Brandon Matthew Gauthier

Congressional Intern, Presented By: Chevron
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
School: Princeton University
Major: International Relations
Placement: The Office of Rep. Joaquin Castro

Brandon was born in Lake Tahoe, California, and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family hails proudly from Baja California, Mexico. His mother overcame innumerable hardships as an immigrant, and he owes all his success to her fortitude and sacrifice. She, as well as a regular intake of Spiderman movies, instilled in Brandon from a young age the importance of selflessness. He believes that power comes with the responsibility to transform others’ lives for the better, and he aims to live by this belief throughout his professional career.

In high school, Brandon split his time between playing flute in a marching band during Mardi Gras and volunteering at Animal Rescue New Orleans. As an upperclassman, he campaigned for and successfully implemented the provision of free feminine hygiene products in school restrooms.

A proud first-generation student, Brandon is a senior at Princeton University studying International Relations. He is involved on campus as a library assistant, steward of the International Food Coop, and member of several academic societies. During a gap year last year, Brandon lived in Mexico for three months, backpacked across Spain for another three, and worked as a background actor on numerous television shows and movies. After graduation he plans to pursue a career as a diplomat in the US Foreign Service and serve, ojala, in Latin America and Central Asia.

As a CHCI Intern, Brandon hopes to make a tangible difference in the lives of constituents while learning about the role of Congress in shaping foreign policy.