Melissa Arreola

Melissa Arreola is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, double majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Comparative Politics and in History with a concentration in Political History. 

In the spring of 2026 she will be studying abroad at the Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, where she will learn about Mexican politics and history. Originally from Newark, New Jersey, and the daughter of Mexican parents, she never thought she would be able to experience living in Mexico. As a first-generation student, Melissa is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with the country that forms an important part of her heritage.

On campus you can find her at Andrew Hamilton School tutoring through Penn GSE’s tutoring initiative or planning club events for Aspiring Educators at Penn, where she serves as Vice President. You can also find her at Dunkin, because while America runs on Dunkin, Melissa sprints to Dunkin. 

In her free time, she loves watching movies and shows and listening to music that spans from genre to genre. She also enjoys reading and journaling. As a proud Mexican-American, she is elated to spend a semester in Mexico and looks forward to upgrading her Spanglish to Spanish. All in all, she is excited to escape the East Coast winter, meet new people, learn new things, and explore new places.

This spring, she is looking forward to:

• Improving her Spanish
• Exploring Mexico City and the surrounding areas
• Learning about Mexico’s history
• Connecting with students and community members