Meet Sekhar Paladugu '12

Monday November 16, 2009

Meet Sekhar Paladugu '12 (History)

Connection to the Haas Center
Stanford in Government Fellowship

Activities you participate in
This past summer I received a Stanford in Government (SIG) fellowship to intern for openly gay City Supervisor Bevan Dufty of San Francisco. It was an exciting opportunity to explore government on a local level, and also to work in a four-person office under a great role model (who is currently running for mayor). The best take-away was taking my summer experience back to my work on campus, all the while learning more about myself. Since I live in Branner Hall, Stanford’s public service-themed dorm, I have ample opportunity to interact with like-minded peers and tell them my stories.

Why is the Haas Center important to you?
Haas and SIG gave me more than just money to live and work in city government for over two months—they gave me support and a network of contacts. My boss learned my name before I even came in, and within an hour he had me sit in on a meeting with senior citizens concerning budget cuts to their meal programs. I immediately got a sense of the issues he was weighing in his work on the Board of Supervisors. Bevan Dufty is not only an openly gay man but also the father of a three-year-old daughter, and represents the same district Harvey Milk did. Working with him and in this environment taught me so much about the City of San Francisco, as well as people in general.

Why do you choose action over apathy?
Because without action I wouldn’t be who I am. Action connects me to the world around me in a way that makes me feel alive.

Meet more Haas Center students