Denilson Tecun de León

Denilson Tecun de Leon serves as a Research and Policy Fellow at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at their national headquarters in Washington, DC. As a fellow, he is appreciative of the opportunity to work for an organization that shares his ideals and eager to learn more about policy and stand up for what he believes is right. He is a first-generation fourth-year honors student at the University of California, Riverside majoring in Sociology with a focus on Law & Society. He is passionate about advocacy and public interest, particularly with issues affecting disadvantaged communities and seeking methods to address and attain social justice.

During his time at UC Riverside he has assumed numerous responsibilities and positions. Due to his fervent activism he participated in UC Hill Day in April 2024, an occasion for speaking with Congressman Raul Ruiz’s staff to lobby and address issues affecting college students; including mental health, higher education affordability, and educational equity. As a student legal intern at UC Riverside’s Office of Legal Affairs he has assisted Chief Campus Counsel in research including anti-DEI legislation, current changes in free speech policy in US public universities, and legal precedents and statutes, providing essential information to support and advise counsel function. Furthermore, his dedication to the Latino community led him to participate in the Alliance Mentorship Program in Los Angeles, California – a seven-month program designed to help first-generation and first-year Latino college students adjust to college life. Denilson has a solid background in research as well. As part of UC Riverside's Mentoring Summer Research Internship Program (MSRIP), he worked with English professor Richard T. Rodriguez on an 8-week research study about immigration, inclusiveness, and fair policies for undocumented students. He is now leading qualitative research focused on the analysis of the relationship of UC Riverside’s Undocumented Students Programs to mental health in collaboration with associate professor of Sociology Tanya Nieri for his final capstone honors project. His goal is to work in public interest law and courageously continue advocating for marginalized groups, giving them a voice and acting as a catalyst for social change.