Paola Parra

Class of 2025

Faculty Advisors: José David Saldívar and Héctor Hoyos

Peer Mentor: Mercedes Martinez Milantchi

Born in Valencia, Venezuela, Paola Parra emigrated to Miami, Florida at the age of eight. In 2023, Paola graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida International University with a B.A. in Global Studies and a focus on Sociology. Her undergraduate coursework encompassed a myriad of topics from International Relations to Latinx Sexualities and covered subjects such as anthropology,  geography, and politics. 

From a young age, Paola has been working hand-in-hand with Hispanic/Latine immigrants such as herself utilizing her bilingual skills to facilitate communication and understanding between communities. She has put this skill to use particularly in her roles as a licensed life and health insurance agent and as an assistant in a Venezuelan freight-forward shipping company in South Florida. 

In addition to her interest in Latin America, as a student of Global Studies, Paola is also intrigued by the expanse of cultures and languages in the world. As a participant in the FLAS Fellowship program, she will pursue studies in Portuguese and plans to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the CLAS program, with courses covering indigenity, gender and sexuality studies, art and art history, and political science, among others. 

Paola aims to delve deeper into immigrant and refugee rights and culture, and the experiences of women of color through a womanist and mujerista approach. 

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, philosophy, yoga, reading, writing, and nature.

Paola Parra: Mercedes Martinez Milantchi