Intern Welcome

Hi everyone,

My name is Mya Salcedo (she/her/hers), and I’m a first-generation, incoming fourth-year majoring in Environmental and Chicano Studies. I want to start with what grounds me. My last name, Salcedo, means “willow tree,” and that is symbolic of who I am. The willow bends but does not break. It adapts, it survives storms, and it grows stronger through pressure rather than in spite of it. That is the legacy I carry with me, one rooted in flexibility, strength, and deep connection to community.

My passion lives at the intersection of my two majors. I’m interested in how policy is created within systems that have historically excluded communities like mine, and how we can both work within those systems and reimagine them. 

That perspective has been shaped through Student Engagement and Leadership, where I’ve learned the importance of creating spaces where students feel seen and empowered. As President of the Environmental Law Club and through my leadership in a multicultural organization, I’ve focused on advocacy, coalition-building, and connecting students to community-building. These experiences have shown me that real impact comes from bringing together different voices and lived experiences.

I aim to connect policy, student engagement, and community advocacy to create meaningful change while helping others find confidence in their voices and power within these systems. At my core, I believe in being part of a rising tide that lifts all ships, because when we invest in one another, share knowledge, and build community together, we all rise. 

I’m really honored to be here, and I’m looking forward to learning, growing, and contributing alongside all of you.

Thank you.