Joseph Swenson

The National Urban League

Joseph (JJ) Swenson is a first-generation college student and senior at Lehigh University, where he is a recipient of the Posse Full-Tuition Scholarship award. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a minor in Religion, and a certificate in Population Health. At Lehigh, JJ has served on the Council for Equity and Community as a first-year representative and vice president, and currently serves as president of the Men of Color Alliance and as a mentor to many underclassmen on campus. During election season, he advocates for the importance of voting in local, state, and federal elections to his peers on campus to his peers on campus through voter registration drives and discussion expos. During his free time, he is passionate about cooking, because “love goes through the stomach.” As a person who grew up in the inner cities of San Francisco, he hopes to be an advocate and leader for underserved youth from low-income communities, so they are prepared to become future leaders of tomorrow.