The Institute’s Legislative Staff Academy provides staff with an opportunity to gain valuable leadership and management skills. To support upward mobility in their careers, the program is designed around a four-pillar model: building individual readiness for change, creating peer networks and safe spaces, explaining the unwritten rules of the Legislature, and cultivating relationships with influential leaders.

Legislative Staff Academy

Applications Open Summer 2026
Applications Open Summer 2026

Program Overview

  • 7 month-long leadership program (December - June) for API legislative staff

  • 6 highly interactive, expert-led seminars on 6 core topics

  • Team project to support a local community organization

  • Customized 5-year career planning session with Executive Director, Sonya Harris

  • 1 on 1 mentorship opportunities with AANHPI leaders

“As a proud member of the inaugural class of the API Staff Academy, I can say that my professional development and career have been enhanced tremendously by this experience. API Staff Academy not only provides knowledge and a deeper understanding of the legislative world, but it pairs you with a mentor who shares your values and goals. The mentorship I received in the program was without equal. The Academy utilizes the most prestigious talent and accomplished individuals to serve as mentors. It’s hard to overstate how much I benefited from having my mentor recount his experiences and directly impart his wisdom to me. His guidance was a turning point in my career. Now, I am fortunate enough to call him my boss, and also my friend. API Staff Academy mentorship made this possible, and I am eternally grateful for this opportunity.”

Brandon Seto, Class of 2018
Principal Consultant, Senate Insurance Committee
Former Speaker Anthony Rendon

"The legislature can be an intimidating space to be in, especially when you do not see yourself represented well (or at all) in the staff and legislators around you. As a Muslim, Pakistani staffer who started in the building in 2016, and as a new Legislative Director, the Institute has provided me with a strong network of mentors, deep relationships with other staffers from similar API backgrounds, as well as tools to expand my understandings of politics. More importantly, it has helped me feel more comfortable and confident in this political sphere knowing that I have a support system that I can turn to for advice and guidance when I need it."

Maheen Ahmed, Class of 2019
Deputy Director, Office of CARE, California Department of Justice - Office of Attorney General

Staff Academy 2025-26

Cohort VIII


Over the course of seven months, these rising API leaders were guided by policymakers, advocates, and civic leaders to explore policy strategy, leadership development and the unwritten rules of the Legislature. We are incredibly proud of their growth and can't wait to see the impact they will make as the next generation!

Fridaleen Lou-Dizon
EEO Investigative Analyst
DMV - Department of Motor Vehicles

Julian Neo Sanchez
Legislative Aide
Asm. Matt Haney

Cynthia Weber
Legislative Aide
Sen. Angelique Ashby

Martin Bui 
Legislative Director
Asm. Patrick Ahrens

Jocelyn Hopps 
Legislative Assistant
Asm. Marc Berman

Doonya Mahmoud
Legislative Aide
Asm. Matt Haney

Tricia Sarmiento 
Legislative Aide
Asm. Chris Rogers

Erica Chang 
Tax Auditor
CA State Franchise Tax Board

Byron Briones
Legislative Aide
Asm. Liz Ortega

Bhajleen Khalsa
Executive Assistant
Sen. Jerry McNerney

Sophia Quach
Policy Analyst
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Ray Sun 
Legislative Aide
Asm. Mike Fong

Ethan Caudillo
Administrative Assistant II
CA State Treasurer’s Office

Diane Lim 
Data Analyst
CA State Treasurer's Office

Navreen Randhawa  
Legislative Aide
Asm. David Alvarez

Kianna Walker 
Legislative Aide
Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson

