Students

Andrea is a first generation Mexican American student in her freshman year. She was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her family is from Chihuahua, Mexico and Spanish is her first language. She graduated from Albuquerque High School with her state and APS Bilingual Seal. She is currently a Licensed Practical Nurse working in Pediatric Home Healthcare. She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and the club flag football team. Andrea is the daughter of Victorio & Nancy and a sister to Stephanie and Ivana. After graduating from college, Andrea hopes to work in the Emergency Department and become a Travel Nurse and a Flight Nurse. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside, going on walks and hikes, as well as playing any sport. She enjoys trying new food & matcha places with her friends. Through the Transformar Mentorship program, she hopes to grow in her appreciation for her culture.

Angelica was born in Northridge, California and raised in her parent’s hometown in Jalisco, Mexico. In her senior year of high school, she moved to Estancia, New Mexico supported by her parents to pursue a higher education. Her transition from another country into college was an experience that taught her the value of her family, culture, education, and a community that brings her a sense of belonging and supports her. Angelica hopes to pursue a master’s degree in Accounting to eventually serve as a bilingual Certified Public Accountant. She loves traveling to Mexico to visit her mom, staying active by working out and going for walks, and trying new coffee places around Albuquerque. Angelica is excited and grateful to participate in Transformar. She looks forward to being surrounded by young minds with different perspectives and backgrounds, as well as having the opportunity to appreciate the beauty and diversity of different regions of Mexico besides Jalisco.

Anna was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She comes from deep family roots in New Mexico, Zacatecas and Durango, Mexico. As a family-oriented person, she enjoys quality family time especially on Sunday afternoons and annual summer trips to Mexico. She practices her Catholic faith by being a faith formation teacher, singing in the church choir, and as a matachín dancer. During her free time, she enjoys reading romance novels, listening to varieties of music, hanging out with friends, loves long walks through the bosque, and visiting the beach. Anna finds children fascinating to learn from and hopes to deepen her knowledge of psychology by helping children with autism as a behavior specialist. Her fondness and love of Mexican culture comes from enjoying dances and concerts. She’s always eager to try new foods, ready to lend a helping hand, and is very excited to continue her UNM journey through Transformar, as she has life-long friendships, and engages in Mexican culture.

Christopher was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Christopher’s parents come from El Salvador and Guatemala, and his step father is from Mexico, so he grew up being exposed to all three cultures and has really enjoyed each one. He also enjoys learning about other Latin American cultures. He plans to pursue a career in Law Enforcement; he wants to start as a patrol officer and work his way up to be a detective in a violent crimes/homicide unit. Christopher likes to spend most of his time working and has worked with the City of Santa Fe Police Department prior to starting his academic career at UNM. Christopher really likes to help others in various areas which is why he hopes to dedicate his life to being a public servant. In his spare time, Christopher really enjoys re-watching all of the Transformers movies and really likes spending time with his cats, both are things that Christopher has loved since he was a child. He also spends a lot of time listening to music, he really enjoys gothic rock, love-metal, and alternative. A few other of his interests is making pottery and playing badminton, both of which he's done for a couple of years now.

David is a first-generation student born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. David’s parents originate from the states of Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico. They immigrated to the US in the late 1980’s for better opportunities and a prosperous future. Upon graduating from high school, David attended Northern Arizona University. After his freshman year, he decided to enlist in the military, which exposed him to the vast diversity of backgrounds and ethnicities all around the country and the world. After his 5 years of service, he decided to return to college, aspiring to eventually become a high school math teacher. His teachers throughout his early and secondary education made a huge impact on his life, allowing him to consider the thought of pursuing higher education. David wants to make that same difference for his future students, creating a classroom that is a safe space and full of possibilities. Transformar will allow David to become culturally aware of not only his identity, but of the intersectional identities his future students will have, fulfilling his dream to create that comfort zone for his students.

Diego is a first generation freshman. He comes from a Latino household, both of his parents are from Mexico and have taught him the importance of family, culture, and hard work. Growing up, they were surrounded by Mexican traditions, food, music, and stories that helped shape who they are today. Being a part of a bilingual family has allowed them to speak both English and Spanish, which has helped him communicate with different people throughout his life and helped him stay connected to their family and culture. As a student, Diego is focused on getting an education and building a successful future through radiologic sciences. They hope to use their experiences and education to create more opportunities for themselves, family, and their community. They are proud of their Mexican roots and believe their background has helped them become the hardworking, determined and responsible person he is today.

