Meet the Fellows
2025-2026 Colorado STPP Fellows
Introducing the inaugural cohort of the Colorado Science & Technology Policy Program. The Fellows will spend a year working under the direction of the Legislative Council Staff to provide impartial analysis and research to support members of the legislature. Through the Fellowship, these highly trained scientists and technical experts will gain first-hand experience in the state policymaking process.
Samantha Lattof | Public Health, Mental Health and Human Services Fellow
Samantha Lattof holds an MS in Global Health and Population from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a Ph.D. in Demography from the London School of Economics. For more than a decade, she has led health research and programs across academia, the World Health Organization, and the nonprofit and private sectors. Her work centers on strengthening health systems, improving quality of care, advancing maternal and newborn health and addressing inequities in access to care, particularly for migrants and marginalized populations. She has authored over 45 publications, convened and led multi-stakeholder coalitions, and provided technical support to health ministries and global partners. With a career spanning the globe, Lattof brings an international perspective and evidence-driven approach to Colorado’s policy landscape.
Max O’Connor | Energy, Climate and Transportation Fellow
Originally from Florida, Max O’Connor earned her BS in Chemistry from Brown University. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry through a joint program between the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where she studied the properties of advanced semiconductor materials. As an advanced energy materials chemist, O’Connor has engaged with a range of different energy technologies and developed a strong interest in connecting research progress to evidence-based impact. As a Fellow, she looks forward to bridging the scientific and policy communities and informing policies that promote environmental and technological progress while driving sustainable economic growth across the state.
Leena Vilonen | Natural Resources, Agriculture, Wildfire, Water, and Economic Development Fellow
Leena Vilonen earned her BS in Biology and Environmental Science from Northwestern University and her Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University (CSU). A microbial ecologist by training, her research examines how drought impacts soil microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) in grasslands. She became an experienced science communicator through her prior role as the Executive Director of the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative at CSU. In this role, she educated scientists, policymakers, educators, and the public about the mysterious yet highly diverse and abundant life below our feet. Vilonen is looking forward to seeing policy in action and using her scientific background and communication skills to inform its development.
Dhivahari Vivek | AI and Technology Fellow
Dhivahari Vivek joins the Fellowship program upon completing her MPP from Duke University with a research focus on healthcare privacy, surveillance and algorithmic accountability. Combined with her BS degrees in computer science and political science from the University of Colorado, Dhivahari has maintained a deep commitment to examining the broader societal impact of technology. With experience working on several state government projects, the challenges she encountered building digital infrastructure to store and process large amounts of data sparked an interest in the socially responsible collection and use of data – especially related to artificial intelligence, data privacy and the potential risks for surveillance. Vivek is excited to expand her public policy expertise while supporting the legislature in harnessing the benefits and recognizing the consequences of fast-paced technological innovation.