Danielle Antonio  
Communication & Legislative Aide
Asm. Jessica Caloza

STAFF ACADEMY ALUMNI

  • Bhajleen Khalsa — Executive Assistant — Sen. Jerry McNerney (SD-05)
  • Byron Briones — Legislative Aide — Asm. Liz Ortega (AD-20)
  • Cynthia Weber — Legislative Aide — Sen. Angelique Ashby (SD-08)
  • Danielle Antonio — Communications & Legislative Aide — Asm. Jessica Caloza (AD-52)
  • Diane Lim — Data Analyst — California State Treasurer's Office
  • Doonya Mahmoud — Legislative Aide — Asm. Matt Haney (AD-17)
  • Erica Chang — Accounting Officer — DGS - Department of General Services
  • Ethan Caudillo — Administrative Assistant II — California State Treasurer's Office
  • Fridaleen Lou-Dizon — EEO Investigative Analyst, Realtor — DMV - Department of Motor Vehicle
  • Jocelyn Hopps — Legislative Assistant — Asm. Marc Berman (AD-23)
  • Julian Neo Sanchez — Legislative Aide — Asm. Matt Haney (AD-17)
  • Kianna Walker — Legislative Aide — Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (SD-39)
  • Martin Bui — Legislative Director — Asm. Patrick Ahrens (AD-26)
  • Navreen Randhawa — Legislative Aide — Asm. David Alvarez (AD-80)
  • Ray Sun — Legislative Aide — Asm. Mike Fong (AD-49)
  • Sophia Quach — Policy Analyst — Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
  • Tricia Sarmiento — Legislative Aide — Asm. Chris Rogers (AD-02)
  • Allie Umemoto — Legislative Assistant — Office of Assemblymember Marc Berman (AD-23)
  • Anthony Pham — State Affairs Analyst — California Independent System Operator (CAISO)
  • Arali Seneviratne — Legislative Aide — Office of Assemblymember Juan Arambula (AD-31)
  • Bhawan Cheema — Policy Analyst — Office of Senator Angelique Ashby (SD-8)
  • Connie Chan — Legislative Manager — California State Treasurer's Office
  • Erica Willett — Deputy Director of Operations — Governor's Office of Service and Community Engagement
  • Evan Fern — Legislative Aide — Office of Senator Dave Cortese (SD-15)
  • Fatema Nushin — Legislative Aide — Office of Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (AD-66)
  • Ryan Tomlinson — Legislative Aide — Office of Senator Angelique Ashby (SD-8)
  • Steven Lee — Legislative Assistant — Office of Assemblymember Mike Fong (AD-49)
  • Therresa Austin — Policy Consultant — Senate Education Committee
  • Vincent Ma — Assistant Deputy Director of Legislation and Finance — California Transportation Commission
  • Jane Park — Senior Legislative Assistant — Assemblymember Rick Zbur
  • Jeffrey Bongga — Associate Governmental Program Analyst — California Department of Social Services
  • Julianne Cravotto — Legislative Director — Assemblymember Dawn Addis
  • Kapri Walker — Legislative Aide — Office of Senator Nancy Skinner
  • Margaret (Margie) Lie — Legislative Advocate — Samson Advisors
  • Melissa Sagun — Policy Consultant — Everyday Impact Consulting
  • Robert Cruz — Legislative Assistant — Asm. Timothy Grayson
  • Yasamin Salari — Legislative Aide — Office of Assemblymember Haney
  • Allison Lim — Chief of Staff — Assemblymember Alex Lee
  • Alyssa Lee — Junior Staff Analyst — California Department of Finance
  • Andrew Chen — Staff Attorney — California Coalition of Welfare Rights Organizations
  • Charmaine Albano Mills — Legislative Assistant — Assemblymember Bill Quirk
  • Clint Weirick — District Representative, San Luis Obispo County — Senator John Laird
  • Gaynorann Siataga — Director — All Islanders Gathering as One
  • Julian Leichty — Special Assistant — Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
  • Lenh Voong — Legislative Aide — Assemblymember Richard Bloom
  • Lillian Tu — Project Manager — CALSTART
  • Matthew Estipona — Community Organizer — Marin Center for Independent Living
  • Nam Hyee Kim — Field Representative — Office of Asm. Steven Choi
  • Nippitch Booranasomphop — Office Assistant — Assemblymember Brian Maienschein
  • Paco Torres — Legislative Director — Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes
  • Rita Baljian — Special Assistant — Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis
  • Sally Ching — Legislative Advocate — ACLU California Action
  • Samantha Yturralde — Legislative Aide — Assemblymember Tim Grayson
