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Advisory Board Spotlight

Julio Figueroa
 

Mr. Julio Figueroa joined the SPP Advisory Board in 2020. A resident of Riverside, he is currently the Director of External Affairs for AT&T, responsible for government relations, community outreach and corporate philanthropy in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. He also sits on the Board of Directors for the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Greater Coachella Valley Chambers of Commerce, Janet Goeske Foundation and the Fox Theatre Foundation.

What are your proudest accomplishments?
I would say it is a shared accomplishment with my wife Carol, that we did everything possible to prepare our son Sebastian for life after high school and proud that he was accepted to UCLA as a Regent Scholar.

Are there any research areas/projects you are currently involved in or would be interested in collaborating with SPP faculty or students?
I enjoyed working with SPP staff and students on the “Evolution of Telecommunications” seminar. I look forward to a continued collaboration with the SPP on the policy implications of ongoing technological advancements in the telecommunications industry.

What advice do you have for public policy students as they prepare for a career in public service?

My advice would be to prepare, even over-prepare for every interview. Approach every interaction during the interview, no matter how small, with care and grace. It is up to you to ensure that interview was memorable in a positive way. You never know who your future colleagues or boss will be, so treat everyone with respect.

How has COVID-19 affected you? How should our inland community, including the UCR community, prepare for a public health crisis like COVID-19?

It has forced me to pivot to do most of my work virtually. One thing I have learned is access to 1GB internet has been vital to our household to be able to work from home. The inland community including the UCR community should continue to advocate with local elected officials to ensure expedited processes are in place that allow internet providers to invest and deploy infrastructure as fast as possible.

On a personal note, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

I love traveling all over the world with my family.

Any final words of wisdom? 

I thank the UCR School of Public Policy for our past and future partnerships.

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