St. 4166am金沙登录 is a thriving community that is delivering on its big mission to produce exceptional leaders, innovators and justice-minded thinkers who enhance the quality of life for all. 从打破障碍到激励下一代, four Hilltoppers share their stories about how they are helping to make a positive difference in our community and beyond.
留下印记
艾拉·奥乔亚，23岁 is a senior and first-generation Latina student — serving her peers as President of the 学生会 Association at St. 4166am金沙登录. Her representation of the student body has played a significant role in historic opportunities for the hilltop, 包括最近通过的纪念2月9日的决议, 2023年. 爱德华大学日在德克萨斯州议会大厦举行. “My role as president has been catalytic when it comes to my growth as an individual,她说。. “我的经历让我为山顶之外的生活做好了准备, because I have learned about the value of exposing myself to unfamiliar things.”
克服障碍
她是家里第一个上大学的人, Ochoa naturally felt nervous — even guilty — about leaving her mother and sister behind. “It has always just been the three of us, so they’re like my best friends. 我觉得把他们丢下有点自私, 但他们从不让我觉得我做了一个错误的决定,奥乔亚评论道. “They were really proud of me and wanted me to go out and take on my world!”
我的使命
Ochoa is inspired by her younger sister — who is living with a disability — to pursue a professional opportunity advocating for disability rights for children. 在COVID-19大流行期间, 奥乔亚回到了麦卡伦的家, 暂时在网上继续她的学业. 在此期间, she noticed her sister was regressing due to the lack of access to in-person therapy. “她无法进行那么多社交活动. 她真的不明白发生了什么事. So, it was really hard for me to see how my sister was being affected first hand,她说。. “I could see myself doing some type of intersection of entrepreneurship and something that benefits kids with disabilities.”
留下印记
麦地那白兰地，22年 is the Early College High School Director for the High Island Independent School District in Galveston County, 德州. She has made history at the hilltop as the first Black woman to graduate from the new Doctorate of Education of 领导 and Higher Education program at St. 4166am金沙登录.
而麦地那的成就对她和我们学校来说都是一个里程碑, she wants to see more efforts for people of color to pursue similar opportunities in higher education in general. “There needs to be some form of change or encouragement to have more people of color — or minorities of various communities — to be able to break down those barriers. 他们不应该花这么长时间来实现.”
克服障碍
Medina’s path toward earning her doctorate degree did not come without its challenges. She participated in the program while living in a shelter for women seeking safety from an abusive relationship. The mother of four could have given up, but she found her strength to keep on going. “When I tell you there were so many challenging moments — especially like not having anywhere to live — that's scary. 但经历了这一切，几个星期后，我毕业了.”
我的使命
我来自一个父母都是圣. 爱德华大学的毕业生——他们看重大学学位, Medina would love to continue guiding students down the path of higher education. 预计将于2023年5月完成主要认证, which could lead to opportunities as a school principal and a superintendent, 但她的抱负并不止于此! “Eventually, I would love to work for the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. 我认为教育作为一个整体需要进行很多改革.”
留下印记
利兹·约翰逊，20岁 是圣. 4166am金沙登录 — leading our efforts to expand external relationships with unique organizations that benefit the hilltop. She also plays a vital role in developing collaborations with various leaders and public figures. “我的职责包括在圣. 爱德是为了更大的社区——社区团体, 非营利组织，有时甚至是地方、州或联邦官员.”
克服障碍
在加入St之前. 爱德华的, Johnson worked in healthcare taking on roles with Ascension Seton in St. 路易斯，密苏里州和德克萨斯州. These roles provided opportunities for her to work with various public figures, 但是喜悦的感觉很快就消失了. “I worked with a lot of community members and elected officials and really enjoyed it! 然后我有点筋疲力尽，没找到工作就离开了.”
After a six-month break, Johnson was ready to navigate her next career move. She attended a community event in 奥斯丁, where she learned about an employment opportunity at St. 爱德华大学——一个改变她一生的机会. “我是在一所非常类似于圣. Ed's, so I understood the mission and the approach of this education model. 我觉得这份工作非常适合我，也适合这个机构!”
我的使命
随着奥斯汀的不断发展和吸引未来的大学生, Johnson is using her role to create more learning opportunities for Hilltoppers — opportunities that will help prepare students for the workforce. “可以是课堂项目，也可以是实习. I had a course this past fall where I had students do informational interviews with nonprofit advocates — these are the first steps you need to take to be able to get out into the professional world. We’re taking what we learn in the classroom and applying it to communities where we live and work.”
留下印记
Monique Jimenez-Herrera is the first-ever Associate Vice President for 教师 Diversity Equity and Inclusion at St. 4166am金沙登录. Jimenez-Herrera, 来自波多黎各的执业临床心理学家, 领导山顶的努力创造了一个多样化的, 为教职员工提供反种族主义和包容的环境. “到目前为止，我已经接受高等教育20多年了. 我总是选择为边缘群体服务的机构, whether they're Hispanic-serving institutions or have a mission that focuses on social justice in some way,她说。. “所以当我看到这个机构有一个职位空缺时, 这是我产生影响和创造改变的另一种方式.”
我的使命
Jimenez-Herrera is continuing to carry out the university’s efforts to make our campus a welcoming environment not only for faculty and staff, 学生们也一样. “我们的社会身份相互交叉. We have opportunities for students to find spaces that they want to be part of. I want them to know we care and that we are here to support them on their journey — we're going to do it with compassion and empathy.”