CHCI – BP STEM Public Policy Fellow
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
School: Dickinson College
Degrees: B.A. Environmental Studies, B.A. Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies
Placement: Environmental Defense Fund
Placement: Office of Rep. Tony Cárdenas
Andy’s parents migrated from Jalisco, Mexico to California in search of better opportunities. As a Los Angeles native, he was raised by his family to have a strong work ethic and to be resilient in the face of adversity. Through his experiences in college, Andy developed a profound interest in energy and helping youth. Having studied environmental and Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies at Dickinson College, he was able to gain insight on critical environmental and social issues affecting marginalized communities.
At Dickinson, he took part in L.E.A.D., a youth mentorship and leadership program. Through his efforts with L.E.A.D., he facilitated activities that educate students on social justice and diversity issues, bystander intervention, and acting with self-respect.
In his third year of college, he was selected to participate in a competitive immersion program in China, where he gained a broader awareness of East Asian and environmental history. This experience inspired him to continue learning ways to address environmental and social issues faced in their communities.
As a CHCI Public Policy Fellow, Andy hopes to better understand the legislative process behind energy policies and to interact with Latino communities to raise awareness on environmental and social issues. Andy hopes this experience will broaden his knowledge to future career and educational paths.