Tiago Moreno was born in San Jose and grew up across California, London, and Oregon. He graduated from Oregon Episcopal School, where he was deeply involved in student leadership, advocacy, and social justice throughout his high school career.
Tiago served as a grade representative on the school’s policy board for two years and led the Hispanic & Latine Affinity Group during his junior and senior years. As the first-ever student head of affinity, he worked to foster inclusion and equity within his school community, designing programs and resources to uplift marginalized voices and experiences. Tiago’s leadership in voter registration drives and political discussion panels at high schools across Portland further demonstrated his commitment to civic engagement and community empowerment.
As an advocate for mental health and community connection, Tiago co-founded the school’s mental health club and led the senior buddy organization to strengthen ties across grade levels. He was also an active member of the Peer Writing Center, helping fellow students refine their writing skills. Tiago’s academic excellence earned him recognition as a National Merit Finalist, a National Hispanic Recognition Award recipient, and the Nabila Maazouz Award for a science research project exemplifying curiosity, empathy, and community engagement.
Outside the classroom, Tiago pursued a variety of interests, including club swim, cross country, soccer, track and field, photography, and theater, where he acted, directed, wrote, and managed tech for numerous productions. His passion for social justice and advocacy extended beyond high school. In his freshman year, Tiago was selected as one of 24 students nationally to serve on the Harvard Graduate School of Education Youth Advisory Board for the Making Caring Common project. In this role, he focused on making classrooms safer spaces and educating students about creating a better world. As co-leader of the Portland Chapter of March for Our Lives and founder of Youth for Gun Safety, Tiago developed educational programs, led workshops, and collaborated with national activists to address gun violence. He also served on the Youth Advisory Board for the Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety (now Alliance for a Safe Oregon) and now sits on its official Board, advocating for legislative change by presenting testimonials to the Oregon State Legislature, contributing opinion articles to The Oregonian , and creating petitions for review across various levels of government.
Tiago’s dedication to civic engagement includes participation in conferences like the National Association of Independent Schools’ Student Diversity & Leadership Conference (elected and paid for by his high school) and the Episcopal Youth Conference (funded by the Episcopal Church), where he led a workshop on the climate-energy transition. He also co-created The New York Times ’ Headway Election challenge, focusing on raising awareness and engagement across youth leading up to the 2020 election. As a Young Leader in Action with WorldOregon, Tiago collaborated with global leaders to advance gun control efforts and promote youth activism.
At Santa Clara University, Tiago continues his commitment to community-building and advocacy as a University Honors Program student, Diversity Works Expo Champion, and First-Year Senator in the Associated Student Government, where he supports marginalized communities by addressing stigma, combating misinformation, and developing inclusive resources. He also serves as the Marketing Manager for the Santa Clara Community Action Program, and is a proud Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar.
Tiago is excited to contribute his passion for social justice and innovation to the Bronco Family and the Johnson Scholars. He is grateful for the opportunity to grow alongside motivated peers at Santa Clara University while embracing the Ignatian values of service and leadership.