Diego Andrades is the Assistant Director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, where he supports the Center’s mission to promote research and foster civil dialogue that bridges partisan divides and shapes the future of politics. In this role, Diego leads strategic initiatives, oversees external programming, and partners with political stakeholders to advance civic understanding and public engagement.
Before returning to USC, Diego served as a political appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration, where he was the Special Assistant to the CEO of AmeriCorps, the federal agency that mobilizes millions of Americans in national service. In that role, he advised agency leadership, coordinated high-priority initiatives, and supported national service efforts tied to the White House Domestic Policy Council, including work on disaster relief and gun violence prevention. Notably, Diego played a role in the development and implementation of a landmark Executive Order signed by President Biden that created a streamlined federal hiring pathway for AmeriCorps alumni—expanding access to civil service for over 23,000 trained service members annually. Alongside his strategic responsibilities, Diego helped oversee the day-to-day operations of the CEO’s immediate office, ensuring effective coordination, internal workflow, and cross-agency communication.
Diego began his career in public service on Capitol Hill through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Public Policy Fellowship. Diego worked in both the House and Senate, serving as a Legislative Fellow in the Office of Representative Pramila Jayapal and as a Policy Fellow in the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. His portfolio included election administration, antitrust, voting rights, and judicial reform. He has also held research, policy, and strategic communications roles at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, Crooked Media, California Common Cause, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
A graduate of the University of Southern California, Diego earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (honors) and Philosophy, Politics, and Law, graduating magna cum laude. At USC, he served as Chief of Staff for the Undergraduate Student Government, President of the Delta Omicron Zeta Leadership Society, and Student Body Senator. For his leadership to both the university community and he world at large, he was awarded the Order of the Laurel and Palm — USC’s highest student honor.