Jessica Saenz Gomez

CHCI Education Postgraduate Fellow Presented by Walton Family Foundation
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
School: Brown University
Degree: Master of Public Affairs
Placement: Office of Representative Adelita Grijalva

Born and raised in Mesa, Arizona, Jessica Saenz Gomez (she/her/ella) is the proud daughter of immigrants from Acatlán, Hidalgo, Mexico. Growing up in a state notorious for its anti-immigrant climate, she confronted structural barriers and targeted hostility early in her life that disrupted the livelihoods of her family and community. Amid these challenges, her parents instilled in her the values of education, community solidarity, and humility rooted in her cultural identity – pillars that guide her journey as a first-generation college graduate and professional navigating insular institutions.

Jessica attended Brown University where she earned her B.A. in Sociology. Through the Bonner Community Fellowship, Jessica served as a site leader for William D’Abate Elementary School’s tutoring program, teaching bilingual second-graders during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting students from similar backgrounds as her own deepened her passion for creating culturally inclusive learning environments. Alongside her community work, Jessica researched the effects of social spending on child development as an Annenberg Undergraduate Research Fellow, and dedicated her academic studies to examining how anti-immigrant legislation impacts students of Mexican descent within Arizona’s educational spaces.

Jessica completed a fifth-year MPA program at Brown to strengthen her policy analysis skills and advance her educational equity research. For her capstone project, she examined the impact of high school exit examinations on newcomer immigrant students through a research-practice partnership with the Massachusetts Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education. She also served as a summer teaching coordinator for the inaugural Brown Collegiate Scholars Program, where she helped develop English and social justice classes for Rhode Island middle schoolers. Beyond campus, Jessica worked with Aliento as a data analyst and campaign intern for Prop 308, supporting the campaign’s success in securing in-state tuition for Arizona Dreamers. Her commitment to democratic equity also earned her a selection as a Watson Director’s Fellow, where she researched the effects of voting laws on voter turnout in communities of color in Arizona. Most recently, Jessica served as the program manager for Brown’s Bonner Community Fellowship, where she mentored 80 fellows in their civic engagement and social justice efforts with Rhode Island community organizations.

As the CHCI Education Postgraduate Fellow, Jessica seeks to advance K-16 educational access for Latino and immigrant students nationally. By broadening her knowledge of the legislative process, she hopes to elevate the lived experiences of Latino students to directly inform the policies that shape their education. Ultimately, Jessica intends to bring this federal experience to national Latino organizations, collaborating to foster the next generation of leaders and honor the community that has guided her path.