Washington, D.C. – Last week, the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) proudly welcomed its Spring 2026 Class of Global Leaders, along with its communications fellow and administrative interns. These remarkable individuals were selected for their exceptional leadership potential and commitment to advancing the Hispanic community’s diversity of thought.
CHLI’s Global Leaders program is designed for college students and recent graduates to connect with experienced leaders in the public and private sectors, develop their skills, gain hands on experience, and advance the Hispanic community’s diversity of thought. The program focuses on developing the participants’ leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills through internship placements on Capitol Hill and corporate partners. CHLI’s communications fellow and administrative interns support strategic communications and internal operations.
“The Global Leaders Program continuously cultivates talented, young professionals, and I look forward to seeing the class grow this semester. With guidance from our vast alumni network and support from our corporate partners, I am confident they will make a meaningful impact in their communities after the program and beyond,” said The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, CHLI Chairwoman.
The Spring 2026 Global Leaders:
Diana Angel, Florida International University, Class of 2026; CHLI Congressional Placement: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV)
Isabella Balbi Masso, Florida International University, Class of 2026; CHLI Congressional Placement: Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX)
Diego Cifuentes, East Central University, Class of 2025; CHLI Congressional Placement: Rep. Young Kim (CA)
Rafael Escalante, Rutgers University Class of 2026; CHLI Congressional Placement: Rep. Rob Menendez (NJ)
Kevin Gonzalez, California State University, Fullerton Class of 2025; CHLI Congressional Placement: Rep. Tony Gonzales (TX)
Paola Guell, Georgia State University Class of 2026; CHLI Congressional Placement: Rep. Juan Vargas (CA)
Damien Loera, Arizona State University Class of 2026; CHLI Congressional Placement: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY)
Daniela Pineda-Vizcaino, University of Arkansas, Class of 2028; CHLI Congressional Placement: Rep. Richie Torres (NY)
The CHLI Interns and Communications Fellow:
Adriana Serrano Matsumoto, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Class of 2025, CHLI Communications Fellow
Sarah Cirillo, Stockton University, Class of 2026, CHLI Administrative Intern via The Washington Center
Colin Kelty, University of Colorado Boulder, Class of 2027, CHLI Administrative Intern via The Washington Center
To learn more about the Global Leaders Program, click here.
To learn more about the Communications Fellowship Program, click here.
ABOUT CHLI:
The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) is the premier organization founded by former Members of Congress to advance economic prosperity with a focus on social responsibility and global competitiveness. CHLI is dedicated to advancing the Hispanic community’s diversity of thought and fostering a broad awareness of the heritage, interests, and views of Americans of Hispanic and Portuguese descent.
For more information about CHLI and its programs, please contact Director of Programs and Internships, Nicole Marin, at nmarin@chli.org.