Vargas (far right) with Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives.

Dickinson Posse Alumnus, Graduate Fellow Pursues Public Policy

Spring 2017 | Los Angeles

Andy Vargas, a Posse alumnus of Dickinson College, is taking new strides towards his professional goals as Staff Assistant for Senator Kamala Harris in her Washington D.C. office. He assumed this role in May of 2017, upon completing a fellowship in the office of California Congressman Tony Cardenas as the British Petroleum (BP) STEM Public Policy Fellow.

As part of his fellowship, Andy conducted research and briefed the legislative team on energy and environmental policies to inform legislative strategy. His fellowship experience was instrumental in preparing him for his position on Senator Harris’ team.

\"As the BP STEM Public Policy Fellow, I garnered a greater understanding of the legislative process behind energy and environmental policies and how those policies impact not only Latino communities but underrepresented communities as a whole,” says Andy. “I hope to lend my talent to fighting environmental injustices across the United States.\"

Prior to becoming a BP STEM Public Policy Fellow, Andy worked at the Environmental Defense Fund as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Legislative Affairs Fellow, working on outreach as well as clean energy and climate change related issues.

\"As a CHCI Fellow, I was fortunate enough to meet the people who are shaping tomorrow's policy,” says Andy.

In addition to his engagement with CHCI and BP, Andy has also been selected by members of the Multicultural Community Service in Washington D.C. to work on the Civic Design Team of a new initiative called the Parent Leadership Training Institute, which helps parents educate their children about public advocacy.