Monique Arroyo  

CHCI Public Policy Fellow

Presented by UFCW 

Hometown: Homeland, California 

School: Missouri State University-Springfield 

Degree: B.S in Psychology  

Placement: Office of Rep. Dan Goldman 

Monique Arroyo (she/her) is originally from Southern California and spent much of her upbringing in a small Missouri town. Growing up in an underserved community with limited resources and being raised by a single-mother emphasized the importance of hard work and education in her life, shaping her commitment to advocacy and public service. 

Monique graduated summa cum laude from Missouri State University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in Criminology and Marketing. As a first-generation college graduate, she supported herself through service jobs while remaining deeply engaged in research and student organizations. On campus, she served for two years as a research assistant in the Brain & Behavior Research Lab, was Treasurer of the Psychology Club, and volunteered over 100 hours as a victim advocate at The Victim Center. 

Professionally, Monique has worked as a legal assistant at both a family law firm and a victims’ rights firm. In these roles, she gained experience in legal research, drafting, and client advocacy. These experiences gave her firsthand insight into how policy shapes legal practice and outcomes and affirmed her passion for the legal field. 

As a CHCI Public Policy Fellow, Monique aims to immerse herself in the legislative process to better understand how laws are developed and implemented. She hopes to combine her lived experience, academic background, and fellowship training to build a well-rounded understanding of the legal system as she prepares to apply to law school and ultimately pursue a career as an attorney.