Meet With a PE Peer Advisor

Peer advisors are a great resource for students looking for answers to  questions such as:

• What is Political Economy?
• Why did you choose to major in PE?
• What can I do with a major in PE?
• How do I connect with other PE students?
• How do I navigate the PE major as a transfer student?
• How do I get into an undergraduate research program?
• How do I secure an internship/Study Abroad opportunity?
• How do I join a student organization?

General questions/comments? Email: askpe@berkeley.edu

Meet our PE Peer Advisors

JAY FERNANDO: Jay is a senior double majoring in Political Economy and Statistics. His PE concentration is Indo-Pacific Security. He recently completed a summer internship with the Lawrence Livermore National Labs (LLNL), and has previously worked as an undergraduate intern at the Institute for Labor Research and Employment. On campus, he is the creator and producer of BareStage Productions’ Rimalower Prize, a grant awarded to stage an entirely student-run theater production raising marginalized voices. He is also the Cadet Wing Commander for Berkeley’s Air Force ROTC detachment. Feel free to reach out with questions about dual degrees, core PE courses, or to chat about PE theory! Jay is available to meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 11am.

MANVIR GAKHAL: Manvir is a junior double majoring in Political Economy and Legal Studies. His concentration for the PE major is Law, Economics, and History. A proud first-generation Sikh Punjabi student from California’s Central Valley, Manvir is passionate about using law as a tool for justice and equitable policy making. He is currently conducting research at Berkeley Law on intellectual property rights and cultural misappropriation, with a focus on Native American communities. On campus, Manvir serves as a Writing Tutor at the SLC, the Legislative Director for an ASUC office, and a Finance Officer for the Sikh Student Association. He has also completed various internships, ranging from local legislation to labor rights law for NGOs. Manvir aspires to attend law school and is especially interested in the intersections of legal rights, cultural heritage, and public health. Outside of academics, he enjoys playing and watching sports. He’s happy to connect about Political Economy pathways or navigating Berkeley as a first-gen student. Manvir is available to meet on Wednesdays from 4pm to 5pm and on Fridays from 9am to 10am.

GRACE HU: Grace is a senior double majoring in Political Economy and Economics, with minors in Data Science and Public Policy. Her concentration for the PE major is Development and Governance. Growing up in Shanghai, China before coming to Berkeley, Grace is a proud first-generation college student. On campus, she is actively involved in Net Impact Berkeley, a social impact consulting club, where she has led projects such as developing a climate finance donor strategy for a global NGO and crafting a growth strategy for a carbon-capture climate tech startup. Grace is also deeply engaged in research, working on impact evaluation for development interventions through URAP and serving as a research assistant for the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. Beyond her research and consulting work, she has served as a reader for STAT 20, worked in the ASUC, and contributed to the organizing committee for the Berkeley China Summit. Grace is passionate about poverty alleviation, global development, and creating impactful change through research and strategy. She is eager to connect with fellow PE majors to discuss navigating college and personal life as a first-gen/international student/second-language speaker, as well as exploring research and business opportunities on campus. Grace is available to meet on Thursdays from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.

AMIT KRISHNAN: Amit is a junior majoring in Political Economy with a minor in Music. His concentration is on Inequality in the US. On campus he is an undergraduate researcher with a URAP project that seeks to analyze the polarization of the U.S. Congress over time, the lead of the Tax Legal Research Committee in his third year with the ASUC Legal Clinic, on the board of the Music Undergraduate Committee, a Curriculum Co-chair with the Political Economy Student Association (PESA), and in his third year as a member of UC Berkeley’s Chamber Chorus. Off-campus, he has interned with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for two summers, where he worked in the White Collar Crime division, specifically Worker Rights and Economic Crimes. After graduating, Amit intends to take a gap year and then attend law school. In his free time, he loves to listen to and make music, spend time with friends, and travel. He looks forward to meeting his peers and sharing his experiences regarding the Political Economy Major. Amit is available to meet on Fridays from 11am to 12pm.

CAITLYN LIAO: Caitlyn is a junior double majoring in Political Economy and Economics, with a minor in Data Science. Her concentration within the Political Economy major is Inequality. On campus, she conducts analytical research through URAP focused on development studies and economic history, and is also involved in student organizations such as the Berkeley Political Review and the Student Policy Institute at Berkeley.

This past summer, she studied abroad and conducted research at Cambridge, while also serving as a teaching assistant for a course on political violence. In her free time, Caitlyn enjoys singing with her a cappella group, DeCadence, taking art classes at the Berkeley Art Studio, and dancing. She is always happy to meet and chat about student life, getting involved on campus, the major, or coursework. Caitlyn is available to meet on Mondays from 3:30pm to 4:30 pm and Fridays from 10am to 11am.

MATTHEW SANDERS: Matthew is a Senior majoring in Political Economy. His concentration is Political Economy of the Environment. He is a first-generation transfer student from Mt. San Jacinto College. He has been an undergraduate researcher through URAP for three semesters. He is currently working on completing the Honors Thesis for the Political Economy major. He is passionate about making an impact and information sharing through higher education and research, especially on topics concerning the environment. He has worked on the Berkeley Law Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment’s informational podcast Climate Break. Off-campus, he is involved in the Berkeley Student Cooperative. Matthew is available to meet on Wednesdays from 10am to 11am.

JORDAN VU: Jordan is a third-year double-majoring in Political Economy and Statistics. His concentration is International Trade with Econometric Analysis. At Berkeley, he works at the College of Civil and Environmental Engineering as well as the Restorative Justice Center. In these two roles he navigates paperwork, lab roles, and bridging communities where possible. He is actively involved with the Southeast Asian Student Coalition as the Operations Director, advocating for a better focus on the SEAA Diaspora on campus. In the summer of 2024, he was in Washington D.C., working alongside the Southeast Asian Action Resource Center to advocate for immigration reform. He also mentors high school students with SASC, through their mentorship program. For the Fall 2025 Semester, he will be part of the Political Economy Student Association (PESA) as the Social Co-Chair. In the past, he was in the ASUC under a senator focusing on Southeast Asian Relations and also with the Student Policy Institute at Berkeley, focusing on immigration policies.
In his free-time he likes to dance with CalVSA Lion Dance and plays the violin and guitar. His appointments focus on the first-generation, low-income experience at Berkeley and how it can fit with your Political Economy life. Jordan is available to meet on Mondays from 1pm to 2pm and 3pm to 4pm; Tuesdays from 2pm to 5pm; Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3pm to 5pm.

MIA ZARAGOZA: Mia is a senior majoring in Political Economy with a concentration in International Trade. Prior to her time at Berkeley, she was a first-generation transfer student from Fullerton College where she gained her passion for advocating for non-traditional students. Currently she serves as the Transfer Student Caucus chair, executive in the Office of the Transfer Student Representative, member of the Transfer Student Task Force, member of the Student Advisory Committee on Financial Aid and Education, and mentor in the Starting Point Mentorship Program. During her time at Berkeley, she has also participated in the UCEAP Study Abroad Program researching International Relations at the University of Oxford in England. Post graduation, Mia hopes to attend a Public Policy masters program to study the intersections on public policy and music education. On-campus you might find her singing in the Chamber Chorus, in opera rehearsal, or practicing her German with her twin sister at Kaffee Klatsch! Feel free to reach out regarding the transfer experience, study abroad, choosing a concentration, or anything at all — she is always happy to help! Mia is available to meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am to 3pm.