Melissa Macaya is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Latin American Studies Honors and Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Government and working towards a BDP in International Studies. After moving from Venezuela to the United States in 2004 due to the political turmoil, she discovered her passion for journalism and Latin American affairs. At UT, Melissa serves as the Spanish editor of the Student Journal of Latin American Studies and has interned at the Teresa Lozano Long Institute for Latin American Studies and at two online publications one of which included the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas. She has taken active leadership roles on campus spearheading volunteer activities for the Latino community as Vice-President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and organizing a mentorship program as Vice-President of the UT National Association of Hispanic Journalists Chapter. While in D.C., Melissa will intern at the Washington Office on Latin Affairs (WOLA) and CNN Espanol.