Cristy Mendoza is an alumna of The George Washington University, Class of 2022, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology. Cristy's scholarly interests lie at the intersection of immigration policy, education, and labor economics. At GW, Cristy’s senior thesis examined how DACAmented women of color acted as institutional brokers primarily in academic settings and advocated for resources as they prepared to enter institutions of higher education.
In Fall 2025, Cristy will pursue a Ph.D. in Sociology at The Pennsylvania State University. Her research aims to explore the educational attainment of DACA recipients, researching how their legal status influences access to higher education, subsequent earnings, and occupational outcomes. She is particularly concerned with the barriers that undocumented students face in accessing higher education and the long-term implications of these obstacles on their economic mobility. Through her research, Cristy aims to contribute to policy discussions that advocate for the rights and opportunities of undocumented individuals, especially those brought to the U.S. as children.