Kayleen Speller

Kayleen Speller is an Electrical Engineering major at UCLA, graduating in 2028.

Kayleen, who is Black and Filipino, grew up in Oceanside, where she was encouraged to pursue higher education by her mother, who immigrated to the United States. With neither parent having a traditional college experience, Kayleen navigated applications and campus life largely on her own, learning through trial and error to make the most of every resource. College has made her a stronger communicator and connected her with communities where she belongs. Kayleen wants policymakers to include students in the decisions that shape their education, and to make guidance easier to find so success does not depend on already knowing the system.