Daniel Jovan Pulido is a master’s student in the Cultural Studies of Sport in Education program at UC Berkeley. His research explores how youth sports can serve as civic infrastructure—bridging education, health, and community development. As President of Merced United, a long-standing youth organization in California’s Central Valley, Jovan leads programs that use sport to strengthen academic engagement, health equity, and social belonging for underserved families.
Jovan’s lived experience shapes his perspective: after three kidney transplants and 19 years on dialysis, he approaches research with a deep understanding of resilience and systemic inequity. Alongside his studies, he contributes to health research at UC Davis, focusing on access and patient experience. His work aims to dismantle structural barriers that burden overlooked communities by connecting scholarship, policy, and practice to create lasting social impact.
