8,000 for at least ten weeks of public service work with qualifying nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and legislative offices.
The Justice Center administers the named summer fellowships as part of the law school’s Summer Public Service Program (SPSP). Established in 2022, SPSP ensures that all rising 2Ls and 3Ls pursuing unpaid or low-paying public interest summer positions receive financial support. Through both general and donor-funded named fellowships, the program enables students to gain valuable legal experience while advancing access to justice and serving communities in need.
“These fellowships allow our students to pursue critical public sector work without financial barriers limiting their choices,” said Nicole Simmons, director of the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law. “We are deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity makes these opportunities possible and proud of the students who will spend their summers advancing justice and serving the public.
The Baron & Budd Public Interest Summer Fellowships, created by a generous gift from Baron & Budd, P.C., support students’ work with nonprofit organizations. The summer 2026 recipients, members of the class of 2027, are:
Emily Rose will work with the Mecklenburg County Public Defender in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Sunidhi Jain will work with the Texas Civil Rights Project, Beyond Borders team in Austin, Texas.
Nico Lewine will work with Just Futures Law in Washington, D.C on immigration and digital privacy.
Matt Nichols will work with Texas Defender Service in Austin, Texas.
The Charles and Roberta Katz Environmental Summer Fellowships, generously supported by Charles J. Katz Jr. and Roberta R. Katz, support students’ work with environmental nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies. The summer 2026 recipients, members of the classes of 2027 and 2028, are:
Racheal Andrews will work with Save Our Springs in Austin, Texas on water use regulation, pollution measures, and community advocacy.
Brenda Diaz will work with Bayou City Waterkeeper on environmental advocacy in Houston, Texas.
The Edward Lee Elmore Summer Fellowship in Public Interest Law, created by a generous gift from Diana Holt ’94, supports a student’s work in a capital defense office. The summer 2026 recipient, a member of the class of 2027, is:
Oscar Lopez will work with the Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas in Austin, Texas.
The G. Rollie White Trust Public Interest Summer Fellowships, created by a generous gift from the G. Rollie White Trust, support students’ work with nonprofit organizations and public defender offices. The summer 2026 recipients, members of the classes of 2027 and 2028, are:
Valeria Arguelles and Nisha Venkat will work with American Gateways in Austin, Texas.
Will Bonds will work with the Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin, Texas.
Harrison Brown will work with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in San Antonio, Texas.
Erin Feng will work with the Travis County Public Defender’s Office in Austin, Texas.
Briana Gordley will work with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid in Austin, Texas.
Eric Isenhower will work with the Travis County Public Defender’s Office’s Criminal Defense Division in Austin, Texas.
Sesh Joe will work with the Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas in Austin, Texas.
Calvin Kirkpatrick will work with Disability Rights Texas in Austin, Texas.
Dex Parra will work with the Harris County Public Defender’s Office in Houston, Texas.
Clemon White will work on education law matters at the Intercultural Development Research Association in San Antonio, Texas.
The Koppel Family Summer Public Service Fellowships, created by a generous gift from Annie Koppel Van Hanken and Nathan Koppel, support students’ work with nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies. The summer 2026 recipients, members of the classes of 2027 and 2028, are:
Katrina Ambulo will work with the Texas Advocacy Project.
Alexis Boehmer, Jason Brownlee, and Ava Stuart will work with the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Jackie Cheng will work with the ACLU of Texas in Austin, Texas.
Jacob Klawans will work with the Harris County Public Defender’s Office in Houston, Texas.
Josephine Portier will work with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid in Brownsville, Texas.
Kayla Trujillo will work with American Gateways in Austin, Texas.
Luis Valdes will work with the El Paso County Public Defender’s Office in El Paso, Texas.
The Mack Public Service Summer Fellowship, supported by a generous gift from Joel H. Mack, supports students’ work with government agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, and legislative offices. The summer 2026 recipient, a member of the class of 2028, is:
Mia Inglis will work with Orleans Public Defenders in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Stuart Henry Environmental Law Fellowship, supported by generous gifts from admirers of Stuart Henry to honor his legacy of environmental protection, supports work with a nonprofit legal organization focused on preserving Texas’ natural resources and protecting the Texans who rely on them. The summer 2026 recipient, a member of the class of 2028, is:
Carson Gilchrist will work with Save Our Springs Alliance in Austin, Texas.
The Whitehurst Public Interest Summer Fellowships, supported by Stephanie Whitehurst and Bill Whitehurst ’70, fund students’ work with 501(c)(3) nonprofits or government offices providing indigent defense. The summer 2026 recipients, members of the class of 2027, are:
Max Martucci will work with the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender in Denver, Colorado.
Emily Morales will work with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid in Austin, Texas.
Rachel Sznajderman will work with Brooklyn Defender Services, Civil Rights & Law Reform Team in Brooklyn, New York.