Meet the 2018 Fellows: GSA, VA, and ITA
Three small-but-mighty cohorts at some of the country’s largest agencies
General Services Administration (GSA)
The GSA’s vision is one of “effective and efficient government for the American people” and the organization is responsible for critical mission-support for government entities, including in technology. GSA is home to the Technology Transformation Services (TTS), which includes 18F, a digital services agency that works to improve the user experience of government, and the Presidential Innovation Fellowship, which brings talented technologists to the federal government to work alongside top civil servants to tackle prominent challenges.
GSA’s demonstrated civic tech track record, coupled with the leadership of Chief Information Officer David Shive and Allison Peterman in GSA IT is why we’re excited to welcome it as a new Civic Digital Fellowship partner agency in 2018.
Austin Hwang
Austin is a rising sophomore at Harvard College studying Computer Science.
Q. Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A. I’m excited to finally be able to apply the theoretical knowledge of computer science that I’ve gained from school into a real world application that contributes to the social sector. I’ve always wanted to use my skills to help improve society in any way possible, and I can finally do that through interning with the fellowship. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge and meeting other like-minded individuals!
Q. What is a fun fact about yourself?
A. I love photography and taking photos of people, nature, and events. It allows me to freeze a frame in time and capture the special moments in a place where everything is constantly moving.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Two Civic Digital Fellows, R and Mariam, are serving with The U.S. Digital Service at the Department of Veterans Affairs. They’ll be working to build a tool for G.I. Bill complaints — ultimately empowering Veterans with better service through design and technology.
Their placement on the DSVA team would not be possible without the leadership and initiative of Natalie Moore, USDS product manager and Coding it Forward advisor.
Mariam Mayanja
Mariam is a rising sophomore at the University of Washington studying Computer Science.
Q. Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A. I am passionate about usable information. The idea of being a part of a movement to better implementing technology into public service excites me because it has so much potential to help our nation become better informed. I am excited to have an opportunity to learn more about the public sector as a Civic Digital Fellow and to be a part of a team just as passionate about sharing information and creating accessibility as I am.
Q. What is a fun fact about yourself?
A. I was a competitive figure skater for nearly eight years. Figure skating will always be my first love and passion. I can distinctly remember twirling around the rink and dancing to songs from my favorite children’s movies.
R Matthews
R is a rising senior at Brandeis University studying Computer Science and African & Afro-American Studies.
Q. Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A. I am so excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow because I think it will be a great opportunity for me to combine my Computer Science and African & Afro-American Studies majors together in a real-world setting. I’ll be working at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs on the Digital Services team doing all kinds of cool things! What I like about the fellowship is not only that it serves as a pipeline program into a very under-appreciated workforce, but also that it provides mentorship opportunities to its fellows.
Q. What is your favorite thing about technology, and why?
A. My favorite thing about technology is how it is always changing. That means there’s always something new to learn, something new to explore, and some new way for innovation.
International Trade Administration (ITA)
Located within the U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA “is charged with strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements.”
After seeing the work completed last year by the inaugural cohort of Civic Digital Fellows at the Census Bureau (which is also located within Commerce), ITA leaders were interested in welcoming Fellows to their agency to innovate around user experience and human-centered design for key stakeholders. We’re excited to welcome ITA onboard as a host agency in 2018.
Liam Grace-Flood
Liam is a graduate of Wheaton College and will begin in the MBA program at the Yale School of Management.
Q. Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A. I’m thrilled to participate in a public service — especially in this pivotally important area of modernizing governmental processes.
Q. What is your favorite thing about technology, and why?
A. I love looking at technology as culture. The things we make and use offer such rich insights into who we are and who we want to be!
Navya Kaur
Navya is a rising junior at San Jose State University studying Computer Science with a minor in American Studies.
Q. Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A. I was always under the impression that humanities and STEM cannot intersect. As someone who loved journalism, public policy, design, and computer science, I found this really difficult to accept. I am excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow because I can finally combine all my passions and participate in a program that is aimed at promoting social good. I also can’t wait to meet like-minded people and visit the historic sites of D.C.!
Q. If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why?
A. I desperately want to visit Lahore, Pakistan, since it contains so much of my religion’s history as well as my ancestors, who lived there pre-partition.
The Civic Digital Fellowship is a first-of-its-kind data science and technology internship program for innovative students to solve pressing problems in federal agencies. Check out our website for more information, and learn more about our 2018 Civic Digital Fellows who are serving at six federal agencies.
Applications to join our 2019 cohort will open in the late fall of this year.
