Hello! I am Christina Neal. I have greatly enjoyed my time with Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity. The lessons I learned this summer along with the connections that I made in the office will greatly benefit my career.

I am a rising senior at Spelman College pursuing a BA in Political Science with a Pre- Law Concentration. I am originally from Rocky Mount, North Carolina. I am a student with a passion for the environment and an interest in environmental policy. I hope to use my education and work experience to impact environmental policy in a positive way.

In 2015, I graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) in Durham, North Carolina. NCSSM is the nation's first public residential high school focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). During my time NCSSM, I conducted scientific research in a laboratory and gained leadership experience through my participation in athletics and extra-curricular clubs basketball and volleyball.  I was the community service chair for “NIA,” a group that provided support and outreach for minority students on campus. My senior year, I obtained a senior leadership position and served as a library liaison, assisting students with the technology needs.

In 2015, I began undergrad at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. During my time at Spelman I have excelled academically and was on the Dean’s List in 2016 and 2017. I was also a residential assistant (RA) for the Beverly Daniel Tatum Suites, Spelman’s first “green” residential hall. As an RA, I balanced academic responsibilities with my duties as a resource for students.

I am a member of the Spelman-Morehouse Pre-Law Society and was inducted into the Spelman College chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity in February 2018. For the past two years, I have participated in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC), an academic quiz bowl-style challenge for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

I am a member of Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity (URGE) a group that provides community education and advocates for women’s reproductive rights. Through this group, I participated in a number of events, including the annual Georgia Advocacy Day at the Georgia State Capitol.

Over the past three summers I have participated in internships and summer programs that have provided a range of professional development opportunities. In 2016, I worked as a summer teaching assistant for the Criminal Law and Mock Trial Program at Duke Talent Identification Program, a nonprofit organization serving academically gifted and talented youth. In 2017, I served as a congressional intern for Representative G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina in Washington, D.C. I provided administrative support and assisted with constituent requests. Over the course of this internship, I learned firsthand how national laws impact local communities.

Upon graduation, my plan is to attend law school, and practice environmental law. When not at school or interning, I enjoy reading the latest bestseller or volunteering with Trees Atlanta, an organization that plants trees and other local plants around the Atlanta metropolitan area. I also serve the community surrounding my college by helping with community gardens and participating in litter clean up efforts.