Cisneros Institute

Congratulations to the Cisneros Scholars Class of 2026 🎉 We're so proud of our newest alumni!

Please join us in celebrating Cisneros Scholar Paola Chavez, who is graduating with a B.S. in Public Health. 🎉 🎓

With her unique educational background, Paola plans to pursue a career at the intersection of epidemiology and health policy, advocating for the needs of underrepresented communities.

Please join us in celebrating Cisneros Scholar Leialani Nuñez, who is graduating with a B.S. in Business and concentrations in both Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Hospitality & Tourism. 🎉 🎓

During her time at GW, Leialani has worked as an operations manager in the beauty industry, as a consultant for a software development company, and as a creative strategist for GW’s School of Business Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

Please join us in celebrating Cisneros Scholar Damian Galvan, who is graduating with a B.A. in Sociology and Political Science. 🎉 🎓

Highlights from Damian’s undergraduate career include working at an immigration law firm and founding the OX Institute, an organization that produces programs, podcasts, and shows with an orientation toward social justice. He is also the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award from the Department of Sociology.

Please join us in celebrating Cisneros Scholar Isabella Insignares, who is graduating with a B.A. in International Affairs. 🎉 🎓

Highlights from Bella’s undergraduate career include interning for the League of Women Voters as a Comunicadores fellow and studying abroad in Spain and South Korea.

Please join us in celebrating Cisneros Scholar Mariana Castro-Angel, who is walking next week but graduated early with a B.A. in Philosophy & Political Science. 🎉 🎓

She is currently completing her M.A. in Public Policy (Philosophy & Social Policy) as part of GW’s 4+1 program. Highlights from Mariana’s undergraduate career include serving as a legislative intern in the U.S. House of Representatives and publishing an article on data privacy laws in the George Washington Undergraduate Law Review.

Please join us in celebrating Cisneros Scholar Ahtziri Garcia Herrera, who is graduating with a B.A. in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Data Science and plans to pursue an M.S. in Analytics at the Georgia Institute of Technology while working full-time as a data scientist. 🎉 🎓

Highlights from Ahtziri’s time at GW include interning for La Clínica del Pueblo as a Comunicadores fellow and serving as a research assistant for the NIH-funded project, Caminos al Bienestar.

Please join us in celebrating Cisneros Scholar Jesús Véliz, who is graduating with a B.A. in American Studies and Spanish & Latin American Languages, Literatures & Cultures. 🎉 🎓

During his time at GW, Jesús has made a significant impact on the DC community, interning at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law as a Comunicadores fellow, facilitating youth-led civic action projects in DC public schools as part of the Emerson Collective Youth Collaborative, and serving as a lead tutor for Math Matters, a program designed to close achievement gaps in mathematics.

Please join us in celebrating Cisneros Scholar Kimora Williams, who is graduating with a B.A. in Political Science (Public Policy) and plans to pursue an M.S.Ed. in Urban Teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. 🎉 🎓

Throughout all 4 years of her undergraduate career, Kimora served as a team lead for GW’s chapter of Jumpstart, supporting the academic and emotional development of preschool students from low-income backgrounds in Washington, D.C.