Political Science · UC Davis '26

Robi Castaneda

Intern at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of California and 2025 UC Davis Rhodes Scholarship Nominee. Editor in Chief of the Davis Journal of Legal Studies, with a focus on European law, EU economics, and strategic outreach.

United States [email protected] LinkedIn

About

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of California, Davis, expected June 2026. Actively serving as External Affairs Commissioner for ASUCD, where the role emphasizes campus-wide advocacy and fostering external partnerships. Core competencies include European law, EU economics, and strategic outreach, supported by a multilingual background in Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Spanish.

At the Davis Journal of Legal Studies, contributed to connecting the journal with other institutions' social science journals through collaborative outreach campaigns. These experiences highlight a strong commitment to fostering connections between organizations and leveraging diverse perspectives. Dedicated to contributing to initiatives that align with inclusive, interdisciplinary, and community-driven goals.

Experience

Intern

Office of the Lieutenant Governor, State of California

March 2026 – June 2026 · Sacramento, California

International Student Representative

ASUCD

June 2025 – June 2026 · Davis, California

  • Created the first bus service from UC Davis to San Francisco International Airport, providing low-cost transportation for international students.
  • Advocated for the needs of 4,500 international undergraduates in campus policy discussions.
  • Collaborated with campus legal staff to enhance referral services and improve access to vital resources.
  • Developed and implemented policy recommendations, resulting in a more supportive environment for international students.

External Affairs Commissioner

ASUCD

December 2024 – June 2025 · Davis, California

Editor in Chief

Davis Journal of Legal Studies

June 2025 – May 2026 · Davis, California

  • Expanded editorial opportunities for editors by supervising a summer research project, dividing the cohort into teams reporting on subjects of their interest.
  • Collaborated with a team of new editors to shape Volume VI, ensuring adherence to academic standards.

Executive Director of External Affairs

Davis Journal of Legal Studies

November 2024 – July 2025 · Davis, California

Communicated with on-campus and off-campus legal organizations, coordinating to garner support from prospective editors and writers. Led a new inter-university outreach campaign to connect the Davis Journal with other institutions' social science journals.

General Editor

Davis Journal of Legal Studies

January 2024 – December 2024

Associate

Imani Legal Clinic

October 2022 – December 2024

Worked to provide equitable access to legal services and referrals throughout the community of Oak Park, Sacramento.

Cultural Exchange Intern

Japan Children's Home Internship Program

June 2024 – September 2024 · Kyoto, Japan

  • Delivered presentations on U.S. culture within Japanese institutional settings, enhancing cross-cultural understanding.
  • Conducted in-depth research on childcare policies using Japanese-language sources, contributing to an internship thesis.
  • Tutored children in English, math, and music, employing bilingual instruction techniques to support language acquisition.

Violinist

UC Davis Symphony Orchestra

September 2022 – June 2023 · Davis, California

Intern

Placer County Public Defender

May 2021 – July 2021 · Placer County, California

Arranged, scanned, and reviewed case files for the public defender; attended case meetings with attorneys.

Education

University of California, Davis

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Government · September 2022 – June 2026

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Political Science and Government

Jesuit High School, Sacramento

High School Diploma · 2019 – 2022

Languages

  • EnglishNative or Bilingual
  • CebuanoNative or Bilingual
  • FilipinoProfessional Working
  • JapaneseProfessional Working
  • ChineseLimited Working
  • SpanishElementary
  • FrenchElementary

Honors & Certifications

  • 2025 UC Davis Rhodes Scholarship Nominee
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Claus M. Boye Scholarship Recipient
  • Goldman Sachs — Risk Job Simulation

Core Skills

  • Liability Analysis
  • Risk Management
  • Team Leadership
  • Strategic Outreach
  • European Law & EU Economics

Contact

For editorial, academic, or professional inquiries, please reach out via email or LinkedIn.