Julia Baum
Spring 2023 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Broomfield, CO
College: University of Colorado Boulder
Degree: B.S. Political Science; Minors in Philosophy and Leadership Studies
Julia Baum is from sunny Broomfield, Colorado, sandwiched between Boulder and Denver. She was raised with two loving parents, an older brother, and a plethora of rescue dogs. Dinner was always together and conversation revolved around politics and current events, sparking Julia’s interest in the law and civic engagement. Political discourse developed into a passion in high school where she participated in her school's debate team and ambassador program.
Julia attended the University of Colorado Boulder where, between long glances at the Flatirons and some spectacular hikes, she received a degree in Political Science with a double minor in Philosophy and Leadership Studies. She was a member of the Presidents Leadership Class, a top scholar, four-year leadership and skill development program awarded to only 50 incoming freshmen.
Julia remained active in Presidents Leadership Class for the three and one-half years in Boulder, first as a student scholar and then as Director of Recruitment. She also served as the Senior Class Council President during her junior year, and was the sole student speaker at CU Boulder’s May 2022 commencement ceremony in front of 40,000 people at Folsom Field.
Outside of CU, she worked on several statewide ballot initiatives through the political consulting group, 76 Group, and was an intern for the Colorado Attorney General.
Julia is highly interested in child welfare, the foster care system, the school to prison pipeline, as well as the overall criminal justice system. After her time at John Jay, she intends to go to law school where she’s planning a career in child advocacy law or work in the foster care system.