The Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute is pleased to welcome Thomas J. Rachko, Jr. as its newest team member. Thomas, who will serve as the Translational Research Manager for the Institute, brings a wealth of experience and a profound dedication to enhancing the Institute’s mission to empower the Hispanic/Latino community by ensuring culturally relevant research is accessible to the public and policymakers.
Thomas currently serves as the Policy Lead for the Im/migrant Well-Being Scholar Collaborative, an affiliate project of the Cisneros Institute, where he works alongside scholars to translate academic research in accessible ways for policymakers, advocates, and activists.
Reflecting on his new role, Thomas stated, “I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from and serve alongside the Institute’s incredible team. As the grandson of Cuban political asylees and a George Washington University graduate who studied immigration policy at the Institute, I look forward to the opportunity to further the Institute’s mission to leverage culturally competent leadership and research to advance the Hispanic/Latino community in the US.”
Prior to joining the Institute, Thomas was an officer in the US Program at Human Rights Watch. His experience also includes completing the 2016-2017 New York City Urban Fellows program at the New York Police Department Office of Management Analysis & Planning, where he focused on use of force policies and responses to the opioid overdose epidemic. Additionally, he served as a Legal Advocate at the Urban Justice Center Safety Net Project, overseeing legal clinics and representing clients in administrative law hearings to protect public benefits. Most recently, Thomas served as a 2024 Fellow with the Washington, DC chapter of the New Leaders Council.
Thomas graduated from the City University of New York Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College with a bachelor’s degree in history and holds a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in program evaluation and policy analysis from The George Washington University Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.
Dr. Elizabeth Vaquera, Executive Director of the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, shared, “Thomas’ dedication to human rights, combined with his extensive background in public policy and advocacy, make him a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to the innovative perspectives and insights he will bring to our work on, especially as it relates to the well-being of Latinos and immigrants.”