Treasurer, Adriana Serrano Matsumoto

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Adriana Serrano Matsumoto is the Treasurer of Next Gen Scholars and a first-generation Japanese and Mexican American. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, her experiences as a daughter of immigrants have shaped her passion for advocacy and achieving equitable pathways for underrepresented and marginalized communities to access education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

Having recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she plans to utilize her degree in Political Science and Latino/Latina Studies to pursue a career in public policy and journalism. As a first-generation student herself, navigating higher education was a significant hurdle, and she entered college knowing very little about the resources, programs, and networks available to her. These challenges have fueled her dedication to ensuring that other first-generation students and youth from underserved communities have access to the guidance and mentorship they need to succeed.

Growing up, Adriana has often navigated spaces where she felt very little representation or guidance and rarely saw people who reflected her identity in leadership positions and educational settings. Thus through her work with Next Gen Scholars, Adriana is committed to building an inclusive environment that embraces individuals from all backgrounds who have access to the resources, encouragement, and representation they need to thrive.