SALISBURY, MD—Salisbury University alumna Martina Maya-Callen of Laurel, MD, just finished her Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Argentina, but the momentum for her career hasn’t stopped. The 2019 graduate has earned a Running Start Congressional Fellowship for the spring semester.
Only seven young women are honored with the fellowship. Each are given a place to live on Capitol Hill, as well as a stipend and training to become future political leaders as they shadow a United States congresswoman. Maya-Callen is interning with Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington State’s 7th congressional district, which includes Seattle. In addition to the Running Start fellowship, Maya-Callen works as a crisis counselor and helps Get Out the Vote in Maryland.
“The last few years have been amazing, and I have been completely surprised and excited with each new step,” Maya-Callen said. “I am very happy to be in Washington, D.C., in this time within our government and our history, and I am so excited to see where this leads me in the future.”
The Running Start Fellows Program is a nonpartisan nonprofit group that trains young women to run for public office. With 100 programs across the country, the program has prepared more than 15,000 women to be leaders.
“Martina is SU’s first Running Start fellow, and we continue to be proud of her accomplishments,” said Dr. Kristen Walton, director of SU’s Nationally Competitive Fellowships Office. “Martina’s success has resulted from not only her passion to make a difference, but also her desire to engage with the community. This fellowship should give her the experience and skills to be an effective advocate on the political stage.”
Maya-Callen received her SU degrees in conflict analysis and dispute resolution and fine art. In 2018-19, she earned her Fulbright to Argentina, where she hoped to raise awareness about eating disorders. She is one of 15 SU students to earn Fulbrights since 2012.
For more information, visit the Running Start Fellows Program website at https://runningstart.org/.
