Melissa Lopez Vasquez

Congressional Intern, Presented by Amgen
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
School: American University
Major: Public Health
Placement: Office of Rep. Pablo Jose Hernandez

Melissa Lopez Vasquez is a native of Washington D.C., born and raised in the District as the daughter of a Guatemalan father and Salvadoran mother. As a first-generation college student at American University (AU), Melissa is majoring in Public Health with a certificate in Leadership and Ethical Development on the pre-law track. She is a recipient of AU’s District Scholars Scholarship, a full-tuition award granted to D.C. students for exceptional academic talent.

Inspired by her mother’s resilience and her family’s values, Melissa is dedicated to serving her community. Growing up in the District, she got a first-hand look at the tireless work of D.C.’s immigrant populations, which inspired her passion for advocacy among the Latino community. This commitment to civic involvement is evident in her social justice project with AU’s Humanities Truck Fellowship, where she received $10,000 to implement a participatory budgeting program at a local D.C. high school. This initiative was designed by her to bolster community resilience and ethical leadership among youth.

Melissa aspires to become a public interest lawyer to provide a voice for underrepresented individuals and advocate for policies that ensure equitable access to public health and social programs for all. As a CHCI Intern, Melissa hopes to strengthen her leadership skills and deepen her knowledge of the legislative processes to create effective, inclusive policies that will benefit the community that raised her.