Raquel Acosta is a Research Assistant for EDA's University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI). She is a senior at Michigan State University pursuing a double major in Social Relations and Policy in the James Madison College along with a major in Spanish with the College of Arts and Letters. She is also obtaining double minors in Peace and Justice Studies and Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy (STEPP). Raquel recently joined the REI team in 2022 to further develop her interests in research, community and environmental development. Raquel also holds many other roles on campus including her roles as a Resident Assistant, President of dreaMSU, a POE Peer Educator, a James Madison College student senator and she also works for MSU’s Alliance for African Partnership. Raquel plans on participating in a research program and then law school and after graduation.