David Felipe: Empowering communities through access to education, mentorship

Whether he was conducting research, organizing conferences or advocating for immigrant rights, Felipe said that mentorship was the thread that pulled everything together. As a first-generation college graduate, the kind guidance of others was invaluable.

"When I first got to Brown, it was a bit difficult," Felipe said. "But I feel like I was able to succeed because of mentorship - either informally, through older students who had similar backgrounds who had firsthand experiences navigating the same processes, or through formal mentors and established programs."

Over the years, Felipe became a familiar face in Brown's myriad programs designed to help students navigate higher education. As a Meiklejohn Peer Advising Program leader, he helped organize the program for three years, in addition to guiding six of his own mentees each year. He also served as a peer mentor for the recently expanded Kessler Scholars Program at the Undocumented, First-Generation College and Low-Income Student Center.

"It's lovely to know that my efforts weren't in vain," Felipe said. "Being able to break down those barriers and help people get all the information and support they need has been one of my biggest accomplishments."

Regardless of where he's placed, Felipe is looking forward to exploring all that his host location has to offer. If he's in a coastal region, he wants to swim and take up surfing. If he's in the mountains, he wants to hike. He's considering pottery lessons, and, of course, he's excited about the food. But Felipe is still most heavily drawn to the community. Volunteering with an Indigenous rights advocacy group or organization committed to advancing human rights is high on his list of priorities, and Felipe said he's eager to embrace the unique role of being a cultural ambassador representing both American and Indigenous Mexican identities.

"Above all else, I wanted to be close to my people," Felipe said. "I wanted to have this experience where I'm there for an extended amount time, where I wasn't just a visitor in their space and could actually lay a strong foundation of trust within the community."

When the Fulbright period ends, Felipe will prepare to apply to law school with the goal of becoming a public-interest immigration or civil rights lawyer. Alongside a law career, he's also drawn to teaching.

"It's always been in the back of my mind, even when I first got to Brown and didn't know exactly what I wanted to do or study," Felipe said. "It's always been reflected in my day-to-day interactions, the things I joined and what I felt most passionate about."

Whether his future leads him into courtrooms or classrooms, Felipe knows he wants to continue creating the kinds of moments that affirm the power of mentorship - just like that tap on his shoulder during a chance encounter at a boba tea shop.

"I've measured my impact through stories like that, and it feels incredible," Felipe said. "I hope to continue that work, using my privilege as a Brown alum to further education for others."