Nicolas Cardenas

Congressional Intern, Presented by FedEx 
Hometown: South Pasadena, California  
School: University of Southern California 
Major: International Relations (Global Business)
Placement: Office of Rep. Linda T. Sánchez

Nicolas Cardenas is from South Pasadena, California, where he grew up with his two siblings, parents, and grandparents from Jalisco, Mexico. His upbringing, influenced by his parents and their professions, sparked an early interest in public service and the role of government in shaping opportunities for communities in the United States and around the globe.

Nicolas is currently pursuing a degree in International Relations (Global Business) at the University of Southern California’s (USC) Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. His academic interests include political economy, U.S.-Latin America relations, and the role of government institutions in promoting economic development and democratic stability.

Nicolas previously interned with the Office of Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), where he conducted constituent outreach and helped connect community members with federal services. He has also interned with the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and remains active at USC through organizations such as the Foreign Service Society and the Latine Student Assembly. In high school, Nicolas completed the Global Scholars program at Polytechnic School, where he researched U.S. involvement in Latin America and presented a capstone project on its lasting impact on migration and regional relations. In the future, Nicolas hopes to pursue a career in public service focused on international affairs, economics, and public policy.

As a CHCI Intern, he hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the legislative process and develop the skills necessary to support policies that expand opportunity and representation for Latino communities.