A Bit About Me
Mateo Guarin '27, originally from Toms River, New Jersey, is concentrating in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) and pursuing a minor in Latino Studies at Princeton University. The proud son of Colombian and Ecuadorian immigrants, he focuses his work on immigration policy, integration systems, and the design of public programs that advance equity for multilingual communities. As a result, Mateo helped co-found a Community ESL School, a partnership with his local community college that has grown to serve over 600 adult learners through English instruction, digital literacy, and workforce development. He also founded Community Ambassadors, a youth-led organization connecting immigrant families with legal, social, and educational resources.
​
In addition to his community work, Mateo has researched the threats to academic freedom facing international students as part of his policy task force, where he presented to administrators from Princeton and Georgetown to propose institutional policies that the universities can adopt to better protect students from transnational pressure.
He has also served as a Community Organizer with Make the Road New York, supporting deportation defense efforts and multilingual outreach, and has coordinated local food assistance programs serving tens of thousands of families. His work has been recognized by the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, and Congressman Andy Kim. Mateo hopes to pursue a career in federal public service focused on immigration reform and community-centered policy design.