Meet NASFAA’s 2025 Dallas Martin Endowment Policy Intern: Cristian Ulisses Reyes
By Cristian Ulisses Reyes, NASFAA Policy Staff
Hola NASFAA Community,
My name is Cristian Ulisses Reyes, and I am honored and excited to serve as the 2025 Dallas Martin Endowment Policy Intern. I am a Mexican-American individual hailing from McFarland, which is one of many small towns in California’s Central Valley. After being introduced to NASFAA through a presentation at the 2024 Postsecondary National Policy Institute’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) Boot Camp, I became fascinated by financial aid and its intersection with policy. Though financial aid has helped and continues to help many students (like myself) get through college, policies have a major impact on it, and sometimes may serve as barriers to a student’s success. I hope to continue exploring how policy influences a student’s ability to pursue and complete higher education. I envision a world where everyone has equitable access to an affordable, high-quality education that opens pathways to sustainable and fulfilling careers.
In June 2024, I became the first in my family to graduate from a university, earning a Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with minors in Ethnic Studies, Equity in Education, and Queer Studies. While this was a monumental accomplishment, it was the four-year journey to get there that truly transformed my life. From graduating high school and starting college during a global pandemic, to facing academic probation and switching my major, to getting involved in social justice initiatives and finding community, I discovered a sense of purpose and passion that continues to guide me today.
The most impactful part of my undergraduate experience was engaging in Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) initiatives through Cal Poly’s Office of University Diversity & Inclusion. It was meaningful to be part of efforts that were intentionally designed to support students from communities like mine in navigating and succeeding in spaces that were not originally built for us. I was even able to extend this work beyond campus during my internship with Achieving the Dream, where I supported the development of an HSI Toolkit. Unfortunately, I have also seen how institutional, state, and federal policies can create barriers that limit the success of students from diverse backgrounds. These lived experiences fuel my commitment to building a more equitable higher education system that serves all students fairly and effectively.
The summer of 2024 was a transformative chapter in my life. Having just completed my undergraduate studies, I spent the summer away from California interning with New America in Washington, D.C. Outside of exploring local flea markets, restaurants, and art museums, I had the privilege of working alongside a supportive and inspiring team that played a critical role in my professional development. During my internship, I conducted literature reviews and contributed to publications focused on for-profit universities, childcare at community colleges, and Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) funding. I also had the opportunity to represent student perspectives on a panel and made my first appearance on C-SPAN during the launch event of New America’s Varying Degrees 2024 report. It was through this experience that I discovered a particular interest in financial aid policy and was introduced to the work of NASFAA. It feels surreal that I’ve now come full circle and am interning with NASFAA as I continue to explore my passion for college affordability.
I recently completed the first year of my Master of Science program in Higher Education Counseling & Student Affairs at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where I am expected to graduate in June 2026. Choosing to pursue graduate study in higher education was a natural and intentional step in my journey. I saw it as a way to deepen my understanding of student support systems while continuing to advocate for equity in postsecondary education. Over the past year, I’ve further developed my skills as a researcher and had the opportunity to present at the 2025 Cal Poly School of Education Graduate Research Symposium. My presentation explored how food and financial insecurity impact Latinx student success in higher education using a secondary data analysis approach. I aim to continue building my research skills with the goal of one day pursuing a Ph.D.
I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with mission-driven organizations like EdTrust–West, UnidosUS, and others that are leading the charge toward a more just and equitable education system. I am also thankful for my familia, amigos, mentors, faculty, and staff who have supported me throughout my educational, professional, and personal journey.
Most recently, I began my internship with NASFAA and had the opportunity to attend a Prison Education Program (PEP) convening in Washington, D.C. This was a topic I had little familiarity with but learned so much about during the event. I look forward to continuing my time with NASFAA, including attending the Annual Conference in Anaheim, lobbying on Capitol Hill, participating in PNPI’s Federal Student Aid Boot Camp, and collaborating with NASFAA’s policy team. I am especially excited about the opportunity to explore projects at the intersection of financial aid policy, HSIs, food insecurity, social justice, and data (areas that remain central to my research and advocacy interests).
Outside of my academic and professional life, I enjoy spending my free time doing things that bring me joy. This includes listening to music, watching sunsets with friends, cooking meals that remind me of home, playing The Sims, reading, or exploring new spots in search of the perfect iced matcha latte.
Thank you for taking the time to read my introductory article. Feel free to reach out at [email protected] if you'd like to connect, share a book, meal, or music recommendations, or have any questions!
Publication Date: 6/23/2025
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