Summer 2023 Congressional Interns
Maria Yepez Damian
Current Position/Organization
CHCI-Toyota Intern
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
School: University of Missouri
Major: Political Science, International Studies
Placement: The Office of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II
Maria Yepez Damian is a Mexican American bilingual student from Kansas City, Missouri. She is a University of Missouri-Columbia student pursuing a double major in Political Science and International Studies with emphases in Pre-Law and Latin American Studies. As the first person in her family to attend college, Maria understands the importance of completing her education and giving back to others. On campus, she is part of the Association of Latin American Students as well as the recruitment chair for the multicultural sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma. Outside of school, she spends most of her time volunteering, reading Beverly Tatum novels, listening to music, and watching Scandal reruns. Maria ultimately plans to further her education in law and public policy in hopes of pursuing her passion for helping the Hispanic community and becoming an immigration lawyer.
As a CHCI Intern, Maria hopes to strengthen her knowledge of the legislative process, as well as gain insight into U.S. international relations. She hopes to be able to use this experience to make a difference in her community and raise awareness about the struggles of those in underrepresented communities.