Corinne Quintanilla
Spring 2026 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Houston, Texas
College: Biola University
Major: Political Science
Corinne Quintanilla was raised in Dallas, Texas. She lived in both Irvine, California, and Mexico City, Mexico, before graduating from Biola University with a major in Political Science. She studied in the ‘Torrey Honors Program,’ a classical “great books program.” It is modeled on a Socratic learning style and introduces great thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Homer. Corinne was drawn to the longer novels in the curriculum, including Brothers Karamazov and Anna Karenina, and she frequently wrote about themes of justice and law across the curriculum.
Additionally, Corinne has participated in extracurricular activities on campus, including the women’s chorus, campus elections and campaigns, and serving as a student worker in the Political Science Department for over two years. She had the opportunity to attend unique political conferences at both the Acton Institute in Michigan and a religious freedom conference at Pepperdine University. Corinne loves outdoor activities and is an avid pickleball player.
After completing the John Jay Fellowship, Corinne plans to pursue work in government and continues to explore her next steps.