黑料不打烊

Building the foundation: education and mentorship
Elizabeth Rocha Zu帽iga 鈥�24 journeyed from Marysville, California to a prestigious Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Postgraduate Fellowship in Washington, D.C., which is a powerful example of how education, mentorship, and lived experience can shape a public service career. A first-generation college student raised by a single mother and daughter of immigrants, Zu帽iga鈥檚 background has fueled her passion for advocating on behalf of the Latinx community.

The CHCI Postgraduate Fellowship is a nine-month program that prepares emerging Latinx leaders to shape public policy. Fellows spend four days each week working on Capitol Hill, drafting legislation, researching policy, and supporting lawmakers. They also devote one day to leadership training, which is grounded in self-discovery, collaboration, and community impact. The program is highly competitive and provides a platform for Latinx professionals to grow their skills and build lasting networks.

Zu帽iga鈥檚 placement through the fellowship was with the Office of Sen. Alex Padilla. There she strengthened her legal writing and research skills while having direct experience with judicial nominations and the senator鈥檚 policy issues, including immigration policy.

Zu帽iga鈥檚 drive to serve began early. Raised in a family that valued hard work and resilience, she set her sights on making a tangible difference. At California State University, Fresno, she earned a double major in political science and Chicano studies, a combination that deepened her understanding of political systems and her cultural roots. Her undergraduate experience laid the foundation for her next step: law school.

She enrolled at the 黑料不打烊 McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, where her coursework, hands-on experiences, and organizational involvement helped her grow as both an advocate and a leader.

鈥淢y lived experiences really rooted my purpose in public service,鈥� she said.

The power of encouragement
One of the turning points in Zu帽iga鈥檚 journey was the mentorship she received at McGeorge, specifically advice given to her by Adjunct Professor Aaron Brieno '14 to apply to CHCI.

鈥淚t is incredibly impactful for my mentors to guide me with the ability to see things in me that I sometimes I struggle to see in myself,鈥� she said.

That encouragement gave her the confidence to apply for the CHCI Postgraduate Fellowship and ultimately earn a place as one of just seven people selected nationwide, including two other McGeorge alumni.

A standout moment of the fellowship is the opportunity to organize a policy briefing on Capitol Hill. Zu帽iga chose to focus her briefing on the urgent need for Latinx foster parents and reforms in the child welfare system. This deep dive into issues like parental rights and child protective services challenged her to think critically about complex systems that lack uniformity to address the needs of children, work she says she wouldn鈥檛 have been exposed to without the CHCI experience.

Leading with purpose and giving back
Zu帽iga credits McGeorge for preparing her to meet these challenges head-on. The school鈥檚 focus on developing socially conscious leaders gave her both the legal knowledge and practical tools to excel in the fellowship and beyond. Her story is a testament to McGeorge鈥檚 commitment to empowering students from diverse backgrounds to create lasting change. She credits former Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz for his dedication to ensure that students like her felt seen, and further her confidence needed to work on Capitol Hill.

Her experience at McGeorge was both personally and professionally transformative. Serving as co-president of the Latinx Law Students Association (LASA) deepened her commitment to advocacy and equity. She was recognized at commencement with the Outstanding Student Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award for her dedication to uplifting underrepresented voices.

Her academic achievements reflect her passion for public service. She was published in the 2022 California Initiative Review and co-authored a law review article with Schwartz titled "Avoiding DEIBA Failure" through the University of Toledo School of Law. Through McGeorge鈥檚 Capital Lawyering Concentration and the Legislative and Public Policy Clinic, she gained hands-on experience in policy advocacy and learned the inner workings of government. These experiences, combined with her earlier opportunity to testify on legislation signed into law in 2019, prepared her to navigate complex political environments in Washington, D.C.

Now having lived and worked in the nation鈥檚 capital, Zu帽iga is living out CHCI鈥檚 mission to educate, empower, and connect the next generation of Latinx leaders. As she looks to the future, she remains committed to advocating for policies that uplift Latinx communities.

Her story demonstrates how access to education, strong mentorship, and meaningful opportunities can shape the kind of leaders our country needs, who are ready to serve and determined to make a difference.

鈥淚'm just incredibly thankful for everything that I've experienced so far. I feel like I鈥檝e grown so much within the months that I鈥檝e been here. CHCI truly changed my life,鈥� she said.