Student Spotlight: Juan López, ’24

Juan López, ’24, was selected to participate in the prestigious Junior Summer Institute (JSI) as Loyola’s first Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellow. The fully funded seven-week program prepares students from across the nation for a future in public administration and international affairs.

Originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico, López is majoring in Global Studies and minoring in both Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Peace and Justice Studies.

“I firmly believe that embracing interdisciplinary perspectives is crucial for success in the real world,” López says.

Faculty recommended López for the fellowship because of his aptitude for leadership, intercultural communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and passion for positive change. “Attending Loyola has proven to be a true alignment of destiny in my life. It’s where I was meant to be,” he says.

Making the most of his time at Loyola, López served as a Stanford University Innovation Fellow and a student delegate at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s 2021 Academy Assembly, where he was recognized as Outstanding Delegate. He has volunteered at Baltimore’s Esperanza Center, studied politics and globalization while in Taiwan, and is president of the global affairs-oriented Alexander Hamilton Society.

After completing four graduate classes at the University of Washington’s Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance during the PPIA fellowship, López looks forward to pursuing a master’s degree—and eventually launching a career focused on advocating for equal rights for Puerto Ricans.