Danielis Morales Villegas

Congressional Intern, Presented by UPS Foundation
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
School: Columbia University in the City of New York
Major: Political Science; Human Rights
Placement: Office of Rep. Nydia Velázquez

Raised by a single mother in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Danielis Morales Villegas grew up amid earthquakes, political unrest, devastating hurricanes, and the collapse of the island’s energy infrastructure. These unfortunate experiences sparked her interest in public policy as a means of building a more secure and equitable future for Puerto Rico. Her identity as a Puerto Rican continues to shape her academic and professional pursuits, as she works to develop the expertise needed to return to the island and support its long-term resilience and growth.

These interests led Danielis to pursue a degree in Political Science and Human Rights at Columbia University. Throughout her studies, she has focused on engaging with New York’s large immigrant community, pairing her academic understanding of migration, citizenship, and human rights frameworks with hands-on experience. She began this work as an asylum interviewer and translator with Project Rousseau and expanded it by advocating for NY State Assembly Senate Bill S2513 (“Cecilia’s Act”) to decriminalize sex work in New York state alongside the Queens-based nonprofit Make the Road New York.

Danielis will pursue a 4+1 Master’s in International Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), with a focus on Development and Governance in Latin America. She aims to apply her studies within institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme or regional UN bodies, working to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and address the structural drivers of migration.

As a CHCI Intern, Danielis seeks to deepen her understanding of the legislative process and effective policymaking while gaining insight into U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.