Caren Yap, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) alumna, is leading national policy and campaign initiatives for the AFL-CIO Advocacy Hub, which represents more than 12 million workers, according to a Mar. 10 announcement. Yap’s work focuses on labor rights, housing affordability, budgets and revenue, and child labor protections across the United States.
Yap’s journey into public policy began with her family’s immigration story. Born in Saudi Arabia to Filipino overseas workers and raised in Las Vegas from age six, she credits the Filipino value of bayanihan—collective responsibility—for shaping her approach to community support. “We wouldn’t be here without the selflessness of Pinoy immigrants,” Yap said. “They were the neighbors who picked us up from the airport, the third cousins who helped us find a home, and the strangers who became our family.”
Initially pursuing nursing at UNLV after earning her Certified Nursing Assistant credential in high school, Yap soon realized she wanted to address systemic issues rather than individual symptoms. “I could treat the symptom in the clinic, but I couldn’t treat the system that put the patient there,” she said. Personal experiences with homelessness during college further motivated her shift toward public policy.
At UNLV’s Lee Business School, Yap developed skills in resource allocation and incentive structures before becoming student body president—the first Filipino and Asian American woman elected to that role at UNLV. She graduated summa cum laude with dual business degrees and a Brookings Public Policy minor. She credits Brookings faculty members Caitlin Saladino and Bill Brown for mentoring her transition into policy work.
During Nevada’s 2025 legislative session, Yap contributed to legislation aimed at improving workplace protections for healthcare workers. Her academic path continued at Harvard Kennedy School where she earned a Master of Public Policy with highest honors.
Brookings Mountain West played a significant role in Yap’s education by providing independent research opportunities focused on regional policy issues affecting metropolitan areas like Las Vegas according to its official website. The center resides in Greenspun Hall on UNLV’s campus according to its official website and partners with both UNLV and the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. according to its official website. It also collaborates closely with The Lincy Institute at UNLV on outreach activities according to its official website, producing briefs and publications that inform decision-making on regional issues according to its official website.
Despite her national influence today—including service on Clark County’s Business Development Advisory Council—Yap remains grounded by her immigrant roots and local identity as a Nevadan. “No matter where I go, a part of me will always be the 6-year-old who immigrated to Las Vegas or the 20-year-old running for student government,” she said.
Looking ahead, Yap encourages current students: “Try new things. Boldly introduce yourself. Practice giving grace. There’s nobody more suited for a challenge than someone from Nevada.”
