Elvira Barragan-Lopez

Elvira Barragan-Lopez graduated from Berea College with a B.A. in Peace and Social Justice and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at Loyola University Chicago. She is passionate about strengthening communities through equity-driven policy solutions and is especially dedicated to uplifting the Latinx community. During her undergraduate studies, Elvira co-founded Cafecito Y Pan, a support group that fostered belonging and leadership among Latina-identifying students, helped design a student-led mental health awareness campaign, and presented on restorative justice and nonviolence at the Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference. She brings a strong commitment to bridging community voices with policy change. Outside of her academic and professional work, she enjoys taking walks by Lake Michigan, dancing, and exploring new Mexican food restaurants.