Major Monday: Political Science – Areli’s impactful time doing advocacy work in D.C.

When Areli Arauja Ruiz ’26 first came to PLU, she didn’t expect a study away fair to change her life. She remembers meeting Professor Michael Artime, “That moment sparked a life-changing conversation.”

Fast forward a few years, and Areli — a political science and criminal justice double major with a pre-law minor — has already interned with two major Latine civil rights organizations in Washington, D.C.: the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).

“The organization focuses on providing legal aid via class-action lawsuits in critical areas surrounding Latine rights,” she says of MALDEF. “I assist with client intake, legal research, drafting memoranda, attending court proceedings, analyzing legislation, and supporting litigation efforts.”

Her passion for advocacy comes from experience. “At 13 years old, my family was separated. I had to grow up without seeing my father for seven years,” she says. “I aim to advocate so that this administration respects due process and halts these harsh immigration policies that are tearing apart families.”

Areli has found strength in her identity and community. “Being a first-generation Latina in today’s political climate is not a weakness, it is a strength,” she says. “We are resilient, outspoken, and proud. We carry the strength of our ancestors and continue the fight for future generations.”

“PLU has been my launching pad,” she adds. “It’s where my advocacy career began, and it continues to be the community that supports and uplifts my goals.”