Originally from Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Giovanna came to the United States at 16 to attend the New Mexico Military Institute. Moving to a new country at a young age was not always easy, but it taught her to be independent, work hard, and make the most of every opportunity. At NMMI, she graduated with Highest Honors and served as Regimental Executive Officer, helping lead a regiment of around 900 cadets. Her experience there taught her that leadership is about serving others, leading by example, and being someone others can count on. As a first-generation college student, Giovanna has worked hard to pursue her education and her goal of becoming a nurse. She is interested in caring for others and hopes to make a difference through her future career. Through Transformar, she hopes to meet new people, learn from their experiences, and continue growing as a leader.

Guadalupe is a first generation college student. She was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and her family are from Namiquipa, Chihuahua. She has always connected her culture as a Mexican-American with her education. She wants to work in the construction industry, all her life she has seen many of the men in her family work in the industry and she wants to be able to improve the work force for everyone in the field. Guadalupe is dedicated to her studies and is hardworking, constantly working towards her goals for herself and her family. Outside of her academics, she enjoys reading and writing as well as spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys going out to different events or exploring new places with her friends, exposing herself to different cultures.

Jacqueline is a freshman and first-generation college student born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her family is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, and as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, she hopes to make her family proud and build a successful future. Growing up in a Mexican household has helped her value her culture and traditions and connect with people of similar backgrounds. Her interest in nursing began at a young age and grew stronger after completing a practical nursing program during high school. Her goal is to earn her BSN and become a registered nurse. As a bilingual person, she hopes to use her language skills to help patients feel understood while treating them with the same care and respect she would want her own family to receive. Outside of nursing and academics, Jacqueline enjoys drawing, traveling, going on walks, and swimming while spending time with her family and friends. She is excited to continue her nursing education, interact with people of similar backgrounds, and create meaningful experiences throughout this program.

Japhet is a first-generation American with parents immigrating from El Salvador. With his parents immigrating to California, Japhet was originally born in Anaheim, CA; however later moved to Albuquerque as a young child. Throughout his life, his greatest passions consisted of food, music, and soccer. These passions later became major parts of his life. His favorite pastime is watching sports like American football, but mostly European football, becoming a passionate fan of teams like Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool. He hopes to see these teams live one day and visit England to watch the Premier League. He also has a massive passion for music, becoming a local DJ playing for different venues across town, and even played at revel which is the biggest venue for DJ performances. This passion is all fueled by the love for his culture and hopes that a program like this will give him new opportunities to learn about Latino culture outside El Salvador and connect with his roots even further.

Jocelyn is a first-generation born and raised in California. From a young age, she has always had a passion for creativity and while having fun discovering new ideas. Her father encouraged her to pursue what she loved, inspiring her to discover her interests and work towards her goals. Jocelyn is a kind person who loves helping others and making people feel seen and heard. Inspired by her mother’s kindness, she believes small acts of compassion can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. She has volunteered as assistant English teacher in Puebla, Mexico, assisting her classmates in reading and the development of literacy skills. As she begins this new chapter at UNM, Jocelyn hopes to build genuine connections, meet new people, and to continue growing as a leader while contributing positivity to her campus and community.

Jorge was born and raised in Hobbs, New Mexico, and comes from a close-knit family of 10 siblings. Growing up in such a large household taught him the importance of supporting others, staying connected to family, and working hard for the opportunities he has. His parents immigrated from Guanajuato, Mexico, and their experiences, sacrifices, and dedication to their family have deeply shaped Jorge’s values and aspirations. As a first-generation college student, Jorge is proud to continue his education at the University of New Mexico, where he is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Biology. His academic interests have led him toward a future in healthcare, with the goal of becoming an anesthesiologist. Jorge hopes to build a career that allows him to serve others while representing the community and values that shape him. Outside of school, Jorge enjoys spending time with his family, embracing his Mexican heritage, and learning more about his culture.

Kassandra is a first generation nursing student born and raised in Albuquerque, NM and her family is from Durango, Mexico. She has achieved so much at such a young age, from getting her certification of nursing assistant, getting accepted into nursing school as a freshman in college, and being the first female in her family to pursue higher education and break generational curses. Her mother is her biggest inspiration and has always believed in her, pushing her to follow her dreams reminding her nothing is impossible. Now chasing one of her biggest dreams is to become a nurse, taking care of the sick and traveling the world getting exposed to new cultures, knowledge, and skills. Her goal when becoming a nurse is to serve her hispanic/unrepresented communities by advocating for better health opportunities and help with language barriers. Besides her studies Kassandra is an entrepreneur and runs a self-owned flower business she started at only the age of fifteen, she loves working with flowers and putting a smile on her clients faces, and she hopes to open a flower shop one day. Kassandra is also looking forward to being a part of this year's Transformar cohort and hopes to build new connections and find her sense of cultural identity.

