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For Andrew, the University of ������ý has never been just a place to earn a degree, it's been a place to connect people, ideas, and communities in meaningful ways.��

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Growing up in Tucson, Andrew felt he already had a connection to the University of ������ý. Friends, family, and faculty connections made the U of A feel familiar long before he ever stepped into a classroom, but becoming a student himself created an entirely different perspective. He felt he became more immersed in the Tucson community, which shaped much of his college experience. From research and leadership to travel and community engagement, Andrew made a real impact on campus.��

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Turning Research Into Action

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One of the most impactful experiences of Andrew’s time at ������ý began during his very first semester through the�� in the School of Sociology.��

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What began as a course focused on interviewing people experiencing poverty in ������ý evolved into something much bigger. Since then, much of Andrew’s academic work has centered around understanding poverty, public policy, and how research can directly influence communities.��

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Throughout the project, Andrew contributed to policy writing and presentations that were shared with university leadership, including the president's office, the provost, and the dean.��

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For him, the experience showed how academic research can go beyond the classroom into addressing real world challenges.��

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One story that stuck with him from the Tucson Poverty Project was when a fellow student interviewed a recent U of A alumnus who had been a participant in the project years earlier, but has since fallen into poverty themselves. The experience challenged assumptions about who can fall into poverty and reinforced how complex of an issue it is.��

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“It's an illusion to think you're immune to poverty,” Andrew said.��

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His work has also altered the way he thinks about solutions. He observed how poverty, homelessness, healthcare, food insecurity, and crime are all deeply interconnected, and that meaningful change takes patience, collaboration, and long-term investment.��

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Learning Beyond the Classroom��

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Outside of Tucson, Andrew has looked for opportunities to better understand communities and cultures around the world. Through the CIELO program, he traveled to Costa Rica, where he explored environmental sustainability, community engagement, and the impacts of climate change from a completely different perspective than the Sonoran Desert. As someone who grew up in ������ý, seeing the effects of climate change in a wet environment expanded the way he viewed the world and his studies.��

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Additionally, the experience helped reshape how he thought about travel and human connection. It showed him how the world is not that scary of a place, and people are more similar than we often think.��

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The program was actually Andrew's second time visiting Costa Rica. During a previous trip with the Eller College of Management, he worked on a coffee farm in the mountains. Returning with CIELO gave him a broader perspective and allowed him to connect more deeply with nature and local communities.��

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Andrew explored Costa Rica through coastal excursions, hiking, and white water rafting. He also participated in community service projects, helping maintain a local school by painting walls, cleaning classrooms, and pouring concrete. In Puerto Carrillo, he joined efforts to remove microplastics from the beach while spending time with and learning from local residents. What stood out to him most was the sense of happiness, calm, and connection that seemed deeply rooted in the local communities.

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Leadership, Balance, and Building Community

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Andrew's time at ������ý has stretched far beyond academics and travel. Alongside his research projects, he served as a student assistant in the Honors college and ran for student body president three times.��

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Balancing many commitments hasn’t always been easy. Andrew credits calendaring, prioritization, and learning when to say “no” as some of the most important skills he's developed during college.��

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At the center of all the work Andrew does is a desire to make the university more connected, welcoming, and accessible for students. Whether it's helping students find scholarship opportunities, encouraging peers to get involved, or connecting people with campus resources, he hopes his impact lasts beyond graduation. He encourages students to get involved, as there are endless opportunities to take advantage of.��

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For students hoping to make a difference themselves, Andrew believes there's no single right way to create change.��

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“You can make a difference in any way that feels right to you,” he said. “Big or small.”

Ready to make a difference? Start here.

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