Mateo Hernández-Hernández

My name is Mateo Hernández-Hernández, and I am a sophomore (C. of 2028) from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, & Laredo, Texas, living in Lowell House. I study Neurobiology, Anthropology, and Chemistry & Chemical Biology. I am the Co-Chair of the Harvard Citizenship Tutoring Program, which pairs Harvard student tutors with immigrant adults to support them through the civics, reading, writing, and speaking components of the U.S. naturalization process. Over the next year, I look forward to strengthening our internal structure, expanding outreach in the Greater Boston area, and updating our tutoring resources to reflect the current administration’s changes to the naturalization test, including the new photo-description section, in close collaboration with our tutors and community partners.

Previously, I advocated for the Harvard Votes Challenge and served as a civics teacher at Mather Elementary School during the 2024 General Election. Outside the IOP, I study developmental neurological disorders in the van Vactor Laboratory at the HMS Blavatnik Institute. I am also involved in Harvard Model United Nations as Chairman of the UN Atomic Energy Commission (World Conference) and as Assistant Director of Crisis Committees (National Conference). Additionally, I serve as the Gen. Secretary of Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA. You may also find me at the Harvard Catholic Center, the Loomis−Michael Observatory, or over the Charles, rowing for the Lowell House IM Crew.

Beyond Harvard, I have served as the Mayor’s Fellow in Public Health in the Laredo City Government and as an undergraduate clinical intern at Stanford University School of Medicine. In my free time, I enjoy training for a marathon, exploring Boston’s restaurant scene, and (very) occasionally painting.