Javier graduated from the MAEUS program in 2020. 

Did you receive any awards or honors during your time in the program? (FLAS, Fulbright, other scholarships, etc…)

I was a recipient of FLAS in the Summer of 2018 and the academic year of 2019-2020 I also participated in the attendance of the study trip to KU Leuven and Brussels in Belgium on March 17-23, 2019. with the Jean Monet Network, Conversation on Transatlantic Conversation and Europe

What is your current position/job title?

Neighborhood Ambassador

Please provide a brief overview of what you have done academically and/or professionally since graduating from the MAEUS program.

I have been working with the county government for 2 years in the judicial division and over a year for the city government in public relations

How has the MAEUS program helped you in your current career?

The MAEUS program helped me to build interpersonal skills, public relations and intergovernmental relations in a local level. The MAEUS program helped me to understand the functionality of the government in different levels. The importance of cooperations between government organizations and the use of diplomacy during difficult situations between the community and government.

Do you have any advice or suggestions for current students in the MAEUS program?

I believe that te MAEUS program is a great program that needs to be more promoted and funded to extend the opportunities to all students who want to learn how government relations work. Nowadays, it is imperative to be able to understand the power of globalization and how can affects our society when people are not prepared.

Do you have any additional thoughts you would like to share on the MAEUS program or your time at Illinois?

Being part of this program was one of the greatest experience of my life. The FLAS program granted me wonderful opportunities like studying abroad, being able to learn an additional language and open my mind to different cultures.