Hello! My name is Angeli. I’m a born-and-raised, first-generation Floridian. My mother is from the Philippines and my father is from the “Old Country” (New Jersey). I was able to travel all over the world with them growing up, but most important to me were the trips we would take to see my family back in the Philippines. Recently, I have been able to claim my Philippine citizenship and apply for my Philippine passport.

Growing up in Florida, I’ve always had a passion for environmental protection and activism. I’ve been very involved in the Everglades Foundation and estuary restoration projects. I even helped write a children’s activity book about the Everglades that was used in the Martin County public schools.

I also grew up singing and playing music. I played French horn for 10 years and was able to travel to China as part of a music conservatory summer program based in Chengdu.

In college at the University of North Florida (UNF), I majored in International Studies with a focus on governmental politics. This program allowed me to combine my love of history with my love of people and the world. My primary research work at UNF focused on refugee communities and their resettlement process in Jacksonville, Florida. This research brought me to Chicago, where I presented at the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) Conference in 2015. With the help of UNF’s Hicks Honors College, I was able to spend six months studying in Nantes, France at the Audencia Business School.

However, my greatest takeaway from college came from my campus job as a tour guide. There, I was able to act as a student representative for the university by guiding large groups of prospective students and organizing VIP tours for highly valued admissions and guests of the university’s Office of the President. I was even invited to travel around the state with the Admissions and Enrollment Services departments to help roll out a new summer admissions program that is still implemented today.

For the past eight years, I’ve worked for a civil engineering company in Stuart, FL. My job as a Project Coordinator & Design Assistant involved organizing project deadlines, payment requests, and cost estimates to ensure accuracy and efficiency between the client, firm, and contracted work company.