Rolando Valdes – COSSPP alumnus and current Master’s student majoring in Demography – currently works full-time for the Florida Department of Transportation as a Data and Legislative Analyst.
In his role, Valdes is responsible for maintaining data related to legislation, drafting reports, and collaborating with other analysts to evaluate the impact of legislative proposals.
Valdes’ goal is to one day become the Legislative Affairs Director or Chief of Motorist Compliance within Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles.
He’s no stranger to FSU. Before he even stepped onto campus there was a deep connection between him and the University, with several family members attending before him. He then went on to get two bachelor’s degrees from FSU, a B.S. in Environment and Society in 2018 and a B.S. in Geography in 2021, along with a certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
That connection along with FSU’s reputation in the social sciences made it a great place for him to continue his education.
“When searching for a master’s program, I was drawn to demography because of its challenging academic curriculum and potential for my state government growth,” Valdes said. “The combination of faculty and innovative research led me to fall in love with FSU and the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy all over again.”
As the son of Cuban immigrants, Valdes focuses his research on analyzing Latinx migration patterns in Florida. Through his work, he aims to uncover insights into the factors that drive these patterns and how they evolve over time.
Valdes is also a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed service fraternity. His time with the organization has been one of his most impactful during his time at FSU and credits it for helping to develop his strong commitment to service, leadership, and his work ethic.
“FSU has prepared me for my career goals more than I have realized,” Valdes said. “During my short time as a graduate student, I have also learned programs and techniques that will help me reach my career goals within state government.”
Following graduation, Valdes hopes to help develop legislation that considers socioeconomic factors and Florida’s aging population to further the Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles’ mission of creating “A Safer Florida.”
To learn more about FSU’s Environment and Society program, visit coss.fsu.edu/geography/undergraduate/environment-society. To learn more about FSU’s Geography program, visit geography.fsu.edu.