Jovanni J. Vazquez Rangel

Jovanni J. Vazquez Rangel (he/him)

Jovanni is dedicated to addressing the ongoing challenges of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and marginalized communities. At the age of eighteen, Jovanni found out that he was not a U.S. citizen; however, Jovanni was fortunate to qualify for the DACA program and is now protected from deportation. Through this experience, he became aware of the immigration issues and the profound impact on Dreamers. As a first-generation student attending UC Berkeley, Jovanni is dedicating his focus to legal studies with a special emphasis on public policy and immigration courses that address marginalized communities in hopes of better understanding the legal actors that affect immigration reforms. In addition, Jovanni is seeking opportunities to utilize his academic knowledge and professional skills to make contributions to the public service industry at the federal level.

Currently, Jovanni works at Cooley LLP, a corporate law firm, as a Receptionist/Administrative Assistant. He supports the legal team generating and dispatching firm emails, handling subpoenas, managing conferences, and ensuring the firm’s seamless upkeep of the case management system. Jovanni assists the corporate secretary team, by exhibiting attention to detail in transcribing and proofreading extensive legal documents that are sent to clients. Moreover, Jovanni has assisted the litigation team with preparing for depositions by creating trial binders for the attorneys and clients, furthering his experience in the litigation realm. Additionally, Jovanni serves as a translator for pro bono clients during client meetings and he learned that corporate firms also practice public service.

Jovanni’s past experiences as a DACA recipient, his academic pursuits, and his current role at Cooley LLP collectively position him to be a powerful advocate for change in public service. Jovanni's goal to work at the federal level is driven by his realization of the power of pro bono work, and his belief that effective social change comes through legislation- gained through his experience translating for pro bono clients. His goal is to pass bills benefitting DACA recipients by allowing Dreamers to work in legislation and creating a pathway to citizenship. His unique blend of personal experience, academic focus, and corporate legal insight makes him a valuable advocate for marginalized communities in federal public policy.