Michael Hernández

University of Connecticut

Michael Hernández is a sophomore at the University of Connecticut, double majoring in political science and economics, with an English minor. An active member of our Stamford campus community and an aspiring public servant, Michael is President of the Undergraduate Political Science Association, a columnist for our student newspaper The Daily Campus, a contributor to the Undergraduate Political Review, and a member of the Leadership Board of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In his legislative advocacy, his political activism, and his service to his community, Michael advances the values of the Newman Civic Fellowship. An immigrant himself, Michael incorporates his personal story into both his scholarly pursuits and his community service efforts. He worked as a Campaign Fellow for Connecticut Students for a Dream, where he lobbied for the eventual passage of the Afford to Dream Act, which gives undocumented students in Connecticut access to financial aid at state colleges and universities. And he is currently spearheading a project in Stamford that seeks to increase enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) classes among high school students who self-identify as Black or Latino. A polyglot who is fluent in several languages, Michael hopes to attend law school after graduation.

Dr. Thomas Katsouleas
President
University of Connecticut

Personal Statement

We are all shaped by the different communities we belong to. For me, the immigrant community–which is really a network of entrepreneurs and risk-takers–has paved a natural path to pursue social change through public policy. In my view, society is constructed through public policy. Thus, the most effective way of addressing the root causes of social issues is by enacting innovative public policies. Along these lines, I worked with Connecticut Students for a Dream to help pass the Afford to Dream Act, which gives undocumented students in Connecticut access to financial aid at state colleges and universities. Similarly, I am working on a project to increase enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) classes among students who self-identify as Black or Latino by creating a visual campaign to address racial disparities in education in Stamford. I believe that the inherently entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants like me, channeled through the power of public policy, can help solve social issues. I hope to bring this perspective and experience to the Newman Civic Fellowship program, and I look forward to engaging in dialogue and collaborative work with other young leaders who care about these and similar issues.

Michael Hernández
Political Science & Economics: Class of 2022
written 2020

2020 Fellows Alphabetical by Institution

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Alexander Kaye, U. of Central Florida Miyako Iwata, UC Berkeley M. Chiamaka Okonkwo, UNC Charlotte Noelia Michelle Flores González, Universidad de Monterrey Ashlyn Woods, University of Baltimore Greta Hacker, University of Central Arkansas Christian Coleman, University of Central Oklahoma Hailey Ettinger, University of Colorado Boulder Michael Hernández, University of Connecticut Claire Sullivan, University of Dayton Maggie Nelson, University of Delaware Tarun Ramesh, University of Georgia Gregoria Uroza, University of Houston-Downtown Wasan Kumar, University of Illinois at Chicago Kaitlyn Meyr, University of Kentucky Ana Benitez, University of La Verne Amanda Gardner, University of Maine at Augusta Stephanie Turcios, University of Mary Washington Nihira Mugamba, University of Maryland, Baltimore County(UMBC) Maggie Sullivan, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Danelia Ramirez Aguilar, University of Massachusetts Lowell Jendayi London, University of Miami Meredith Days, University of Michigan Lucy Grimshaw, University of Missouri – St. Louis Kortney Sims, University of Montana Dinesh Karki, University of Nebraska Omaha Alexandra Vergara, University of New Hampshire Keyri Ambrocio, University of New Haven Aryelle Jacobsen, University of North Carolina Asheville Katherine Torres, University of North Georgia Yarik Molina, University of North Texas at Dallas Cole Passick, University of Northern Iowa Evan McKenna, University of Notre Dame Justin Norris, University of Oklahoma Nisha Sridhar, University of Oregon Oluwatomisin Oyedele, University of Pennsylvania Stephanie Rose, University of Pittsburgh TJ Tann, University of Richmond Ana Trejo Aguilar, University of San Diego Evelyn Pedraza Fernandez, University of San Francisco Imani Sherrills, University of South Carolina Beaufort Patrick Mack, University of South Carolina Upstate Reylan Cook, University of South Carolina-Columbia - Columbia, SC Tyus Edmond, University of St Thomas Amber Heidenreich, University of Wisconsin - Superior Shehrose Charania, University of Wisconsin-Madison Tavyonia Davis, University of Wisconsin-Parkside Trenton Ebel, UW Green Bay
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