UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Alum Nicki Castro Named John R. Lewis Fellow

A 2026 UCLA Fielding School of Public Health graduate has been selected as a John R. Lewis Fellow by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, in part because of her work at UCLA Fielding, ranked as among the top public health institutions in the United States.

“I got into healthcare because my grandma had multiple sclerosis and I had watched her pass away, and so I had originally wanted to be a nurse,” said Nicki Castro (MPH ’26), who grew up in Fontana, Calif. and whose work at UCLA Fielding focused on researching the connections between an individual’s health and the environment. “This opportunity with the Foundation is vital to the work I hope to do, and the policy changes I want to make in this world, whether through advancing health equity, reproductive justice, or advocating for communities that have historically been left out of policy conversations.”

The Washington, DC-based CBCF, founded in 1976 is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy, research and educational institute that aims to help improve the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities. The Lewis Fellowship honors the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and his lifelong commitment to justice, equality, and public service, CBCF officials said.

“Our intent is to equip the next generation of leaders with the research, policy, and leadership skills to create meaningful change,” said Dr. Ashley Stone, senior director of the CBCF’s Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR). “We are proud to welcome Nicki Castro to this year’s cohort and look forward to seeing how she brings her perspective, scholarship, and commitment to public service to the fellowship and the broader work of advancing Black communities.”

Castro, who earned her undergraduate degree at CSU Chico (BS Public Health, ’24) served as a teaching assistant and researcher at UCLA Fielding, where she received the school’s Gerald F. Kominski Health Policy Fellowship. Castro also interned with the California Department of Public Health.

“Nicki has a keen analytical lens; she can cut through to what matters for people within a policy,” said Dr. Naomi Zewde, assistant professor in the UCLA Fielding Department of Health Policy and Management. “She leads from the heart, and she’s really dedicated to the craft.”

The Lewis fellows are placed in Congressional member offices for a six-month placement to serve as legislative aides, beginning this month, followed by six months with the Foundation to conduct research on behalf of CPAR.

“Ms. Castro brings a blend of knowledge about our federal and state political processes and analytic tools from the study of economics and policy analysis to support policymakers in Congress,” said Dr. Burt Cowgill, associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management. “Her compassion, dedication, and drive exhibited as a student at UCLA will serve her well as she navigates the Congressional processes in Washington.”