Valerie “Val” Axtle

Valerie “Val” Axtle is a Political Science major with a minor in Chicana/o and Central American Studies at UCLA, graduating in 2028.

A proud Oakland native, Val is a Mexican American and Cuban American, first-generation, nontraditional re-entry student who returned to school after a four-year break and transferred to UCLA from Laney College. She pursues her education to open doors for her family and plans to bring knowledge and resources back to Oakland. Val believes every California student deserves their basic needs met, and she wants policymakers to protect programs that serve marginalized communities. To Val, leadership means leading together with her community.