As she nears graduation, ASUC President Abigail Verino is focused on ensuring that her advocacy for UC Berkeley’s most vulnerable groups remains a permanent fixture of student life.
Verino, an Ethnic Studies and Legal Studies double major, has spent her time as ASUC president expanding student-facing systems — from securing over $100,000 for multicultural student organizations to advocating for the basic needs of undocumented students. As she moves forward with her education and career, Verino hopes to apply a critical Ethnic Studies lens to the legal frameworks she has studied in the Legal Studies program, helping address gaps where minority communities have historically been left behind.
Verino spoke to Berkeley Social Sciences about her journey to Cal; the Ethnic Studies courses that shifted her worldview; and how her time as ASUC president has prepared her for a career in the public sector. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Can you tell me about your journey to UC Berkeley and why you decided to attend Cal?
Abigail Verino: My parents, immigrants from the Philippines, always instilled values of hard work in me, thus invigorating me to pursue higher education. My older brother attended a community college, meaning that I navigated the UC/CSU common applications by myself.
UC Berkeley always stood out to me, especially after learning about the Third World Liberation Front (twLf), and that the term Asian American was coined at Cal. I remember really struggling with my mental health the last few months of my senior year of high school, and was wishing for a sign to know my journey wasn't over yet. I opened my phone after a week-long outdoor education program mentoring elementary school kids, and I found out the news I got into Cal. I knew at that moment I still had a purpose greater than myself, and my pursuit to higher education could surpass what I was going through during that period of my life.
As a first-generation Filipina American, and soon to be the first in my family to graduate with a bachelor's degree — earning it from the No.1 public university is not only a testament to what I've been able to achieve, but a product of the love and sacrifice invested into me.
Why did you choose to major in Ethnic Studies in addition to your Legal Studies major?
Abigail Verino: The summer going into my senior year of high school, I applied to AAMPLIFY (Asian American Leadership Workshops), a nonprofit social justice leadership program based in San Francisco meant to educate Asian American students on Asian American activism and history. From learning about the eviction of low-income Filipino Americans from the San Francisco International Hotel in the 1970s to exploring the origins of Chinatown, I realized that the history of my community was within arm's reach, but I simply had no idea. This experience ignited my passion for Ethnic Studies, finding a sense of purpose in ensuring the histories of third-world peoples were always centered and known.
With my interest in government affairs and legal reform, I found that Ethnic Studies and Legal Studies had a strong intersection of learning about race and the law. I aim to approach my work in public service and the legal field with a critical Ethnic Studies lens, always considering the gaps in which minority communities are not accurately represented.
What are some of your favorite courses, professors or experiences you have had as an Ethnic Studies major?
Abigail Verino: One of my favorite courses was Genre in Asian American Literature, taught by Ethnic Studies Continuing Lecturer Fae Myenne Ng. This class proved to me that the most powerful method of learning is through your peers and built-in academic community. We learned about representations of sibling relationships in Asian American literature, and it felt incredibly humbling to reflect on my own personal relationships and learn from my peers and their experiences as well. Diving into literature pertaining to migration, language barriers and exploring artivism, I was reminded of the importance of oral storytelling and preserving the stories of the people who came before us. Once these folks are no longer with us, we will be the only people on this earth who have experienced their love.
Another favorite course of mine was Social Science Methods in Ethnic Studies, taught by Ethnic Studies Lecturer John Dougherty. In this course I learned about the intersections of research in the social sciences and how Ethnic Studies is a critical component of the field. It inspired me to pursue my own research, where I worked with the Asian American Research Center and the Ethnic Studies Library as part of the Community Archival Resilience Engagement (CARE) Project to examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Filipinx elderly in the historic South of Market (SOMA) district in San Francisco. I interviewed 20-plus Filipinx elderly in Tagalog, archiving their stories and experiences of migration. Without this class, I wouldn't have been inspired to apply my learnings in the classroom to the community outside of Berkeley.
Migra, Masses and the Carceral State: Inside and Beyond the Walls) taught by Ethnic Studies Continuing Lecturer Victoria Robinson changed my perspective on restorative justice and how colonialism is still present today through the carceral state. It inspired my legislative proposal during my time as a legislative intern for California State Assemblymember Mia Bonta of the 18th Assembly District, which consists of Oakland, Alameda and Emeryville. While there, I researched the school-to-prison pipeline system and proposed strategies to provide incarcerated students at San Quentin access to higher education. Meeting with Berkeley Underground Scholars (formerly incarcerated students at Cal) and community organizations dedicated to prison reform proved to me that Ethnic Studies not only educates, but can heal and reform groups that are often overlooked.
What have been some of your proudest achievements as student body president, and what do you hope to accomplish during the rest of your term?
Abigail Verino: As I wrap up the last half of my term, I serve as the primary student representative to various campus stakeholders, from administration and student affairs to the Chancellor's cabinet. This semester has not been easy, but I am proud of my leadership that pushed through amidst federal pushback to continue fighting for our most vulnerable groups.
Some notable 2025 highlights I've accomplished in the first half of my term:
- 20-plus events hosted/co-hosted by the University of California Office of the President (UCOP)
- 70-plus committee meetings, from ASUC units, the Chancellor and his cabinet, to UCOP, and UC systemwide meetings
- Served as the UC Berkeley undergraduate representative at the UC Council of Presidents
- Elected fall Student Advocate to the Regents (StARs) by the University of California Student Association
- Emcee'd Builders of Berkeley and the Homecoming Golden Bear Luncheon with University Development and Alumni Relations
- $110,000 allocated to 70-plus student groups by the Multicultural Initiative Fund through the Chancellor's Advisory Committee for Student Services and Fees
- $30,000 allocated to the Basic Needs Fund with the Student Advocate's Office for undocumented or mixed-status students
Moving forward, I aim to continue protecting our undocumented and migrant community, defending rights to free speech, and ensuring that existing programs and initiatives within the association continue to have the fiscal standing to be able to support our students!
As a senior, what do your future plans look like after graduation?
Abigail Verino: I aim to have a career in the public sector, continuing to serve and amplify the needs and voices of the Asian American and Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and other marginalized communities. I started my journey in service in the nonprofit sector, and want to continue to give back within this space. I hope to one day attend law school, and provide my community with the legal knowledge to know how to advocate for themselves.
