Born and raised in the Philippines, Nica Nakagomi came to the United States as an international student. She graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in communication, and is now pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Washington in Seattle. She believes that everyone deserves good quality education, as it is something that sticks with them for the rest of their lives. She is drawn to VOPIN’s mission to empower one of Washington’s most underserved populations through programs designed to connect students to their roots and culture, motivate them to take ownership, and support families in navigating the school system.

In her free time, she enjoys watching funny YouTube commentaries and also takes delight in traveling around the country and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest through food. You can contact her at nica@vopin.org, especially if you have any restaurant recommendations for her.