Latinx Staff SPOTLIGHT Transfer Admission Counselor: Ahtziri Alviso

Latinx Staff SPOTLIGHT Transfer Admission Counselor: Ahtziri Alviso

Interview Conducted by Sara Luz Torres

Ahtziri Alviso graduated from DePaul University in the spring of 2022 with a Bachelor's degree in International Studies/Global Affairs and Spanish As a first-generation Latina college student from an immigrant family, she developed a strong passion for the advocacy of human rights and diversity inclusion We discussed her transition from student to staff member, Latinidad in higher education, and DePaul’s role in serving Latinx students as a Transfer Admission Counselor

Tell us about your time at DePaul.

Absolutely! At DePaul, I graduated with a double major in International Studies and Spanish. It was really important for me to do that. Throughout my academic career, I did a lot of human rights work and things like that. International Studies was just pretty much the best fit. It encompassed everything that I wanted to focus on. I could concentrate on something I was interested in, which was human rights violations in Latin America, and Spanish just went hand in hand with that. It was a great experience. Getting that major prepared me for everything that I did onward. I was able to do an internship during my time in college that focused on human rights violations, immigration, and related issues. I worked for a foundation and was a research and grant analysis intern. So yeah, that was a great experience.

How did that internship and other opportunities at DePaul impact your overall experience?

I was able to do an internship through the International Studies department. I remember receiving some sort of communication about it, and it looked super interesting, so I decided to apply, and luckily, I could do it. I was working for the Center for Latino Research and the Latin American and Latino Studies Department as a student assistant, and everything I did went along well with what I wanted to study.

More than anything, being a first-gen Latina in school, it was important for me to find community and spaces that supported me. I found people who were in the same situation as me and just provided support for each other. That was awesome. I found community and opportunities through the Latin American and Latino Studies department. I was also a peer leader for the Social Transformation Research Collaborative, which is really awesome because I was able to work with a lot of first-gen students of color coming into college, like me, and be an example and just provide resources, tools, and

just give them my experience of what college was. I was also an RA at the University Center. There, it wasn't just DePaul students, but it was also other Chicago colleges as well. It was Roosevelt University, the School of the Art Institute, Columbia. Again, it was nice just to be a resource and help other students in the same situation as I was when I was a freshman and all throughout college. Not just DePaul students but also other students in the Chicago school community. More than anything, all of the parts that I contributed, whether it was job-related, clubs, activities, or internships, I kept at the forefront to give back to where I come from as well. I think that for us, as Latinos and first-gen students, sometimes we don't have all of the other resources that some students might have from their established families in this country. It was really important for me to provide community and help students in the same situation as me.

Ahtziri Alviso

What is your current position at DePaul? How does it feel to be back as a staff member?

I'm back at DePaul! I am a Transfer Admissions Counselor. A lot of my job is working with students in Illinois Community Colleges looking to transfer to a four-year university like DePaul. It's so important to me, having been a DePaul student, being an alum, and being from the background that I am, that many of the students I work with are first-gen students of color, and many of them are Latinos. I really enjoy my job because a lot of students will come in, and you'll visibly see that they’re a little bit nervous, that they're apprehensive, they're like, “I don't know if I can get into DePaul.” After I tell them the admission process, what I can do for them, and

how I can help them and guide them through the process, you can just visibly see their relief. They told me it's really helpful to have someone like me in the admission process, especially since I graduated a year ago, so I'm very familiar with still being a student and having that fresh in my mind. Also, providing them with resources such as the Office of Multicultural Services, the Latinx Culture Center, the Latin American and Latino Studies department, and the Center for Latino Research and just letting them know that they will have opportunities and community here at DePaul, reiterating that they're not alone and we're here to support them, is something I really do enjoy about my job.

They’ll [students] find academics and financial aid, same as other schools, but what determines their decision is if they'll belong, feel cared for, and valued here.

What is the most important advice you would give to incoming students of color?

Remember that you are here for a reason and have worked hard for everything you have. You belong, and you deserve to be where you are. I personally, and a lot of my other friends, as well as colleagues, have struggled with imposter syndrome. I think that's something that a lot of us struggle with. You'll see many people who are not

like you, and you'll be in predominantly white spaces, and you'll think, “I don't fit in. What am I doing here?” It's easier said than done, but just remember that you belong there and should take up space because you're earning it, you're there, you're working. You deserve to be where you are, and everything will be okay. What made my experience at college such a great one was that I was able to find community and surround myself with like-minded people who wanted to see me succeed and supported me, and we supported each other.

DePaul is also good about providing resources, especially for networking. I've had students tell me, “Will I find community here? Will I belong?”

I think that's such a huge part of students who decide to come to DePaul. They’ll find academics and financial aid, same as other schools, but what determines their decision is if they'll belong, feel cared for, and valued here.

How does your background influence your educational journey, personal growth, and professional growth?

It's a huge part of my identity. It's everything to me. I come from a Mexican immigrant family. I'm the first in my family to attend college, and Spanish is my first language. It's so important to remember where I come from and see how far I've come. Everything that I go for, I keep my community at heart, and I keep that in my mind and see how I can give back. Now, as a transfer admissions counselor, when I see many first-gen students of color going through the same process all by themselves, I just remember that I had great advisors throughout my time in college. They were great resources, so I want to provide the same resources and tools for our students to

succeed and grow professionally and personally as much as possible. More than anything, it just feels like it's my turn to give back.

What was the transition from student to staff?

Going through that imposter syndrome, when I first started, I thought, “Oh my gosh, what am I gonna provide to students?” but everyone in my department was super welcoming and awesome. Having come from the CLR and LALS, a big thing was that I always felt cared for, valued, and respected. Even though I was just a student worker, it didn't feel like I was just a student worker. I was a colleague, and it was great because I was always taken in mind, and my opinion mattered, so when I transferred to the Transfer Admissions Office, it felt very natural. Everyone was super welcoming and kind, and it was really great. Having been an alumni, I have that student perspective. Now, as a staff member and having recently graduated, I can give that perspective to students and let them know what opportunities they have.

What are you currently working on?

My project right now is working on a presentation for Latino students for Latinx Heritage Month. I hope to do Spanish presentations around community colleges in Illinois and have families more involved in their student's admission process. Some territories and schools I work for have a high Latino population. I'm very excited to do that and incorporate accessible resources in Spanish. I also started pursuing my master's in Public Policy this fall, so I’m very excited about that as well!