Ask Jared Castaneda what he’s most proud of at UC Irvine, and his answer is simple: “Knowing that I’ve tried to make a positive impact on our campus community,” he says.

That commitment—to leadership, equity, and advocacy—has now earned him a place in the highly selective Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy this summer.

The intensive seven-week residential program brings together 24 undergraduates from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico to prepare for graduate studies and careers in public service. Participants complete graduate-level coursework in statistics, microeconomics, and public policy analysis while gaining hands-on experience through site visits and professional development workshops.

For Castaneda, a third-year undergraduate student, the opportunity is more than a line on a résumé. It’s a continuation of the work he’s been doing since his first year at UC Irvine—connecting classroom learning to real-world challenges and using education as a tool for systemic change.

“Experiencing educational disparities firsthand and understanding how they affect people’s lives has driven me to pursue educational justice,” he says.

Committed to change

Castaneda grew up in Southern California’s Inland Empire, where he saw how social systems—including education—could fall short. As a first-generation college student and the son of Mexican immigrants, he faced the college admissions process with little institutional knowledge and a lot of uncertainty. But rather than slowing him down, those early challenges sharpened his focus.

“Seeing how identities are politicized led me to study political science and helped me understand how government systems interact and how they can be used to drive change.”

That drive was evident to faculty, including Daphne Inbar, a visiting assistant professor in the political science department, who taught Castaneda in her “Peace in the Middle East” course.

“Jared really stood out as a thoughtful, engaged, and kind presence in the classroom,” she says. “He has a calm and curious approach to learning, and I was always impressed by how he navigated difficult topics with both insight and empathy. It was clear that he cares deeply about public policy and making a meaningful impact.”

Castaneda’s academic path reflects his interest in understanding both systems and people. While political science helps him analyze structures of power, sociology gives him insight into how institutions affect communities and individual lives.

“Studying both majors has given me a deeper understanding of the factors behind social and political outcomes, as well as how the political process functions across local, state, and federal levels,” he says. “My majors analyze institutions in different but important ways.”

At UC Irvine, Castaneda found opportunities to take his interest in policy and turn it into tangible work. Through ASUCI, the undergraduate student governing body, he began as a government relations staffer and steadily took on more responsibility, eventually being elected external vice president for the next academic year. In his various roles, Castaneda has worked on civic engagement initiatives, met with elected officials, and is currently leading efforts to bring a second voting center to campus.

“When people turned out to vote last year, they waited in line for hours,” he says. “We knew we needed to do more to make access easier.”

His work hasn’t stopped at student government. Through a cohort-based program housed in the Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, Castaneda has served as a structural policy development assistant, helping lead research and initiatives focused on social justice and equity in undergraduate education. His position is part of a student-led group called Students Activating Social Innovation (SASI), which develops resources to shift classroom practices away from punitive measures to more growth-oriented approaches.

“This ended up being one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had. Education is something I’ve always cared about, but this helped me understand how it connects to policy,” Castaneda says.

Curiosity and conviction

Castaneda’s experiences beyond the classroom have been just as formative. In fall 2024, he interned in Washington, D.C., through the UC Washington Program (UCDC), working in the Department of Energy’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. There, he observed how federal agencies engage with state and local stakeholders and how bureaucracy can both help and hinder progress.

“It helped me see how different institutions can either support, or fail to support, people,” he says. “And that matters, especially when you're talking about access and equity.”

Mateo Orozco, a Ph.D. student in sociology, served as a teaching assistant in several of Castaneda’s courses and got to see another side of his intellect and character.

“Jared is a very humble and down-to-earth person, and it brings me joy to learn that he is being recognized for his accomplishments,” says Orozco.

Orozco got to know Castaneda better during the unplanned moments after class—when quick questions often turned into thoughtful, extended conversations.

“What started as short chats turned into 30-minute conversations due to the joy we had talking about various academic concepts and theories, experiences on campus, and personal music preferences (especially 70s R&B, Soul, and Funk music). Those conversations revealed his exciting personality, passion for developing interests, and commitment to continued learning," Orozco says.

Throughout, mentorship has played a vital role in helping Castaneda navigate his path. One of his biggest influences has been UC Irvine alum Yamileth Partida, who also participated in the PPIA program and plans to attend law school this fall.

“She’s provided a lot of personal and professional support,” Castaneda says. “She helped me see how I could turn my interests into something actionable.”

That sense of growth—of turning curiosity into conviction—has defined Castaneda’s college experience.

“I’ve grown so much since my first year. I'm not the same person I was when I started,” he says.

Endless opportunities

As he considers his future beyond UC Irvine, Castaneda plans to gain work experience at a law firm, study for the LSAT and GRE, and apply to joint MPP/JD programs.

“I hope to venture into what impact litigation entails and the criminal justice system and learn how to bring about systemic change,” he says.

Inbar is confident that he’s more than ready.

“Jared brings a great mix of intellectual curiosity, strong values, and a collaborative spirit, qualities that make him not only a strong student but someone others naturally want to work with,” she says.

That work is still ahead, but Castaneda is already thinking about how to encourage others to use their time at UC Irvine to grow, just as he has.

“We’re in a place filled with opportunities that many of us may never have again,” he says. “Inaction is action. Put yourself out there, try something new, find mentors, and keep growing. Build friendships and embrace the practice of care.”

-Jill Kato for UC Irvine School of Social Sciences
-pictured: Jared Castaneda; Castaneda at Hill Day lobbying conference with Peter the Anteater; Castaneda in D.C. as part of the UCDC internship program.