Veronica Kaluta

Veronica Kaluta (she/her) is the 2026-2027 Dunn Fellow for the Office of Equity. Veronica is honored to support the Office’s mission and looks forward to learning from the team while contributing to work that ensures communities across Illinois are served with dignity, equity, and care.

Veronica’s commitment to equity is deeply personal. She was born and raised in a refugee camp after her family fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo before resettling in the United States in 2016. Growing up, equity often felt distant – more an aspiration than something reflected in daily life. These experiences shaped her understanding of public service and inspired her to explore how policy, leadership, and community partnerships can expand opportunity, protect human dignity, and ensure that every person, especially vulnerable women, is treated with fairness and respect.

Veronica recently graduated from Beloit College with a B.A. in Political Science and Critical Identity Studies and a minor in Law and Justice. At Beloit, she deepened her passion for examining the ways history, identity, and public policy shape communities. Through her coursework and research, she explored issues ranging from environmental justice and the unequal impacts of environmental change to international human rights, with a focus on conflict-related sexual violence against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These experiences strengthened her belief that lasting solutions require thoughtful policy and a commitment to listening to the people most affected.

Outside the classroom, Veronica sought opportunities to turn her interests into meaningful action. As a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, she conducted research in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters examining Indigenous land dispossession, environmental injustice, and the impact of historical narratives on access to natural spaces. As part of Rock County’s Engaging Communities to Change Health Outcomes (ECCHO) cohort, she helped develop Rooted Together, a community-led initiative aimed at rebuilding trust and expanding access to shared resources. She also volunteered with the International Institute of Wisconsin, supporting refugee families as they navigated new beginnings. 

As a Dunn Fellow, Veronica is excited to continue this work and learn how state government can partner with communities to advance equity in meaningful and lasting ways. She is grateful for the opportunity to grow as a public servant and contribute to the Office of Equity’s mission. Veronica plans to attend law school with a focus on immigration law.