Andres Ayala

Andres Ayala is a candidate in the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) program at Georgetown University, pursuing the Global Politics and Security concentration as well as the Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies, where he hopes to further his understanding in the multidimensional relations between the United States and Latin America.

Hailing from rural Indiana and the proud son of Mexican immigrants, Andres graduated from Indiana University as a first-generation college student with degrees from an international Studies and Spanish and a passion for public service. He developed a deep love and appreciation for exchange programs and foreign languages, resulting in him undertaking four exchange programs and studying Spanish, French, and Italian. Following graduation, Andres spent four years serving the immigrant communities across the Midwest as an immigration law professional, preparing clients for preliminary and final hearings at the Chicago and Indianapolis Immigration Courts. He was soon promoted as manager, where he analyzed changes in immigration policy in order to adapt internal operations accordingly.

Andres further demonstrated his dedication to public service by spending two years with the Fulbright Program in Mexico. During his second year in Mexico City, Andres served as a Senior English Teaching Assistant, where he taught English classes at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana: Unidad Xochimilco, coordinated a pen-pal exchange program between his American high school and Mexican host institution, and led a team of 14 first year Fulbrighters through Mexican immigration, banking, housing, work culture, and general culture shocks. After graduation, he aspires to lead cultural and educational diplomatic affairs in Latin America and Asia. His languages include Spanish, French, conversational Italian, and conversational Japanese.