Luiz Torres - President

Luiz's journey into politics began in 2016 with the election of Donald Trump. Graduating in 2020 from California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in Spanish, he began on a path of community engagement. His tenure at Cal State Fullerton saw him intern at notable offices, including U.S. Congressman Lou Correa's and the City of Anaheim’s City Manager’s Office.

Rooted in his Anaheim hometown, Luiz witnessed firsthand the marginalized voices and service disparities among minority groups. This experience fueled his commitment to effect change. In 2021, he took on the role of Senior Policy Aide for Anaheim City Councilman Avelino Valencia. Here, he spearheaded initiatives such as educational seminars, COVID-19 vaccine clinics, and policy research, all while actively engaging with constituents to address their needs.

Luiz's impactful contributions earned him an opportunity to serve as an Office Assistant in Sacramento, following Assemblymember Avelino Valencia's election in 2022. Grateful for six years of serving his community, Luiz now looks to leverage his expertise in Sacramento to advocate for the students of Sac State's MPPA program as their GASPPA president. He currently resides in Downtown Sacramento with his Siamese Mix Cat, Kiwi.

Monica Zarate Sepulveda - Vice President

Monica began attending Sacramento City College at the age of 17, where she served as Vice President of their student government board and earned three Associate Degrees in Political Science, Social Science, and Liberal Arts. She then transferred to the University of California, Davis, as an Honors Scholar with a full-ride scholarship, earning her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Minor in Education while being an undocumented student.

Additionally, Monica volunteered for eight years in Title 1, K-12 schools and previously worked as a Law Clerk for an immigration law firm. She is entering her fourth year as a California Assembly legislative staffer and her second year as a Master's in Public Policy and Administration at Sacramento State student.

Monica looks forward to serving as Vice President of GASPPA.

Megan Smith-Fajardo - Financial Director

Megan Smith-Fajardo serves as the Financial Director for GSAPPA for the 2024-2025 term and is currently pursuing an MPPA at CSUS. She received a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology with a concentration in Culture, Language, and Society from CSUS and is a committed advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities.

In her role as Financial Director, Megan aims to utilize her prior experience as President of the Sacramento Anthropological Society to spearhead fundraising efforts for the GSAPPA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion scholarship.

Beyond her academic and professional commitments, Megan is passionate about The Legend of Zelda franchise, thrifting, and spending quality time with her wife and their two cats.

Michael Siegel - Academic Director

Michael is a second-year part-time MPPA student. Born and raised in the Sacramento region, Michael has been interested in public service and government since a young age with a passion for housing and water policy. He began his undergraduate studies at Sacramento City College and transferred to UC Davis in 2020. He graduated from UC Davis in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science - Public Service.

During his undergraduate studies, he interned for several political campaigns and in the office of Senator Kamala Harris. He also served as a Volunteer Lead during Senator Harris’ presidential campaign. Michael later worked as a Field Director for a local Assembly race.

As Academic Director for the 2024-2025 school year, Michael looks forward to fostering a collaborative and enriching educational environment to support all students in their academic and professional endeavors.

Michael enjoys long road trips with friends, aviation, and biking along the levee in his free time.

Colin Green - Communications Director

Colin Green is the Communications Director for the 2024-2025 school year and a second-year part-time MPPA student. Colin believes deeply in the government’s capacity to create a more just society. His background is in the non-profit sphere, working toward environmental and social justice. He currently works for Patagonia. He earned Peace and Conflict Studies and Environmental Sustainability degrees from the University of Utah.

Colin is driven to foster relationships across cohorts and the alumni network. As the Communications Director, he hopes to keep people informed about upcoming events, important PPA dates, and other relevant updates.

In his free time, Colin is an avid cyclist and skier. He will take any chance he gets to be in the mountains. He also enjoys watching soccer (go Arsenal!) and exploring Sacramento’s food and art scene.