Joel Gerardo Campos Alvis was born in Lima, Peru in 1977. At age 16 after growing up in a poor neighborhood, he won a scholarship to study psychology at Universidad de la Plata in Argentina. After one year, discovering that Argentina did not offer him the chance to succeed that he had hoped, he applied to the US Consulate for a tourist visa and at age 18 he arrived in Portland unable to speak English and without a job. But what he did have was a determination to succeed.

Joel began by working the typical undocumented immigrant jobs—busboy, hotel housekeeper, domestic, fast food worker. At every job he saw what success in America could mean. He noticed the houses he cleaned, the cars his clients drove, and the clothes people wore. In fact, he saw that he couldn’t afford to eat in the restaurants in which he worked. Joel quickly understood that the only way he could share in those dreams was to get an education.

After a short attempt at high school, Joel enrolled in Portland Community College taking English classes and working full time at night. First he earned his high school diploma and then his Associate of Arts degree. But all was not easy as Joel traveled the road to a college education. As an undocumented immigrant he could not apply for any type of financial aid. During this time Joel further complicated his life by getting married, having a daughter and helping his family emigrate from Peru.

Fortunately, through PSU’s student advising services, Joel learned of the Diversity Achievement Scholarship (DAS) through PSU’s Educational Equity Services and Programs (EESP). The DAS is a full tuition waiver for minority first-generation college students. Since the most education Joel’s parents had achieved was sixth grade he qualified. In order to pay his other expenses Joel taught Spanish at PCC and Clark Community College, and worked as a financial analyst trainee at the Bonneville Power Administration. Through EESP Joel also experienced a greater sense of community.

Although being a husband and father had made it easier to receive financial aid, the pressures of working three jobs, going to school, and raising a family proved too difficult and after one and a half years Joel and his wife decided to divorce. This further complicated his life, because he lost his immigration benefits and the Immigration and Naturalization Services began his deportation process. Fortunately he found a good attorney who helped him prove that his marriage had been in good faith.

In the course of all of his personal turmoil Joel’s grades began to suffer, which meant he might also lose his scholarship. With the help of his advisor, he took a hard look at his dreams and his options, and he realized that he had to be stronger. He had to bring up his GPA, which meant attending all of his classes, meeting his deadlines and putting in his very best effort. He knew that if he was to fulfill his dream of receiving a Ph.D. from a top University and becoming an economist, he had to get serious about every aspect of his education. So that is what he did.

During his junior year Joel significantly raised his GPA in his major. Professor Mary King, Economics department chair, became a dedicated mentor who supported his academic growth by sharing ideas, directing his independent study, and writing countless letters of recommendation. Joel applied for a fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University in 2004. He received a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship, where he was one of 30 fellows, and the only one from a relatively unknown school. Furthermore, he was placed in the advanced group, completing four courses in one month and earning all A’s. He studied under top professors, made life-long friends and recognized that this was a life-changing experience.

In his senior year at PSU Joel finally settled his issues with the INS, which made him eligible to receive financial aid, allowing him to leave his job at the BPA. He spent his senior year continuing to study hard and began the process of applying to graduate schools. Still not sure of his chances, Joel applied to ten graduate programs.

In the spring of 2005 Joel Campos Alvis graduated from PSU with four majors: Economics with Departmental Honors, International Studies, Liberal Studies, Social Sciences. Additionally, he obtained a Baccalaureate certificate in Latin American Studies and a Minor in Women’s Studies. Among the graduate programs to which Joel was accepted were Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, University of Chicago, London School of Economics and MIT.

Through hard work and the help of several groups and people in Portland and at PSU, Joel has stayed the course. According to Joel, PSU provided him a top-notch education within a caring and supportive community. On August 15th Joel leaves for MIT having accepted the offer of a full ride (each year only four students among hundreds of applicants receive a full tuition waiver) plus a very generous stipend. It is a proud time for Joel, his family and friends, and the PSU community. We all look forward to watching his further success.