David Catalan 

CHCI Law Postgraduate Fellow 

Presented by PepsiCo Foundation 

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois 

School: University of Illinois College of Law 

Degree: Juris Doctor 

Placement: House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

David Anderson Catalan (he/him) is a proud Guatemalan and Puerto Rican American born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Coming from a working-class, immigrant household, David’s path to law and public policy has been deeply shaped by the resilience of his community and the gaps in legal representation and accountability he observed growing up. These early lessons instilled in him a commitment to building systems that empower rather than exclude.  

David was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a bachelor’s degree with a double-major in Political Science and Communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He served as Treasurer of Kappa Alpha Pi, a pre-law fraternity where he helped prepare students for law school and emphasized the importance of public service. He was also Co-Director of UIUC Touch, a student-led Latinx dance organization celebrating culture through performance, and an active member of both the Pre-Law Honors Society and Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communications Honors Society.  

Continuing as a trailblazer, David recently earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law in May 2025, another first for his family. His work during law school has centered on the intersection of law, policy, and technology, with a focus on privacy, data governance, and public sector accountability. He held legal positions across multiple institutions: serving as a Law Clerk for the City of Chicago Department of Law, the University of Illinois Office of University Counsel, and as a Research Assistant for the AI & the Law class. In these roles, David worked on matters ranging from Title IX and immigration to AI governance, tax enforcement, and municipal code violations. David served as President of the Latinx Law Students Association, where he led efforts to strengthen alumni-student engagement and advocate for Latinx student success. For this work, he was honored with the 3L of the Year Award. He was also named a Leadership Scholar and held leadership roles as Vice President of the Privacy and Security Law Society and Teaching Assistant for the Externship Program. He earned the CALI Award for academic excellence in his Law & Emerging Technology class and earned his Pro Bono Notation by completing over 60 hours of pro bono legal service. 

As the CHCI Law Postgraduate Fellow, David hopes to gain deeper insight into the legislative process and explore how lawmaking can advance digital civil rights, expand privacy protections, and dismantle systemic inequities. Long term, David envisions a career where he bridges policy, law, and technology, whether as counsel to a congressional committee, a civil rights attorney, or an advocate shaping privacy and surveillance regulation for the public good.