The California Institute on Law, Neuroscience, and Education is pleased to introduce its first ever cohort of summer undergraduate interns. The three interns come from different universities across the nation with unique and diverse backgrounds. Their work this summer has consisted of archival and policy research, writing reports, and collaborating and meeting with the CA Institute staff and researchers located at each of its three partner campuses. The interns primarily worked at the UC Law SF campus, and in addition made on-site visits to the UCSF campus, the San Francisco Hall of Justice, and the Rancho Cielo Youth Campus in Monterey County, among others. The CA Institute is excited to showcase their talent and work in helping advance the Institute’s mission.
Simon Beil
Simon Beil is a rising junior at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, studying comparative literature and philosophy. Having grown up in California and being a Bay Area native, the CA Institute’s mission of bringing education and justice to the state’s youth through an interdisciplinary approach particularly resonated with him. As a student of literature and of language more generally, he is very interested in the relationship between language and law as well as that between language and education. One of the highlights of the internship for him was a visit to the Multitudes team at the UCSF Dyslexia Center, whose dyslexia screener for elementary school students was developed with a focus on linguistic pluralism and the neuroscience underlying it; this experience helped illuminate exactly how these fields can be drawn together in order to create a definite and concrete result. In addition, it made manifest how language and literacy are truly central to an understanding of our own judicial systems as well as the broader social structures we inhabit. At Brown Simon works as a tutor for high school students looking to improve their writing skills and gain a deeper understanding of how the written word works; he has held similar teaching roles throughout his life and plans to continue working in such positions. Simon hopes to continue learning about the products and implications of language; he will be studying abroad in Berlin in the spring of 2026 to pursue interests in German and French literature. Ultimately, he hopes to become a professor. He is currently a member of the Brown Quizbowl team and frequently attends and helps host tournaments. In his free time he enjoys playing bridge and attempting to design the perfect sandwich.
Ellie McCusker
Elizabeth (Ellie) McCusker is a Dean’s List student at Tulane University. She is a rising junior majoring in English and Philosophy and minoring in Communication Media Studies. As a Bay Area native, Ellie is eager to return to California after completing her undergraduate degree in Louisiana. She plans to attend law school, with particular interests in Environmental Law, Educational Law, Juvenile Justice, and Entertainment Law. Known for her curiosity, drive, and desire to take on new challenges, Ellie thrives in environments where she can learn from diverse perspectives and engage with complex issues. On campus at Tulane, Ellie serves as Director of Podcast for The Tulane Hullabaloo and College Life Executive Editor for The Crescent Magazine. She is a proud member of the pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta and an honored member of its Society of Scholars. She is also an active participant in The Women’s Network Tulane and Strong City Tulane, organizations that reflect her commitment to nonprofit work and advancing opportunities for women. Outside of academics, Ellie prioritizes movement, creativity, and time in nature. She is a CorePower Yoga Sculpt instructor, an avid hiker, and a creative cook who enjoys experimenting with healthy recipes inspired by her garden and local farmers’ markets. One of Ellie’s most impactful experiences during her internship with the California Institute has been attending a Young Adult Court (YAC) session, which deepened her passion for juvenile justice and child advocacy—both areas she is eager to explore further. With an open mind and a passion for learning, she embraces opportunities to study different areas of law and collaborate with people from all walks of life. She has learned firsthand that the legal field offers an extraordinary range of paths, each with the potential to create meaningful change. In the future, Ellie hopes to combine her legal education with her commitment to advocacy to make a lasting impact in California and beyond.
Jayla Pete
Jayla Pete is a rising third-year honors student at the University of California, Irvine, triple-majoring in Anthropology, Political Science, and Criminology, Law, & Society. Born and raised in San Francisco, she finds joy in running the trails of Land’s End, spending time with her dog Buddy, and attending live concerts. But beyond her personal interests, Jayla is deeply committed to advancing equity, justice, and Indigenous visibility in every space she enters. At UC Irvine, Jayla has served in student government as the Racial Justice Coordinator and the Indigenous Identity Commissioner, where she championed initiatives that addressed systemic inequities impacting students of color. Her efforts led to the formal recognition of Black History Month and the creation of institutional guides that uplift Black and Native student experiences. As the Native American Recruitment Coordinator, she has worked to expand outreach and build a stronger support system for Native students, founding the university’s only Indigenous retention initiative, one that she fought to grow, fund, and sustain despite longstanding institutional neglect. Jayla’s advocacy is not confined to campus. She has represented UC Irvine in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C., lobbying elected officials on issues that matter to underserved communities, including equitable access to financial aid, reproductive healthcare, racial justice, and dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. Her advocacy is rooted in lived experience, shaped by her identity as an Indigenous woman navigating predominantly white institutions, and by the urgent need to reimagine systems that have long excluded or harmed marginalized people. In the upcoming academic year, she will serve as a Social Science Senator, Vice President of the American Indian Student Association, and continue leading as Native American Retention Coordinator. One of her most powerful experiences to date was attending a Young Adult Court session, where she witnessed how restorative and rehabilitative approaches to justice can disrupt cycles of incarceration and trauma. It reaffirmed her belief in transformative justice and community-led solutions over punishment and surveillance. Jayla plans to attend law school, where she hopes to pursue public policy, constitutional law, and Native American advocacy. She envisions a future where Indigenous voices are centered in policymaking, sovereignty is respected, and justice is not defined by punishment, but by healing, accountability, and liberation.
