Joshua Marín-Mora (SFS’21) came to Georgetown because of his interest in politics and became involved with GU Politics before the semester even began, at Pre-Orientation Campaign Bootcamp in 2017. The Pre-O cohort simulated working on that year’s Virginia Gubernatorial race, traveling to Richmond and meeting with campaign staffers, “and that’s what made me fall in love with the Institute,” Joshua said.
Now, working as a Field Representative for California State Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, Joshua says GU Politics “inculcated for me a desire to go down this road, because I was inspired by the people that they would bring in to talk to us who shared their stories. Ultimately, I would not be where I am now had it not been for my active or just general involvement with GU Politics. It has prepared me for what it takes to engage intellectually with ideas that differ from others.”
Beginning with Campaign Bootcamp, Joshua was consistently involved with GU Politics and its programming, and was able to go on immersion trips, connect with different Fellows, and engage with other students just as enthusiastic about politics as he was. He served on the Student Advisory Board (then known as the Student Leadership Council) during the 2018-19 school year and attended the 2018 #HoyasInMexico experiential trip to witness the general election on the ground in Mexico City.
“Really getting down to the grassroots was fantastic. We met with journalists, we met with party leaders, we met with down-ballot candidates. I mean, I don’t know which thought leaders we didn’t talk to by the end of the trip. And GU Politics put all of that together. We’re not just learning about the Mexican election, but how can we use those critical thinking skills to apply to elections here? How do we go forward and talk to our fellow citizens?
Joshua said the experiences he had on the Mexico trip, as well as his connections with Fellows and other students passionate about politics and public service, taught him the skills he needed to build a career in politics based on connecting with and understanding people.
Joshua especially connected with Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, former U.S. Representative (R-FL) and Spring 2019 GU Politics Fellow, and said some of his best memories with GU Politics were attending her office hours and discussion groups.
“She was very laser focused on her community, and she was also supportive of the LGBTQ+ community because of her transgender child, and she resonated for me, in addition to being a strong, independent, influential ceiling breaker, because the Latinidad aspect of it was also very important to me.”
When he graduated, Joshua worked as press assistant for a Virginia gubernatorial campaign, press secretary for a Colorado Senate campaign, and director of communications for a Denver mayoral campaign before starting his current position as a Field Representative.
“I’m also on the boards of three different young democratic clubs in LA, in that political side of things, going out and doing the campaign door knocking, endorsement conversations, fundraising opportunities, that kind of stuff. So I’m kind of getting the best of both worlds here when it comes to the public service and the politics side of things.”
Looking back at his time at Georgetown, participating in Campaign Bootcamp, experiential trips, and numerous discussion groups, office hours, and forum events, Joshua said, “we were a bunch of like, 18-year-olds, right? Just wanted to get involved and be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and GU Politics was the entity that helped make that happen.”
The discourse that GU Politics constantly facilitated, whether in the Living Room with 20 people or Gaston Hall with 700, modeled discourse that can make politics a good thing in the real world.
“GU Politics isn’t afraid of bringing in diverse opinions, which honestly can be uncomfortable, but I think that’s important, because at the end of the day, we’re all part of one system. I never felt like the Institute made me feel like I have to agree with the other person, right? Instead, like, can you walk away having a better understanding of your own argument and theirs. Which, in and of itself, is just so, so beneficial, especially if you go down the path that I do.”
He said the immense support he felt from GU Politics helped him carve out his path and combine his passions for politics and public service.
“Cheers to the next 10 years and the next 10 years after that, and the next 10 years after that,” Joshua said.
