Senior Speaker: Diego Flores Hernandez BA ’26

Diego Flores Hernandez BA ’26 will be the student speaker at the College of Arts and Sciences commencement, held in Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum, on May 9. Flores Hernandez, a Davis United World College Scholar from El Salvador, is an economics and international affairs double major.

What three words would you use to describe L&C?

Cozy, beautiful, and weird

What made you want to come to L&C?

The fact that I felt the college understood my needs and was willing to adapt to them.

What activities have you been involved in?

• Active collaborator with the Ray Warren Symposium on Race and Ethnic Studies (especially Race Monologues)
• Meditation Club
• Working at Watzek Library for the last three years
• Poetry writing and collage making
• Hiking
• Hanging out with friends

Where did you study overseas?

Prague (the best study abroad program).

Why did you choose your majors?

I chose both of my majors because they felt like tools that could help me have a positive impact on the lives of others.

What was your favorite class? Why?

I am going to cheat and choose one for each of my majors. In the international affairs department, my favorite class was Dynamics of Conflict. It is a class that breaks with IA’s traditional way of learning about global issues by teaching through the personal experiences of individuals—those who are experiencing these issues in the flesh. In the economics department, my favorite class was Radical Political Economy. It completely changed the way I understand the world by showing evidence of the systematic failures present within our economy.

How has L&C changed you?

It is hard to put in words. But I think L&C reminded me that I can dream and the power of my decision making. Everything I do, everything I decide helps me to “become” more, to become something else. L&C helped me feel empowered.

What message do you hope to convey to fellow grads at commencement?

Hope.

What are your postgraduation plans?

I actually love Portland, and a lot of my friends are sticking around. So, in the world of my dreams, I am able to stay in Portland with a job that advances human rights. I am especially interested in positions that help immigrants live a dignified life.

Economics International Affairs Commencement