AEASP 2023 Scholar Michael Garcia

Michael Garcia is a senior studying Economics at the University of California, Berkeley while minoring in Public Policy. His lived experience fuels his passion for social justice. During his time at Cal, he has worked with the Berkeley Underground Scholars supporting the needs of formerly incarcerated and system-impacted individuals as a policy advocate, transfer coordinator, and ambassador coordinator. He is also an undergraduate researcher for the Latinx Research Center at UC Berkeley and has completed multiple research projects. His research interests include the economics of crime and corrections, racial inequality, educational outcomes, and poverty. His most recent research focused on the effects equalization of school spending has on juvenile incarceration and crime trends during the Covid-19 pandemic. He plans to continue his journey towards a Ph.D. in Economics, so he can create change in his community, and expand opportunities for minoritized groups.