Gauri Chawla
Fellow
Gauri Chawla is a Summer Fellow at the NewDEAL. She studies Political Science and English at the University of Michigan, and intends to attend law school to study constitutional law.
As an ACLU Emerging Advocate Scholar, Gauri has translated her activism into political organizing and public policy reform. She began her advocacy work in California with grassroots organizations focused on housing access and equitable development, serving as Secretary of the Steering Committee for Cupertino For All, where she first advanced affordable housing initiatives. Later, she worked directly with municipal leaders to develop zoning and transit reforms that contributed to the passage of key affordable housing ordinances.
During the 2024 election cycle, Gauri served as a policy analyst for the Harris campaign. Most recently, she led regulatory affairs for a mental health startup, translating FDA and FTC regulatory frameworks into actionable business strategy and communications policy. Through her work in local government, political campaigns, and the private sector, she remains interested in the ability of law and public policy to produce tangible community outcomes.
