Uriel Lopez Gonzalez

CHCI Public Policy Fellow

Presented by UFCW 

Hometown: Wenatchee, Washington 

School: Washington State University 

Degree: B.A. in Political Science 

Placement: The Office of Senator Jon Ossoff

Uriel Lopez Gonzalez (he/him) was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and raised in Wenatchee, Washington. Throughout his life, Uriel and his family have felt the impact of policy decisions at every level, shaped by their identity and his parents’ work in the tree fruit industry. His mother, Sylvia, a formerly undocumented Mexican immigrant, instilled in him the importance of discretion and vigilance regarding their status. Meanwhile, his father, Juan, a Chilean immigrant, fostered in him a deep appreciation for the United States, emphasizing principles such as Individual Liberty, Civil Liberties, and Federalism. The cultural duality of his upbringing, along with his parents’ hard work and discipline, continues to drive his passion for lifelong learning, civic engagement, and advancing Latino representation across public, nonprofit, and private sectors.

Uriel pursued a B.A. in Political Science Pre-Law at Washington State University Pullman, where he was actively involved in campus leadership. He served as VP of Standards & Compliance on the Executive Board of Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc., overseeing 52 members in WSU’s Latino-based chapter. He also worked alongside student-led organizations across the political spectrum, engaging in initiatives ranging from advocating for undocumented students at the Washington State Legislature in Olympia to canvassing for the 2020-21 Georgia Senate runoff election in Atlanta. After college, Uriel returned home to join Enterprise Mobility’s Management Trainee Program, where he gained experience in operational management, sales and marketing while learning from Central Washington’s predominantly Latine leadership team.

As a CHCI Public Policy Fellow, Uriel hopes to build meaningful relationships with leaders in D.C. while gaining a realistic understanding of the legislative process. He is particularly passionate about issues such as Latino workforce rights and benefits, bipartisan immigration reform, and expanding Latino representation in entrepreneurship, venture capital, and homeownership. After the fellowship, he plans to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration or Public Policy and return to the private sector, with the ultimate goal of empowering the next generation of Latino leaders.