Gathered for a special luncheon June 24 at La Fonda in Santa Fe, from left, Think New Mexico 2024 Interns Alexandra Schweitzer Kroll, Laurel Nash Jarecki and Joaquin Romero, Think New Mexico Associate Director and Leadership Internship Supervisor Kristina G. Fisher, Intern Ayvret van Waveren, Think New Mexico Board member Liddie Martinez and Intern Nathan Slota. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
SANTA FE — Think New Mexico is a think tank and also a leadership development organization that works to train students in how to develop and enact sound public policy. Its goal is to retain a new generation of potential leaders in New Mexico by showing them how they can make a difference here in their home state.
To that end, Think New Mexico offers paid Leadership Internship positions each summer to college or graduate students. Interns have the opportunity to meet with Think New Mexico board members and leaders in state government, as well as to assist Think New Mexico’s staff in researching and developing policy proposals.
Think New Mexico Board Member Liddie Martinez joined this year’s Leadership Interns for a special luncheon on June 24 at La Fonda in Santa Fe and shared her impression of their potential.
“Every year the caliber of talent we attract to our internship program amazes me,” Martinez said. “These young men and women make incredible contributions to the Think New Mexico Mission and give me hope for our future.”
Think New Mexico Associate Director and Leadership Internship Supervisor Kristina Fisher also joined the interns for lunch. She spoke about the importance of the leadership development program.
“Our Leadership Interns do a terrific job assisting with the research on which we base our policy proposals, and many of them tell us that it was their favorite internship experience because they get to do substantive work and engage with inspiring leaders like Liddie,” Fisher said. “We are always proud when our interns go on to careers in New Mexico policy or politics, and we view this internship as doing our small part to reverse New Mexico’s brain drain.”
This year’s interns include Laurel Nash Jarecki who grew up in Albuquerque and graduated from Albuquerque Academy in 2023. She is now a sophomore at Princeton University, where she plans to major in Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs, concentrating in Global Health/Health Policy and Climate Sciences. In high school, Nash Jarecki served as a Student Senator and as President of Albuquerque Academy’s Health Occupations Students of America–Future Health Professionals chapter during its second year. In that role, she focused on expanding participation in the chapter and organizing opportunities for CPR training for the school community. In college, she continues to dedicate time towards health policy-oriented activities such as HOSA-FHP and Princeton Public Health Forum, and she also serves as Chair of DEI on the Princeton Art Museum Student Advisory Board. Nash Jarecki is interested in pursuing either a JD or PhD program in a health-policy-related field and working to improve health care access and equity.
Intern Alexandra Schweitzer Kroll was born and raised in Albuquerque and is earning a BA in Economics at the University of New Mexico with a minor in Religious Studies and an honors certificate. She has previously interned for Mayor Tim Keller’s Office in Albuquerque and completed a Fred Harris internship in Rep. Melanie Stansbury’s Office in Washington, D.C. She has also worked as a swim instructor and an honors college Resident Advisor. At UNM, she founded a feminist literature book club, volunteered as a Peer Mentor, was elected president of her dorm’s Community Association, and is an active member of the Mountaineering Club. After graduation, Schweitzer Kroll looks forward to effecting change through economic development and public policy that is created in collaboration with local communities.
Intern Joaquin Romero is a native of Mora and earned his high school degree from the United World College in Montezuma, NM. He is completing his undergraduate degree in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Studies at Colorado College. Romero has served in student government since elementary school, and successfully advocated for access to healthier food in his middle school cafeteria. Throughout his life, he has participated in community service and assisted with political campaigns around his home region. He is continuing to engage in community service through the Bonner Fellowship Program at his university. The summer before working at Think New Mexico, Romero completed a legal research project regarding water rights for the New Mexico Acequia Association last summer, he plans to attend the University of New Mexico Law School after he finishes his undergraduate studies.
Intern Nathan Slota is an Albuquerque native and a 2021 graduate of Albuquerque High School. In high school, he participated in Model United Nations as well as Varsity Soccer, Swimming, and Track & Field. Slota is a rising senior at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., where he is pursuing a B.A. in history and international studies. He is a member of Sigma Iota Rho and Phi Alpha Theta honors societies while also serving as goalkeeper for the Rhodes College men’s soccer team. Slota works for New Mexico United and volunteers for the Somos Unidos Foundation where he travels around the state offering soccer-related experiences to youth and New Mexicans at large. In his free time, Slota plays soccer for New Mexico United U-23.
Ayvret van Waveren was born in Santa Fe and has always considered it home. Growing up, he spent 10 years in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and eight years in Muscat, Oman. He graduated from The American International School of Muscat, where he earned the Political Science Student of the Year Award. van Waveren is now a rising senior at Amherst College, studying Political Science with a concentration in Economics. He is writing his thesis, “New Mexico at a Crossroads”, which analyzes major issues affecting the state, including the struggling economy, high violent crime rate, and underperforming schools, and explores potential policy solutions to address those issues. van Waveren previously interned at the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Santa Fe and with New Mexico Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth. After earning his undergraduate degree, van Waveren intends to go to law school and then pursue a career in law and New Mexico politics and policy.
Applicants considered for the Leadership Internship have good research, computer, and communications skills, an interest in public policy, and the willingness to work on a variety of different tasks – some more interesting than others – as a part of a team. Strong preference is given to applicants who have some background in New Mexico.
The internship program is extremely competitive, with a 4-5 students applying for each available position. Think New Mexico strives to accommodate as many qualified students as possible, so summer internships are generally about six weeks long in order to allow more students to participate.
Alumni of the Leadership Internship program are already making positive impacts on New Mexico (and the world). Of the students Think New Mexico has worked with since 2008, four have earned Truman Scholarships, six have received Fulbright Fellowships, and one has received a Marshall Scholarship. One former intern produced a widely acclaimed documentary on preventing child abuse and neglect in New Mexico, and two went on to work for Sen. Tom Udall’s Las Cruces district office. Six of the former interns have worked as budget and policy analysts with the Legislative Finance Committee, five have gone to work for other New Mexico state agencies, and one was elected to the New Mexico state Senate.
About Think New Mexico
On Jan. 1, 2024, Think New Mexico marked 25 years since its founding. Think New Mexico is headquartered in the historic Greer House at 505 Don Gaspar in Santa Fe. Think New Mexico is a results-oriented think tank whose mission is to improve the lives of all New Mexicans, especially those who lack a strong voice in the political process. We fulfill this mission by educating the public, the media, and policymakers about some of the most serious challenges facing New Mexico and by developing and advocating for enduring, effective, evidence-based solutions. It’s approach is to perform and publish sound, nonpartisan, independent research. Unlike many think tanks, Think New Mexico does not subscribe to any particular ideology. Instead, because New Mexico is at or near the bottom of so many national rankings, it’s focus is on promoting workable solutions that will lift all New Mexicans up. To learn more, visit thinknewmexico.org.