By Zachary Olson, ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow
ELCA Advocacy is excited to introduce the six new leaders in the 2025-2026 Hunger Advocacy Fellows cohort. These new Fellows bring a variety of skills, experiences and insights into their work for the upcoming year. This year-long fellowship combines professional development and faith formation as the Fellows tackle public policy issues on the state and national level. We look forward to the year ahead and our work to help create a more just world.
Garber, Daniella (Pennsylvania)
Daniella Garber is the new Hunger Advocacy Fellow with the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Pennsylvania (LAMPa). She recently graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a major in math and religion minor. Her background includes internships in data analytics and policy research focused on hunger and food access, as well as interfaith community building at Bryn Mawr College. She is excited to bring these experiences together in this role to support faith-based advocacy in Pennsylvania!
Jordan, Jeff (Washington, D.C.)
Jeffrey M. Jordan II is part of the D.C.-based staff of the ELCA Witness in Society office specializing in Policy. Jordan is an American lawyer and public policy researcher with a Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School, a Master’s of International Affairs: Global Governance, Politics, and Security from American University School of International Service and Bachelor’s of International Studies and Public Policy from Sarah Lawrence College. He has several years of research experience on domestic and international law and policy issues. Outside of work, Jordan enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, avidly reading and volunteering at church.
Le, Dylan (Texas)
Dylan Le is serving his Fellowship as Public Policy Fellow with Texas Impact, an ELCA-affiliated state public policy office. Le holds a B.A. in Sociology and a certificate in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin. As a son of a Vietnamese refugee and having specialized in Latin American Studies during his study abroad at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, his work as a Public Policy Fellow is driven by his passion to promote legislation that protects and supports Texas’ diverse communities. Le has experience working in various volunteer organizations and is thrilled to be a part of Texas Impact’s team. He speaks fluent Spanish, and in his free time enjoys learning other languages, practicing the trombone, and playing with his dogs Opal and Mahler.
Muther, Laura (California)
Laura Muther the fellow for the Lutheran Office of Public Policy – California. Muther is an alumna of Valparaiso University, where she served as Chair of the Social Action Leadership Team (SALT), after serving as donor relations co-leader and faith and reflections coordinator. Following her time at Valparaiso University, Muther served a year with the Episcopal Service Corps in Seattle as a Vendor Program Intern with Real Change news, working with members of Seattle’s unhoused and low-income population. She is from the St. Louis area and enjoys photography and hiking.
Zachary Olson (Washington, D.C.)
Zachary Olson is part of the D.C.-based staff of the ELCA Witness in Society office specializing in Communications. Olson is a communications and journalism graduate student at American University with an Associate Degree in Communications and Media Studies from Carroll Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from American University. He has several years of research and communications experience working with non-profits from local news media to advocacy think tanks. Beyond work, he enjoys spending time with friends, reading books and conducting his own research.
Abigail Raghunath (New York)
Abigail (“Abby”) Raghunath is placed with the Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), the Lutheran representation to the United Nations. Raghunath is a native New Yorker. She recently earned a Master’s degree in International Security, Conflict Resolution, and Gender Public Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where her research focused on the impacts of climate and conflict on civilians. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from City College of New York. Earlier this year, Raghunath interned with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, contributing to advocacy on women’s participation in defense and security reform. Previously, she worked on gender and climate advocacy initiatives with the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and led child literacy and women’s empowerment projects in Cambodia. She also gained experience at the European Parliament, where she conducted research on the conflict-related challenges faced by refugees entering the European Union.
