Emily was an outstanding student, even in high school, being part of the National Honor Society, President of the Sign Language Club and President of the Science Club. During high school she also served as a volunteer in nursing homes and over the holidays would participate in producing Halloween parties for children, as well as organize a canned food drive during Thanksgiving and a toy drive at Christmas. Emily was fortunate to have been a member of the first public housing based “I Have A Dream” program. The “I Have a Dream” program offers children support in the form of after school and summer programs, mentorship, and college prep information, advice and guidance. For each “Dreamer” (member of the “I Have a Dream” program) that graduates high school, the sponsor of the program pays the in-state tuition rate to the college of the Dreamer’s choice. Always a Dreamer, even though she started in New York, and then later moved to Florida, Emily kept in touch with her Program Director and kept her focus on college. >> What was the driving force for Emily to be such an accomplished high school student and stay focused on college? Was it simply the “I Have a Dream” program, or were there other factors as well? Emily attended the Honors program at the University of Miami and graduated with honors in spring 2007 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and a major in political science. As an undergraduate student at the university, Emily spearheaded a volunteer project for migrant farm workers and served as a mentor for immigrant children. As part of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM), Emily wanted to do a service project and was looking around to decide what to do. She found a “camp” of people living in Homestead, FL, mostly immigrants from Central America. She then coordinated other students at the college to spend one day a month with the children living at this “camp,” spending time with them, playing games, engaging in art projects, bringing snacks, and talking to them about school and their futures. Emily was involved in this program from her freshman year through her senior year in college. >> How did Emily choose her volunteer activities, and what makes these activities so important to Emily, in spite of a busy school schedule? Also as an undergrad, Emily spent a semester abroad in Melbourne, Australia. Amongst all these activities, she kept up her outstanding scholastic achievement by being on the President’s Honor Roll, the Provost’s List and the Dean’s List. Following graduation, Emily was accepted into the prestigious Sponsors for Education Opportunity (SEO) program, which helped to place her in an internship and eventual full-time position with Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP). For a year after graduation, Emily served as a Program Assistant for HIP reviewing grant proposals. >> What did Emily learn from her year with HIP, and what caused her to choose her graduate school and area of study in the way she did? This fall, Emily will attend graduate school at New York University's Center for Global Affairs to earn a master's degree in Global Affairs, with a focus on Human Rights and Humanitarian Assistance. She was recently named a 2008 Woman of the Year Scholar by Hispanic Business Magazine. Emily is a Latino Scholar with the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and will focus her graduate studies on international relations and humanitarian assistance. >> How has Emily been recognized by so many prestigious sources at such a young age? Emily attends the Harvest Christian Fellowship in New York City and her ultimate goal is to work in the non-profit sector or as a Foreign Service officer. >> Emily has said her faith has played a large part in her success. We’ll be discussing her beliefs and how they’ve supported her throughout her experiences.
Join us for this inspiring, fun and informative interview!!!
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Emily Matos, Puerto Rican graduate student at New York University's Center for Global Affairs, is working toward a Master's degree in Global Affairs, with a focus on Human Rights and Humanitarian Assistance. She grew up in New York and Florida.She is, now 22, grew up in New York City but moved to Ft. Lauderdale when she was 15 where she finished high school. Emily’s parents were both born and raised in Puerto Rico, but Emily was born in the U.S. She has one younger brother who’s 15.