Harris Fellows 2026

Front, left to right: Aihanuwa Ale-Opinion, Noor El-Gendy, Dulce María Otero

Back, left to right: Brooklyn Kennedy, Oscar Cano, Zara Motan

Aihanuwa Ale-Opinion (’26)
Postbaccalaureate, Biology
Office of Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones

Aihanuwa Ale-Opinion earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in data and society. An aspiring physician, Ale-Opinion focuses on health equity and improving health outcomes in marginalized communities. As co-founder of Coogs for Choice, she led sexual health workshops for primarily queer and unhoused youth in Houston, distributed reproductive health resources, and advocated for expanded access to health care on and off campus.

She also co-founded the Thrive Program, a STEAM initiative that provides hands-on learning opportunities for medically fragile children. Her work spans public health, policy and research, including a Pharis Fellowship project examining how Texas school voucher legislation affects access to special education. She served as a Civic Houston intern in the office of Texas state Rep. Gene Wu. As a Harris Fellow, Ale-Opinion aims to strengthen her skills to advance public health initiatives and improve community well-being in Harris County.

Oscar Cano
Senior, Economics 
Office of Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia

Oscar Cano is an economics major focused on the intersection of public policy and law. Through research with the Social Economy and Enterprise Academy, Cano helped the Center for Civic and Public Policy Improvement analyze county-level issues, including food insecurity, health care access and housing conditions across Texas, using data to better understand how policy shapes community outcomes.

His professional experience at a law firm exposed the challenges individuals face navigating complex legal systems, deepening his interest in public service and institutional access. He plans to continue exploring the connections among economics, law and public policy through work in local government and legal institutions. As a Harris Fellow, Cano hopes to gain deeper insight into how county systems operate and serve diverse communities more effectively.

Noor El-Gendy (’26)
Postbaccalaureate, Political Science and Sociology
Harris County Office of County Administration

Noor El-Gendy earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology, along with a UH Honors Phronesis minor. Originally from Cairo, Egypt, she competed as an international student-athlete on the University of Houston Swimming and Diving team. A team captain for two years, El-Gendy helped lead the Division I program through two of its strongest seasons since joining the Big 12 Conference. She is a school and Egyptian record holder and has competed internationally as a member of the Egyptian National Team.

Beyond athletics, El-Gendy focuses on Middle East politics and foreign policy research. A semester-long project on U.S.-Egypt relations sparked her interest in local government and community service. Her public affairs experience also includes an internship with ExxonMobil Egypt, where she supported regional coordination and community engagement initiatives across the Middle East and North Africa.

Brooklyn Kennedy
Senior, Psychology
Harris County Office of County Administration, Justice Innovation Team

Brooklyn Kennedy is a first-generation college student majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology, focusing on criminology, law and deviance. Her academic coursework has inspired her interest in how public policy and institutional decision-making shape outcomes and contribute to systemic inequality.

As a registered behavior technician, she has advocated for clients while observing barriers to care, including restrictive insurance policies and limited access to services. Her experience as a Cougar Tutor at an under-resourced elementary school deepened her commitment to public service, where she supported students facing challenges such as food insecurity, housing instability and limited transportation access. Kennedy has also volunteered as a youth coach and at a rehabilitation center, broadening her understanding of the needs of vulnerable populations. She plans to pursue a Master of Public Policy at the Hobby School and, through her Harris Fellow experience, hopes to amplify underrepresented voices and advance equitable community solutions.

Zara Motan
Senior, Psychology 
Office of Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 2, Judge Steve Duble

Zara Motan is a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in legal studies. Motan is passionate about using the law as a tool for public service and advocating for underserved communities. As a Civic Houston Intern in the office of Harris County Justice of the Peace Steve Duble, she worked to improve access to legal resources and assist tenants facing eviction, gaining firsthand insight into how local law and policy shape residents’ lives. She brings additional advocacy experience through her long-standing work with Dar-Us-Sakina, supporting Muslim children with disabilities, and as co-founder of CheckUpCoogs, a student-led initiative focused on health equity.

On campus, she serves as a research assistant in the Damian Personality and Social Psychology Lab and is active in the UH Honors College. As a Harris Fellow, Motan aims to deepen her community-centered approach to public service before pursuing law school.

Dulce María Otero
Senior, Public Policy 
Office of Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis

Dulce María Otero is a first-generation college student majoring in public policy with a minor in Mexican American studies. On campus, she is a member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc., where she promotes scholarship, cultural awareness and community engagement. Otero has held multiple leadership roles, including chair of the UH Student Fees Advisory Committee, vice chair of academic affairs and Hobby School senator in the Student Government Association, as well as a member of the Hobby School Undergraduate Student Advisory Council. As a Mellon Research Scholar, she examined Texas public education through a historical analysis centered on the experiences of students of Mexican ancestry.

Her experience includes internships with the office of Harris County Precinct 4 as a Civic Houston Intern and with the UH Office of Government and Community Relations, along with service on the Ignite National Texas Advisory Board. As a Harris Fellow, Otero aims to focus on advancing public education research and policy advocacy.