In the fall of 2021, unsure of what awaited him and filled with curiosity, Roy Carrillo Zamora took a leap of faith and moved more than 3,500 miles away from his home country, Costa Rica, to begin his journey at the University of Miami. Four years later, Roy will cross the graduation stage with a double major in Business Analytics and Legal Studies, having made history as the first international student to become President of the University of Miami Student Government.
“My high school counselor in Costa Rica didn’t speak English,” Carrillo said as he reflected on his journey to the University of Miami. “I applied at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t know if I'd get in anywhere, but UM gave me a chance.”
As he prepares to head to Harvard Law School to continue his studies, he leaves a legacy of leadership, academic excellence, and campus impact. The leap of faith paid off.
Diving into Campus
Growing up, Carrillo was a competitive swimmer and won a national championship in Costa Rica, so when he arrived on campus, he did what he knew best: dove in.
He joined the swimming club and then started his journey with Student Government’s First-Year Leadership Council, a branch of Student Government that helps students gain hands-on experience in executing projects and initiatives to enhance student life on campus.
As a sophomore, he was a Housing and Residential Life First-Year Fellow and provided peer advising to first-year students, and joined Alpha Kappa Psi, an educational and professional co-ed fraternity. Carrillo also joined the Student Government Academic Liaison Council (ALC) and started to get a glimpse of what was possible for him as a Cane. It was through his involvement in ALC that he began to explore the idea of expanding the prestigious Foote Fellows Honors Program in partnership with the university’s Office of the Provost and Faculty Senate.
His junior year, he rose to the position of Student Government Director of Academic Affairs, and set his eyes on becoming Student Government President. The spring of his junior year, he was elected Student Government President, becoming the first international student ever to hold that office.
As president, Carrillo saw his idea of expanding the Foote Fellow Honors Program come to fruition. With help from other leaders on campus and more than two years of dedicated work, the Foote Fellows Program moved from an invitation-only program to becoming an option for Canes who meet eligibility within their first three semesters.
“Academic freedom is important to me, and I wanted more students to have access to that experience,” said Carrillo.
Carillo also served as the university’s Student Trustee, representing all 19,000 students, graduate and undergraduate.
Looking Ahead
Outside of his academic and leadership roles, Carillo completed internships with an international arbitration firm in Costa Rica and a U.S.-based firm focused on healthcare and anti-terrorism law.
His ultimate dream? A career in international law, blending his global background with his academic passions.
As he prepares to begin his journey at Harvard Law School, Carillo spoke candidly about the early culture shock and challenges that shaped him at the University of Miami.
“I battled with feeling like an impostor,” he said. “But I realized I had a duty to dream as big as I wanted to, and that changed everything.”
His younger brother, Javier Carrillo Zamora, now a sophomore at the University of Miami, followed in his footsteps.
Whether he’s swimming for the university’s club team, strumming his guitar between study sessions, or reflecting on his journey from Costa Rica, Carillo remains grounded in gratitude and ambition.
“UM changed my life,” he says. “I met people doing things I dreamt of, so it made me believe it was possible for me.”
With Harvard Law on the horizon and a future in international law ahead, Carillo is ready to take the next leap just like he did four years ago.
