Prior to  joining the MSFS program, Miguel earned a B.A from the University of Portland, graduating Cum Laude in December 2023, where he studied Political Science, History, and Spanish. During his three and a half years there, his passion for International relations, intercultural exchange, and public service flourished. He served in student government for three years, two as class senator and one as speaker of the senate, where he advocated for students and became an active voice on campus. He also studied abroad in Belfast, Northern Ireland, studying Intercultural conflict and Peacemaking, as well as in Granada, Spain, in a Spanish immersion program. He also had the opportunity to present his thesis titled Collusion, Corruption, and Killings: An Analysis of the Mexican Armed Forces in the Drug Wars 2006-2012 at the national Pi Sigma Alpha Research conference at George Washington University in February 2024.

Outside of the classroom, Miguel became deeply involved in his community. He interned with the Los Angeles City Council, was an enumerator for the 2020 Census, and completed two congressional internships with Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and California's senior senator, Alex Padilla.