Graduate Research Assistant, Henry and Bryna David Fellow
Areas of Expertise: labor policy, workforce development, economic inequality, political behavior, Latino politics, quantitative research
Adriel Bustillos is a candidate for the Master of Public Affairs at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, graduating in 2026. He is a proud graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned degrees in Business Management and Government.
Bustillos currently serves as a legislative assistant for Rep. Mary E. González, where he conducts policy research, analyzes state and national issues affecting Latino communities, and supports strategic legislative initiatives. He has additional experience in local government, international democratic institutions, and legal advocacy, all of which have shaped his interest in how policy structures economic opportunity and political engagement.
His academic work focuses on labor policy, workforce development, and economic inequality, with particular attention to how institutional environments shape political participation among underrepresented communities. He is a Patman Scholar and recipient of the Patman Research Award for Advancing Democracy, reflecting his commitment to research that strengthens democratic systems and expands access to opportunity.