The Utah Center for Legal Inclusion is proud to launch the new UCLI Ambassador Program, a volunteer-based initiative designed to expand outreach and empower future legal leaders. The first semester will run from May to August 2025, aligning with the UCLI Pre-Law Internship time table but providing a distinct and separate opportunity.
This program welcomes Ambassadors for its inaugural summer cohort. Participants will engage in impactful volunteer work such as reaching out to underserved students in elementary, middle, and high schools to share resources and creating social media and digital posts that can reach potential future attorneys across the state. In return, the Ambassadors are able to participate in the UCLI Career & Law Readiness Series as well as networking opportunities with current law students and attorneys. While unpaid, the program offers valuable law school preparation, networking, and leadership experience, with just a 10-hour minimum time commitment per semester. Future terms will follow in the fall (August–December) and winter (January–April) semesters.
By launching this program, UCLI aims to extend its support to more undergraduate students and pre-law individuals while enhancing its reach in schools, communities, and work spaces across Utah.
Summer 2025 Ambassadors
Please find information about the inaugural summer cohort of UCLI Ambassadors below.
Daniela Aldama
Daniela Aldama is a pre-law student at Utah Valley University pursuing a career in Forensic Science with a minor in Constitutional Studies. Her passion for justice, legal analysis, and public service has guided her academic and professional journey. In Summer 2024, she was selected for a pre-law fellowship at the University of Utah, where she experienced the rigors of law school and deepened her commitment to a legal career. Originally from Barinas, Venezuela, Daniela volunteers her translation skills with the University of Utah’s pro bono legal program, continuing her dedication to service and her Latin community.
Daniela Aldama
Ella Marie Paligo
Ella Marie Paligo is a Political Science major at Brigham Young University with a Legal Studies Emphasis and minors in Business, Civic Engagement Leadership, and Global Women’s Studies. A Dean’s List and Honors Program student, she is passionate about criminal justice reform and legal equity. Ella has interned with the Provo City Justice Court, the ACLU of Tennessee, and the Sumner County District Attorney’s Office, gaining hands-on experience in legal advocacy and courtroom procedure. She co-founded Operation Second Chance, a reentry initiative that provided 70 incarcerated individuals with job training, resources, and reintegration support. She currently interns for the Utah Prison Education Project. On campus, Ella serves as BYUSA Student Body Executive Vice President, works as a Religious Education Teaching Assistant, and holds leadership roles in the Interfaith Student Association, Political Affairs Society, and Women in Politics. She is a Global Politics Lab Research Fellow, published researcher, editor for campus and national pre-law journals, and a Bluebook Citation Editor for a BYU Law professor. She has been recognized as a Wheatley Institute Scholar, Coca-Cola Scholar, U.S. Senate Youth Program Delegate, and Kennedy Center Peace Advocate. After graduation, Ella plans to earn a J.D. and MBA to pursue a career as a public defender and advocate for criminal justice reform. Originally from Tennessee, she enjoys time with her large family and is excited to serve as a UCLI Ambassador!
Ella Marie Paligo
Jordan Evans
Jordan Evans is a 23-year-old student at Utah Valley University, where they are double majoring in Philosophy and Psychology. Jordan plans to attend law school and has a strong interest in public international law. Driven by a passion for justice, Jordan aims to use the law as a tool to make a positive impact on a global scale.
Jordan Evans
Maya Hughes
Maya Hughes graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. She has experience in legal research, policy analysis, and constituent engagement through her internship with Congressman Chris Stewart’s Office, as well as research and event coordination skills gained as a research assistant for The Quill Project. Maya looks forward to pursuing her J.D. next year and contributing to UCLI’s initiatives. Outside of academics, she enjoys swimming, reading, and playing the violin.
Maya Hughes
Tyson Udy
Tyson Udy is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah, majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Psychology. Originally from Nashville, Tyson moved to Utah a few years ago and plans to attend law school in the fall of 2026. He enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and has a deep passion for music. Tyson is particularly interested in pursuing a career in criminal or environmental law and hopes to be actively involved in political advocacy. His lifelong interest in the legal field has grown through personal experiences, and he looks forward to exploring the many ways law can be applied to create meaningful change.
Tyson Udy
