Loop21 and IMPACT DC recently named Kristal Quarker one of its Top 40 Under 40 Most Influential People of Color on Capitol Hill. The 30-year-old Atmore native is a staffer for the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs and senior advisor to the committee chair on all issues related to Africa.

Quarker received her bachelor of arts degree in political science with a concentration in international relations from UAB in 2004. She credits her UAB professors, Angela Lewis, Ph.D., and Nikos Zahariadis, Ph.D., in particular, with helping her to establish the foundation she needed to succeed in Washington.

"The UAB Department of Government has a stellar team of professors that ensures their students are adequately prepared upon graduation," she says. "I am forever grateful for having been able to study under their tutelage."

Quarker has worked on Capitol Hill for five years. Prior to serving on the foreign affairs committee, she was the director of business outreach for Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter, former chair of the House Republican Policy Committee. Her dream is to attend law school, return to Alabama, and run for Congress.

She was recently featured in UAB's latest ad campaign, "Knowledge that will change your world."

Loop21 is an online magazine covering issues related to the African American community, and IMPACT DC is an organization devoted to fostering civic engagement and political involvement among emerging leaders ages 21-40.

By Marie Sutton