From volunteering in a school for refugees in Egypt to teaching herself English to pursue her dream of coming to America, Rachel Rodrigues de Oliveira has always been determined and passionate about the journey.
Coming to the U.S. as a collegiate tennis player, she was a transfer student at USF. She made it her goal to find her place and make an impact within both USF and the Tampa Bay community.
From the start, she knew the importance of being involved in organizations. In her first semester, she joined the Investment Club at USF and BRASA Connect, the biggest Brazilian student conference in Florida. After her impact, she was invited to be an ambassador for the conference.
Eager to leave a lasting impact within the USF community, she was the third highest-voted senator in the 2023–2024 elections for the USF Student Government. In 2023, she became a USF Ambassador, currently serving as the voice and embodiment of students in interactions with USF alumni at events.
Determined to expand her network and deepen her connections within the community, she seized the chance to join the Tampa Bay Collegiate Program for its 2023-2024 class. The program is a selective experiential program that inspires, educates, and engages emerging leaders as they transition from college to career.
In 2023-2024, she served as the training and development intern at Gerdau North America.
“It is all about making things happen, enjoying the ride, learning throughout the journey, and making a positive impact on the USF community and people,” she says.
25 Under 25 Program 