Omar (él/he/him) is a current PhD student in the Learning, Leadership, and Education Policy Program at the University of Connecticut. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics at Arizona State University and has a background working in finance, information technology, the nonprofit sector, and higher education. Prior to starting his doctoral studies at UConn, Omar worked as the coordinator of Achieving a College Education at Estrella Mountain Community College, which is a college preparatory program aimed to help first-generation, low-income, and minoritized students pursue higher education. He currently serves on the Undocumented Student Advisory Board at UConn and is board secretary of 3 community-focused nonprofit organizations in Arizona and in Connecticut. His research interests revolve around expanding access to higher education through workforce development initiatives and the development of industry partnerships with community colleges.