Jennifer Stephanie Barillas

Associate Manager of Hispanic Business Enterprises (HBE)

Jennifer Stephanie Barillas was born in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, and raised in San Diego, California. Throughout her childhood, Jennifer’s parents were small-business owners in downtown San Diego where they emphasized the significance of relentless hard work and service to the community. Jennifer graduated from the University of California, Irvine, in 2022 with honors and received dual degrees in Political Science and Social Policy and Public Service. Her education and real-world experiences of encountering systematic barriers led Jennifer to advocate for transformative social change in underserved communities.
During her time at UC Irvine, Jennifer lobbied to protect Title IX regulations, double the Pell Grant, and expand the Cal Grant for the summer at the California State Capitol and Washington, D.C., as the ASUCI State Legislative Affairs Coordinator. When she’s not immersed in reading articles about current events, Jennifer is passionate about supporting small businesses, going to museums, and finding the best cup of coffee in every new city that she visits.