Astrid Umanzor Andino, Amate Fellow

• Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts

• Recent college graduate from Boston College

• Amate Fellow and Immigration Attorney Assistant

This past May, I graduated magna cum laude from Boston College with a double major in Applied Psychology and Transformative Educational Studies. During my time at Boston College, I became interested and passionate about policy and advocacy work, which led me to be an active member of anti-racist and activism organizations on campus. This year, I am taking a gap year between undergrad and law school to explore different areas of legal work.

At my site placement at the GCLC, I work under the supervision of managing attorney Joel Stopka. As a fluent Spanish speaker, I assist with client intakes, research, translation projects, and immigration status adjustments. Coming from a mixed-status household, I have witnessed the complexities and challenges faced by immigrant families firsthand. It has been rewarding to represent individuals and help them gain better status in this country.

Previously, I have had the opportunity to intern for the Boston College Innocence Program where I conducted research on eye-witness testimonies on a proposed model jury instructions for the Massachusetts Supreme Court. This opportunity allowed me to contribute to a critical area of legal reform.

Fun fact: I was the captain of my college Latin dance team where we performed various styles of dance such as bachata, merengue, and salsa.