Melissa Leal-Esquivel, a 2025 graduate of Arizona State University from Mesa, Arizona, plans to pursue a career in city government.
After earning Bachelors of Science in political science from the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts and anthropology from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, she will work toward a master’s degree in public administration at ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
During her time at ASU, she has garnered a variety of honors. Leal-Esquivel received a Dean’s Medal from the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, an honor recognizing graduates who achieve exemplary academic performance and use their skills to help others.
She was selected to join the Marvin Andrews and Jane Morris Fellowship in Urban Management in ASU’s School of Public Affairs, a paid work-study program designed to support talented students aspiring to leadership in local government. Her career goal is an impactful role at the city or state level centered on management, research and analysis, putting her interdisciplinary training to work on issues she cares deeply about.
It only takes one opportunity to help you advance your education and reach your career goals.
Melissa Leal-EsquivelASU grad
Upon entering ASU, Leal-Esquivel was recognized as a National Merit Finalist and awarded the New American University Scholarship – National Recognition, a merit-based award for highly accomplished first-year students. Her decision to major in political science at ASU stemmed from an unexpected discussion with an elected official from Argentina.
“I had never been too into politics,” Leal-Esquivel said. “My view was that it was a mess, impossible to solve.”
That opinion changed one afternoon in high school when she capitalized on the opportunity to speak with the Argentine politician.
“He agreed that politics can be messy and many governments are full of disarray, but he said it was our responsibility as citizen leaders to set things right and to give the voiceless a voice,” she recalled. “He told me about politics in his country and explained how to face our biggest problems head-on by getting involved rather than complaining. Our conversation took place completely by chance, yet shifted what I wanted to do with my life professionally and the lens through which I view the world.”
Leal-Esquivel followed that advice to ASU, where her career ambitions took shape as she developed a sense of civic duty and discovered the power of engagement.
“Meeting new people and forming connections can provide you with so many opportunities, whether it be internships, employment or references,” she said. “This is what makes networking so vital for college students.”
Leal-Esquivel gained valuable experience through two internships and as a student employee in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts recruiting office, where she leveraged her growing interpersonal skills to support prospective Sun Devils.
While interning with the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, she worked across committees — veterans, finance, health care and government affairs — drafting meeting summaries, coordinating event appearances with chamber committee members and elected officials, and preparing marketing materials for large-scale gatherings. As an intern at Dorn Policy Group, she embraced the fast-paced world of lobbying, crafting memos, assisting with strategy documents and tracking legislation on behalf of the firm’s clients.
Looking ahead, Leal-Esquivel plans to boost her anthropology background with a study abroad experience in London before beginning graduate school. One of her career ambitions in government is to find innovative approaches to improving the social problem of addiction.
“There are so many people suffering from different addictions, and helping them overcome patterns of abuse would not only help restore their lives but also strengthen their families and communities,” she said.
Leal-Esquivel’s ASU learning journey illustrates how chance encounters, interdisciplinary study and strategic networking can form a strong foundation for a career dedicated to public service.
Her advice to current students is simple: “Take all the opportunities available to you, and don’t be discouraged when you’re not chosen for a project, internship or program. It only takes one opportunity to help you advance your education and reach your career goals.”