Advocacy for Democracy, Rights, and Education Policy

Nancy Ooi

***********@*****.*** www.linkedin.com/in/nancyooi

Advocating in democracy, human rights, and education policy by driving meaningful change through legal research, public engagement, and policy advocacy. EDUCATION

University of California Merced- B.A in Sociology

Dean’s List (Fall 2024 & Spring 2025)

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Kizik — Tysons Corner Center, Tysons, VA

Sales Associate August 2024 – Present

● Improved shopper-to-customer conversion by delivering high-quality service and personalized product recommendations.

● Educated customers on Kizik’s hands-free footwear technology to drive sales and strengthen brand representation.

● Processed transactions accurately using POS systems while maintaining an organized and visually appealing sales floor.

Public Citizen – Democracy Department – Washington, DC Intern September-December 2025

● Helped organize and mobilize over 100 campus and community events for the Students Rise Up National Day of Action on November 7th.

● Assisted activist in opposing the administrative compact, advocating to protect institutional independence and academic freedom.

● Managed national email outreach and administrative tasks, supported social media and press communications, and developed training materials translating complex policy updates for student activists.

● Researched and drafted policy briefs and materials on higher education policies and administrative decisions affecting students and universities.

Democracy Summer Program – Office of Congressman Jamie Raskin, U.S. House of Representatives — Rockville, MD

Fellow June – August 2025

● Engaged in political outreach through canvassing, phone banking, and voter registration efforts across the DMV region, contributing to increased voter engagement.

● Conducted quantitative analysis of voter demographic data across the DMV region to inform outreach strategies and canvassed for the Abigail Spanberger campaign.

● Analyzed the impact of policies promoting democratic engagement and synthesized polling, census, and campaign data to guide evidence-based outreach strategies.

● Participated in weekly in-person seminars with guest experts including politicians, lawyers, historians, and advocates, engaging in discussions on today’s most pressing issues. UC Merced Office International Affairs- Merced, CA International Student Peer Advisor October 2024 – May 2025

● Handled daily email communications,providing referral resources scheduling, and administrative correspondence to support office operations.

● Serve as front desk assistant, welcoming students and visitors, answering questions, and planning events including trips and International Education Week.

● Create engaging promotional materials, including flyers and videos, and manage social media content to highlight campus resources and build international student engagement.

● Work with the visa specialists by directing students to resources and ensuring they are informed about important updates and procedures.

UC Merced Department of Sociology –Merced, CA

Research Assistant January 2025 – May 2025

● Performed detailed content analysis of court transcripts, ensuring data accuracy and consistency for research database.

● Applied analytical methods to identify patterns in court cases and evaluate interpreter performance.

● Created structured documentation of legal terminology and procedural patterns to support future research.

● Developed standardized protocols to improve quality control and detect errors in legal documentation. UC Merced Department of Management Systems”Exploitation of Children for Content Creation & Its Outcome” –Merced, CA

Research Assistant September 2023 – May 2025

● Led comprehensive mixed-methods research project examining the intersection of labor law, digital media, and child welfare.

● Designed and implemented interview protocols for stakeholder research, including coding and thematic analysis of qualitative data.

● Synthesized complex legal and social science findings into actionable policy recommendations and research publications in collaboration with Professor Yeo.

● Advanced child protection advocacy by informing policymakers and the public through Capitol testimony, presentations, and community outreach.

UNITED WE DREAM – SUMMER OF DREAMS-Washington, DC

Intern July – August 2024

● Conducted historical analysis of social justice movement strategies, including immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ rights, the Civil Rights Movement, and civic engagement, identifying successful tactics and assessing their long-term impact.

● Analyzed demographic and socioeconomic data to support targeted advocacy campaigns for underrepresented communities.

● Performed comparative analysis of policy outcomes across different geographic regions and political contexts.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY -Sacramento, CA

Testified at the California State Capitol June 18th,2024

● Provided testimony alongside Senator Padilla in support of State Bill 764, which was successfully passed.

● Conducted comprehensive research analysis on social media regulation impacts for minors, synthesizing academic literature and policy data.

PROJECTS

UC Merced POLI 109: Legislative Simulation Course (Taught by Congressman Adam Gray and Dr. Nathan Monroe)- Merced, CA

Role: Senator Bill Dodd (District 3) Sept-December 2024

● Participated in a simulation of the legislative process, engaging in policy analysis, drafting legislation, and lobbying.

● Served as Committee Chair for Agriculture and Natural Resources, leading committee meetings, coordinating bill discussions, and facilitating communication between senators and bill authors at the California State Capitol. SKILLS

Technical Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), and Canva.

Languages: Biliterate in English and Mandarin.

Certifications: Yosemite Leadership Program Social Change Practicum, CITI Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research, CITI Human Research Social/Behavioral Research Practicum, Completion for UC Riverside’s Public Service Weekend, A Geospatial Analysis of California Policy Issues.

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