Cristian Reyes is a higher education policy intern with the higher education team at New America.
Prior to his internship role, Reyes was heavily involved on a campus, state, and federal level as a student advocate uplifting the challenges faced by historically underrepresented students. He has previously worked with organizations like The Education Trust-West, The Campaign for College Opportunity, Achieving The Dream, Today’s Students Coalition, and Cal Poly Office of University Diversity & Inclusion. Reyes’ policy interests in higher education encompass initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, reforming financial aid structures, improving accessibility for first-generation students, supporting minority-serving institutions, enhancing faculty diversity, and addressing mental health.
Originally from McFarland, California, Reyes holds a bachelor of science in child development from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. After his internship experience, Reyes will return to his alma mater to pursue a master of science in higher education counseling/student affairs.