Meet CHLI’s Fall 2024 Global Leaders

Heritage: Spanish-Mexican American
School: Texas A&M University
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Harlingen, TX
Congressional Placement: Congressman August Pfluger (TX)

David is a Spanish Mexican American raised in Harlingen, Texas. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a B.A. in Political Science.  From an early age, he knew that education would open the doors to his passions. Growing up just a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, he directly understands the differences and similarities the two nations have. From cultural to legal differences, his interests have always been rooted in not just where he’s from, but also what it represents.

With an array of interests, David has a keen interest in commerce, energy, and national security. As an undergraduate student, David interned on Congressional campaigns that focused on such matters, garnering hands-on experience and insight into how these issues affect people from a national level to a personal level. Being a member of the Wiley Lecture Series allowed him to learn directly from experts he aided in bringing and speaking at his university. From former U.S. Ambassadors to economic experts, his interest in policy was only strengthened. Originally set on joining the Bush School’s graduate class of international affairs to Israel in May of 2023, the plan never came to fruition after clashes between Israel and Gaza made the trip unsafe. However, when one door closes, another one opens, and was able to secure an internship for that Fall semester in the U.S. Embassy. Spending his final semester in London, UK, he was able to dive deep into how American businesses expand and go from domestic to international businesses. Being in the heart of the UK, international issues rippled throughout the city, with opposing sides of the same issues marching throughout the streets. David was able to get an inside look at how both American and British policy has real-world effects.  His passion for understanding and implementing laws that affect our everyday way of life continues to drive his efforts to pursue a career in the legislative field.

David’s career goals remain rooted in where he’s from and what he’s learned throughout his time living in Texas and abroad. He hopes to create legislative change that not only protects our way of life, a life full of security and leisure but also embraces it. Security in our economy, in our schools, in our social services, and from threats whether from within or without. We are the most privileged people in the world and embracing and protecting what makes this country great has and will always be at the forefront of his goals.

Fabiana Lorena González Becerra was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. From an early age, Fabiana developed a deep passion for finance, economics, and investments, influenced by her father who is an accountant, and by her grandfather who was the CEO of Méndez & Co., a sales and distribution services company on the island. Her middle school and high school years were spent at Bayamón Military Academy. During her time at this institution, Fabiana explored and participated in various international programs aimed at promoting education and commerce and was also a part of the Junior ROTC program. In her senior year of high school, she developed an interest in the stock market that led her to pursue a certification as a professional trader, and now continues to trade and teach others how to trade in the stock market.

During her college years, Fabiana demonstrated her ability to be a true leader having been Treasurer at UPR Bayamón’s Association of Finance chapter. Throughout her academic career, she was also able to participate in several internship programs that allowed her to gain experience in finance, and investments at Infusion Investments and Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. She was later selected to participate in the Córdova & Fernós program where she gained insight into the federal legislative process as an intern at the U.S. House of Representatives for the office of Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-At Large). After completing her program in Washington, D.C., she went on to intern at Puerto Rico’s Office of Budget and Management during her last semester in school.

Fabiana Lorena González Becerra completed her academic career successfully, graduating Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Puerto Rico. This summer, she will be completing an internship at ATO Ventures, a venture capital fund based in Puerto Rico.

As a CHLI Global Leader, Fabiana hopes to expand her legislative experience with a focus on business, economics, education, and environmental issues while also developing her private sector experience through her corporate internship. Ultimately, she hopes to leverage this experience to make a lasting difference in communities and inspire others to do the same.

Monica Mata is a Cuban American undergraduate senior studying International Business at the College of Business at Florida International University. She is a member of the honors college and has held several leadership positions on campus, including serving as Director for the International Business Honor Society, which oversees the Bandhwari Women’s Project, the only completely student-run business on campus.

She is a true mix of both of her parents, her mom coming from a background in education and her dad in business, and it has led her to pursue a career path that combines striving for corporate success with serving her community through advocacy work. She is passionate about encompassing all global perspectives and fostering inclusive environments that allow people from all backgrounds to find their voice, and she hopes to advocate for small business policies that uplift marginalized communities and entrepreneurs. Her overarching life mission is to leave a lasting positive impact on the world by utilizing business, technology, and public policy to bring people together. She is deeply passionate about fostering sincere connections among people and businesses to work towards creating a more meaningful and efficacious global community.

During her time as CHLI Global leader in DC this fall, she hopes to continue learning from all the incredible people she is able to meet while interning and to really prioritize active listening to continue to build the foundation for her research on small business policy to uplift communities and how to best adapt to the changing landscapes due to technology and advancements in artificial intelligence. After graduation, she hopes to continue to work on building the bridge of communication between the federal government and corporations to ensure long-term, effective solutions to address important issues and be a voice advocating for people and businesses from all backgrounds.

Heritage: Mexican American
School: San Francisco State University
Major: Political Science, minor in Race and Resistance Studies
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Congressional Placement: Congressman Juan Vargas (CA)

Samantha, a Political Science major with a minor in Race and Resistance Studies at San Francisco State University, is dedicated to advancing democratic engagement and social justice within underrepresented communities. Raised in San Diego, California a town where the U.S.-Mexico border is a tangible presence, Samantha’s upbringing offered her a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of border dynamics. The experiences of her parents, who immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. in search of safety and better educational opportunities, instilled in her a deep-seated drive to dismantle barriers and advocate for policy reform.

Samantha’s professional experiences, including her roles at Al Otro Lado and San Francisco Rising, have honed her skills in policy analysis and cross-cultural communication. As a Communications Intern at Al Otro Lado, she implemented a targeted social media campaign that significantly increased community engagement and resource allocation for migrants. These experiences have strengthened her commitment to empowering migrants and enhancing civic engagement through education.

Her ambition to fight for her community by creating equitable immigration policies, enhancing voting access for communities of color, and empowering youth through education is deeply intertwined with her cultural roots and professional endeavors. Samantha is excited to leverage the CHLI Global Leaders Program to gain invaluable public policy experience and further her advocacy efforts. She is committed to using the skills and insights gained through the program to lead initiatives that bolster educational and civic engagement among Hispanic youth, ensuring that her contributions create a lasting impact.

Samantha’s journey is defined by an unwavering commitment to advocacy and a future focused on advancing social justice for her community. Her path is profoundly influenced by the enduring strength of her parents and the rich, diverse experiences she has encountered along the way, fueling her dedication to creating meaningful change.