Natalie Barragan

Treasurer

I am currently a part-time student in the Health Policy and Management Department completing a specialization in Health Policy Analysis with an expected graduation date of May 2013. My hope for the next two years is to continue to be involved in student activities that promote diversity and understanding among people from various cultures.

Issues that affect Latinos and Latin Americans have been a driving force throughout my life. As the daughter of Latin American parents I have been exposed to issues that are unique and often unheard of in the United States. Serving as a translator for relatives as a child and teen greatly influenced the person I have become and the field of work I have chosen.

As an undergraduate I felt strongly about minority representation at the university I attended specifically because I was often the only Latina in my classes. I decided to apply and eventually became a board member of the Admissions Student Diversity Board at Boston University. Through this experience I was able to recruit students from diverse backgrounds to attend the university. I witnessed how my reaching out to potential students and their parents eased worries about university life for Latino students.

It is that same passion and dedication that I wish to bring to the board of ALAS. As a board member I would work to maintain and strengthen the visibility of the Latino community at Wagner. I would like to bring issues to light that affect Latinos both in the United States and abroad, such as immigration and violence in Latin American countries. I would also like to talk about how the private and public sectors are working to strengthen Latin American society through education, economic and policy reform. Creating an alumni network for students to reach out and hear about real world experiences of Latinos and Latin Americans in the field of Public Service is also a goal that I would like ALAS to accomplish.

I hope that you would consider my nomination for Treasurer of ALAS for the 2011-2012 academic year. I believe in a strong Latino presence and I hope I can have the opportunity to maintain that presence through events and the continued presence of ALAS at Wagner.