Mariana Martinez was born and raised in the Central Valley, and is a first-generation student at UC Berkeley studying political science and public policy. She was raised by immigrant parents who have instilled in her the values of hard work and determination, and she was raised in a Hispanic community that was heavily affected by the immigration system. Having family members directly impacted by the long history of the United States' border security and immigration policies has led to her passion for advocacy regarding immigrant communities, predominantly in low-income areas.
Mariana is a Regents’ and Chancellor's Scholar, is heavily involved in nonprofit and community-oriented organizations on campus, has done research within the Latinx Research Center at UC Berkeley, and has volunteered at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant. Through her participation in these activities, she has been determined to uplift her community and their voices and learn as much as possible about the nuanced intricacies of the immigration system, with an emphasis on how foreign policy and security make an impact on immigration policies.Mariana is hoping to continue to involve herself in non-profit organizations, gain opportunities surrounding immigration and foreign security policy, and pursue law school in the future.
Major(s): Political Science
Minor(s): Public Policy