Jose Campos

Jose R. Campos was just 17 when he arrived in the U.S.—undocumented, alone, and without stable housing or income. In this raw and inspiring keynote, Jose recounts his extraordinary path from fast-food worker to immigration attorney, opening up about years of couch-surfing, living in fear of deportation, navigating addiction, and overcoming family trauma. He speaks candidly about what it took to survive a system never designed for him—and how those same experiences now drive his work supporting students facing the same impossible odds he once did. This talk is a call to action for justice, a lesson in human resilience, and a testament to the impact of building systems that meet people where they are.