Dani K. Silva is a junior transfer student at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Sociology with minors in Global Poverty & Practice and Digital Humanities. Her work focuses on the intersections of education, incarceration, reentry, and public policy, informed by lived experience and years of advocacy alongside system-impacted students and communities. As a member of the California Policy Lab Research Advisory Board, Dani brings the perspective of a formerly incarcerated student, former foster youth, and nontraditional student who has experienced firsthand many of the systems she now works to change.

Her journey from community college to UC Berkeley strengthened her commitment to expanding educational access and pathways for people impacted by incarceration. Dani serves in leadership with Berkeley Underground Scholars and as a co- advisor for the Rising Scholars statewide Caucus and extends her policy work through the University of California Student Association (UCSA), where she serves as Vice Chair of the Fund the UC campaign, and as the Non-Traditional Students Policy Lead in the ASUC External Affairs Vice President’s Office. Across these roles, she works at the intersection of student advocacy, higher education policy, and systems change while mentoring and advocating alongside formerly incarcerated and system-impacted students. Dani believes those most affected by public systems should not simply be subjects of research and policy, but active participants in shaping both.