Katherine Escalante 

Congressional Intern, Presented by Best Buy 

Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

School: Eastern Connecticut State University 

Major: Political Science; Philosophy 

Placement: Office of Sen. Chuck Schumer 

Katherine Escalante was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States at age four, where she grew up calling South Dakota home. As the youngest daughter of her resilient parents, she learned early on about the importance of community, hard work, and positivity. As a first-generation college student and DACA recipient, she has dedicated her academic and professional journey to uplifting immigrant voices and advancing justice.   

Katherine double majored in Political Science and Philosophy at Eastern Connecticut State University. At her university, she became a peer mentor for under-documented students, discovered her passion for storytelling as a content strategist, and pursued interdisciplinary research. Her “Narratives Around High-Speed Rail: An AI Analysis” project was presented at conferences nationwide. Motivated by her research experience, she led a small team organizing her university’s first student-led conference. Beyond the classroom, Katherine has gained a wide range of diverse professional experiences. She is a two-time Yale Conservation Scholar and has interned at organizations including The Ocean Project, where she helped lead global youth engagement on ocean justice, and at Climate Refugees, where she researched the nexus between climate displacement and migration in Central America. She is also a contributing author for the forthcoming SAGE Environmental Justice Encyclopedia. During the fall of 2025, she will pursue a Master of Environmental Management at the Yale School of the Environment.   

Katherine looks forward to learning from public service leaders while growing as an advocate, professional, and community member as a CHCI Intern.