magna est veritas, et praevalebit.
magna est veritas, et praevalebit.
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Hello again, I'm Julianna Ortega.
I am a graduate of the University of California Berkeley, class of 2023. At Berkeley I majored in Interdisciplinary Studies Field, a unique discipline in which I handcrafted a capstone thesis. I spent my 4-years at Berkeley conducting research on the interaction of systemic racism and environmental disparities exacerbating drinking water contamination in California’s agricultural regions. Using publicly available data and statistical analysis, I concluded the presence of disparities in health, particularly in cardiovascular and birth weight outcomes, was indeed correlated to residential exposure of contaminated drinking water. Part of this work was conducting interviews, performing literature reviews, and developing a theoretical framework to connect systemic inequities to a global scale — demonstrating underlying patterns in world politics and seeking to understand their broader implications. This project refined my strong organizational skills, ability to synthesize complex information, and elucidated my expertise in research design and analysis.
My degree is incredibly important to me and my personal family history of immigration. My decision to pursue a curiosity based degree spurs from the fact I am the first in my family to go to college, and had to navigate the system almost entirely by myself— learning the immense value of knowledge, friendship and mentorship. I am proud of my heritage as a first generation graduate, and prouder still of the life I am forging for myself.
Outside of my work, I'd describe myself as a trailblazer, unafraid of taking on what seems impossible, yet smart enough to pick and choose my battles carefully. I have an insatiable appetite for learning and the pursuit of deep understandings about the world. I bring this attitude to every endevor. I spend most of my free time learning about physics, space, biology, evolution, history, society, and morality. I find deep fulfillment in creating short film, photography, creative writing, and music. We are fortunate to live in an age where we can access easily information about any of these subjects- a fact I find so brilliant and exciting. If there is one thing I've learned in my studies, it is that life is statistically so very rare. I never lose sight of the beautiful opportunity that is a human life on Earth.
Professional Resume.
EDUCATION
University of California Berkeley Class of Spring 2023
BA/ Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Field Studies
Senior Thesis: “Systemic Water Inequality in the Age of Globalization: An Interdisciplinary Examination of Race and Water Contamination from Mexico to California.”
Relevant coursework: Interdisciplinary Studies Data and Research Methods, Climate and Energy Policy, Water and WasteWater System Management, Interdisciplinary Studies Global Health and Development, Introduction to Statistics (coding in R), ArcGIS.
ONGOING RESEARCH
Research assistant
May 2023-Present
Research Paper: Environmental Pollution, Low Birth Weight, and Potential Risk of Lead Exposure in Children: Exploring the Variation by Historical Redlining and Race across Eight Cities in California
Conducting extensive literature reviews and staying abreast of the latest developments in Environmental Justice and Systemic Racism and collaborating closely on experimental design and data collection. I am working closely with Professor Amm Quamruzzaman at UC Berkeley to enunciate and mitigate disparities in low birth weight and lead poisoning rates in historically segregated communities with the aim of getting published.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Democracy + Media Lab Latinx Research Center, Berkeley, California
January 2023 – Present
Archival Research and Community Outreach Intern
Located and conducted investigative research into primary-source archival journals, newspapers, and other media, to untangle migrant labor policies and practices of Napa and Sonoma Counties, and clarify unexplored narratives about a vulnerable population.
Queer Alliance Resource Center, Berkeley, California September 2019 – May 2020
Programming Intern, Student Body Outreach Coordinator for Fall and Spring Semesterxa
Entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring access to essential supplies, thereby contributing to the well-being and comfort of Berkeley’s 11,000+ LGBTQ community. Administrative tasks included organizing products, coordinating community events, and outreach.
Asian Pacific Islanders American Public Affairs, Vacaville, California June 2019 – August 2019
District Office Intern, 12 week Summer Position
Acted as a representative for State Senator Bill Dodd, assuming responsibility for multiple tasks including the presentation of various awards on his behalf. Contributed to the smooth functioning of the office by undertaking diverse administrative duties such as organizing and filing data using Excel, facilitating the acquisition of necessary permits, and engaging with constituents in face-to-face meetings.
PAID WORK EXPERIENCE
Mission Graduates September 2023 – May 2024
Afterschool Care Teacher
Responsibilities include skillfully planning engaging activities to promote holistic development, providing educational instruction in a supportive and nurturing environment, and implementing effective communication strategies with guardians to ensure a collaborative approach to the children's well-being.
Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria, California June 2023 – Present
Camp Counselor & Family Camp Program Leader
Designed and executed engaging programming for family camps, including target sports, arts and crafts, and evening entertainment. Cultivated strong rapport with parents while prioritizing safety and enriching experiences for children.
CERTIFICATIONS
Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Certified, American Red Cross - completed June 2023
Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter Training, California Department of Social Services - completed June 2023
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Software: Excel, Powerpoint, Word, Citrix Workspace, Zotero, Mac OS, Logic Pro, Adobe suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, R for Statistical Computing
CONTACT ME
Email: Juliannaortega888@gmail.com
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