CHCI-Toyota Intern
Hometown: Sutter Creek, California
School: University of Southern California
Major: International Studies
Placement: The Office of Rep. Norma Torres
Carolina Cortez grew up in a small town in the countryside of Northern California. The slow-paced lifestyle and cultural seclusion incentivized her to move to Los Angeles and study international relations with a minor in economics at the University of Southern California (USC). Carolina focuses on advocating for women’s empowerment, cultural awareness, and Latino human rights issues.
As she prepares to enter her senior year at USC, Carolina would like to continue gaining professional experience in the hopes of taking her newfound knowledge and skillset to the international sector. She has previously interned at the Office of Constituent Affairs under Governor Jerry Brown, and at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service office. On her campus, Carolina completed research on Arctic power projection under senior faculty staff and learned about the structure of non-profit work with LA5’s Rotary Club of Los Angeles. Upon graduating, Carolina plans to take a year off to teach English in Southeast Asia and volunteer in Africa before enrolling in a master’s program.
As a CHCI Intern, Carolina hopes to strengthen her leadership skills and expand her network through the opportunities presented by CHCI. The bustling dynamic of Washington D.C., paralleled with Carolina’s determined work ethic, will help mold her into the strong advocate she hopes to become.