  • Serette Kaminski — Legislative Advocate — Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
  • Taylor Valmores — Legislative Aide — Assemblymember Blanca Rubio
  • Anurag Pal — District Director — Assemblymember Alex Lee
  • Aroosa Ahmed — Legislative Aide — Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula
  • Benjamin Tran — Policy Strategist — Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
  • DanielleMae Santiago — Government Relations and Policy Analyst — Calbright College
  • Edward Chao — Defense Strategy and Policy Analyst — Governor's Office of Planning and Research
  • Erika Ngo — Legislative Director — Assemblymember Ash Kalra
  • Jeanelle Loui — Office Manager — Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
  • Lilian Duong — Outreach Strategist — California Budget and Policy Center
  • Lisa Tran — State and Local Associate, Northern California — ActBlue
  • Nicole Kurian — Legislative Director — Californians Against Waste
  • Nikita Patil-Bytel — CA Legislative Advocate — Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Tiffany Phan — Legislative Advocate — Niemela Pappas & Associates
  • Varsha Sarveshwar — Assistant Deputy Cabinet Secretary — Governor Gavin Newsom
  • Amer Rashid — Legislative Advocate — County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California (CBHDA)
  • Elle Chen — Senior Legislative Aide — Assemblymember Mark Stone
  • Jocelyn Twilla — Committee Secretary — California Assembly Education Committee
  • Justin Delacruz — Principal Consultant — California Assembly Labor and Employment Committee
  • Kathleen Soriano — Senior Managing Director — State Government Relations, University of Southern California
  • Linda Vo — Program Associate — California Water Efficiency Partnership
  • Mao Yang — Legislative Director — Assemblymember Evan Low
  • Michael Chen — Legislative Director — Assemblymember James Ramos
  • Roseryn Bhudsabourgz — Supervising Program Administrator — Valley Water
  • Samantha Huynh — Legislative Aide — Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
  • Samantha Samuelsen — Policy Analyst — Senator John Laird
  • Shubhangi Domokos — Chief of Staff — Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez
  • Christine Miyashiro — Legislative Analyst — City of Oakland
  • Denise Tugade — Government Relations Advocate — SEIU-United Healthcare Workers
  • Jaspreet Johl — Chief of Staff — Assemblymember Miguel Santiago
  • Jenny Nguyen — Senior Self-Sufficiency Policy Analyst — County Welfare Directors Association of California
  • Lyia Jalao — Program Assistant — California Council on Science & Technology
  • Maheen Ahmed — Deputy Director — Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement (CARE), California Department of Justice
  • Nancy Le — Chief of Staff — City of San Jose
  • Renee Estoista — Legislative Director — Assemblymember Autumn Burke
  • Sakshi Walia — Legislative Director — Senator Steve Glazer
  • Stephanie Park — Policy Consultant — Senate President Pro Temp Toni Atkins
  • Thanhtam (Teresa) Bui — State Climate Policy Director — Pacific Environment
  • Annie Chou — Legislative Advocate — California Teachers Association
  • Jessica Duong — Chief of Staff — Assemblymember Phil Ting
  • Judy Yee — Legislative Director — Assemblymember Luz Rivas
  • Scott Matsumoto — Senior Assistant — Assemblymember Shirley Weber
  • Korinne Sugasawara — Senior Policy Consultant — Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris
  • Bryan Singh — Chief of Staff — Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi
  • Linda Tenerowicz — Legislative Aide — CPEHN
  • Annie Pham — Principal Consultant — California Assembly Democratic Caucus
  • Voleck Taing — Vice President of Government Relations — Silicon Valley Leadership Group
  • Brandon Seto — Senior Floor Consultant — Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon
  • Diana Vu — Legislative Director — Senator Nancy Skinner
  • Ellen Green — Legislative Director — Assemblymember Marc Berman
  • Edmond Cheung — Chief Consultant — Assembly Communications & Conveyance Committee
  • Kevin Hefner — Manager — California Department of Housing & Community Development