Louis is a first-generation student, currently in his sophomore year, born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Louis grew up surrounded by Hispanic traditions, and feels he thoroughly embodies the culture. In his free time, he enjoys staying physically active by going to the gym and going on hikes, and challenging himself mentally by learning instruments and reading. In the future, Louis aspires to excel in the world of construction, with the exact discipline undecided. He takes after his father and believes his passion for the field of construction is derived from long days of working closely with his father. In the near future, Louis plans to embark on many traveling expeditions to all corners of the world before he settles into his career, as well as become more involved around campus with amazing communities such as El Centro. While participating in Transformar, he hopes to gain cultural insights as well as a deeper sense of self. Nevertheless, he is excited for all the upcoming changes to his life.

Marco is a first-generation student and currently a sophomore at the James and Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was raised in the west side of Albuquerque but his roots come from Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua. In high school, during his sophomore year, Marco interned at El Centro de la Raza as part of his high school’s service-learning program. As a result, Marco made many connections which ultimately positively impacted the rest of his high school years and his first year of college. Marco is an active participant at El Centro, consistently participating and volunteering whenever he is available. Marco’s goal is to graduate with a BBA with a concentration in either Finance or Marketing, and go to graduate school to get his MBA. During his free time, Marco enjoys hanging out with friends, listening to music, playing video games, and occasionally going up the Sandia Mountains to overlook the city.

Melany is a first generation student who is from Fort Worth, Texas her family originates from Aguascalientes, Mexico. Being the first person to go to college in her family is really surreal because growing up she never thought that it could come true. Melany plans to move to Europe for at least two years after graduating college and work for an architecture firm and learn from other cultures and designs after that she plans to move back to the United States and pursue a career as a Disaster relief Architect. She likes to try new Hobbies just to be able to say that she has done it. Some new hobbies she has tried that she really enjoyed were hiking,skiing,and painting. She hopes she gets to grow that list. She likes to listen to Spanish music and Country music. Melany adopted a cat and named her Miel. She has always loved cats, her biggest aspiration is to travel the world and get to know and learn cultures. Melany’s favorite hobby is taking pictures. She loves to capture beautiful moments and feels like photography is a big part of her.

She is a first-generation Mexican immigrant who was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, and moved to the United States two years ago. Since moving, one of the most important parts of her journey has been learning English as her second language and adapting to a new culture. Her experiences have made her interested in Intercultural Communication because she enjoys learning about different cultures and the different experiences people have. She values community, kindness, and staying connected to her Mexican culture, especially the importance of family. In her free time, she really loves dancing, drawing, spending time with her family and friends, and meeting new people. She is a very expressive and curious person who enjoys learning new things and understanding different perspectives. Through her experiences, she hopes to continue learning from the people and cultures around her while also helping others feel understood and included. Fun fact, she absolutely loves tamales.

Orlando is a first-generation college student and Presidential Scholar from Ruidoso, New Mexico, whose family is originally from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. He attributes his success and his drive to push forward to the sacrifices made by his parents. Faith plays a deep part in Orlando’s life, as his Christian roots keep him grounded and remind him to treat others with love. Inspired by the engineers at his local electric cooperative, Orlando hopes to one day work in the power systems field, helping design and implement new power grid technology so local communities have access to clean, reliable power. After earning his bachelor’s, he plans to pursue a master’s degree and gain research experience at a national laboratory such as Sandia or Los Alamos. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys exploring nature, listening to music, going to the gym, and spending time with his friends and family. Wherever his career leads him, he hopes that his work makes a real difference for the people and places that shaped him.

Rebeca is a first year student, following a pre-med career path in the honors college while working at Casa de Salud as a bilingual health apprentice. Her goal is to get into medical school to study pediatrics and become an MD. Rebeca’s past experiences of being involved in her community inspired her to reach out and be a part of one of UNM’s El Centro de La Raza progras.In this program, Rebeca is looking forward to connecting more with her culture and meeting new people at the Transformar program. Rebeca likes spending time with family and friends and gives all the credit of where she is today and all her accomplishments to her family and their endless support in all of her decisions. “Without love, I am nothing at all” by Lauryn Hill. The undying support of Rebeca’s parents has made a huge impact on her and wants to reciprocate that love by helping others and helping non-english speakers. Apart from spending most of her time with her loved ones, Rebeca also likes to dance,listen to music, make bracelets, and make all different types of food. Rebeca’s ultimate goal is to help others as much as possible and spread a positive message to everybody!

Sam is a first-gen scholar pursuing a BBA at the James & Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership. At 19, he is a licensed barber from Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a strong interest in technology and cybersecurity. His journey has taught him the value of hard work, communication, and connecting with people from different backgrounds. Through barbering, he has developed an appreciation for helping others feel confident and comfortable while building rapport within his community. He is also passionate about learning, exploring new opportunities, and developing skills that can open doors for his future. Outside of school and work, he enjoys staying active, learning about technology, and spending time with friends. He hopes to use his academic experience to grow both personally and professionally while contributing positively to the communities around him.