Staff: Yulissa Chávez
Policy Fellow
From Galveston, Texas, Yulissa Chávez is the eldest daughter of a Mexican family of five. She is a first-generation American and a first-generation student. She grew up learning Spanish as a first language and is a proud Norteña from Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Yulissa's policy interests are in democracy, healthcare, education, and immigration. She specializes in education policy, specifically how Texas public schools are funded and how education affects the quality of life of a person, from health to incarceration, and wealth. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Government from The University of Texas at Austin and her Masters of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. During her tenure, Yulissa became a Friar, was one of the Barbara Jordan National Forum Student Co-Chairs, and was the Communication and Marketing Director for the LBJ School's first-ever Latino Policy Research Symposium.
Yulissa has worked across the political spectrum as a political cartoonist, researcher, activist, and public school teacher in Austin ISD. As a public school teacher and grassroots organizer, Yulissa has led workshops, produced content to empower and inform the public of legislative issues, mentored and guided first-generation students, and researched a variety of policy issues.
In her spare time, Yulissa enjoys playing with her cats, painting, creating faux cakes, and watching films.
