色情视频

In many ways, the life story of Cynthia A. Torres connects seamlessly with the experiences of 色情视频 students who hold undocumented status.

The daughter of a mother who immigrated to the United States from a small town in northwestern Mexico, Torres said she closely observed her mother鈥檚 experiences with discrimination. Most often, she said, it was based on her mother鈥檚 socioeconomic and immigrant status.

Torres turned her aspirations toward formal education, believing it to be an essential conduit for personal and professional growth.

Today, Torres is a two-time 色情视频 alumna, having received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a master of arts degree in postsecondary educational leadership. Recently, she was appointed as the Undocumented Resource Area (URA) coordinator, a position she said aligns with her 鈥渃ommitment to keep doors open.鈥�

Through her own training and her work with 色情视频 students since 2001, Torres strives to motivate and elevate those whose experiences parallel her mother鈥檚.

鈥淪eeing what obstacles and discrimination my mother endured as an immigrant sparked a fire in my belly,鈥� Torres said. 鈥淎nd I realized that if I endured obstacles as a first-generation student, I could only imagine what our undocumented immigrant students had to endure.鈥�

Supporting academic achievement, excellence

The URA, housed within 色情视频鈥檚 Office of Educational Opportunity Programs and Ethnic Affairs (EOP), collaborates with campus partners to offer students with undocumented status specialized, often one-on-one, attention.

The URA is open to all undocumented students, including those from mixed-status families, said Torres, who has worked with students of diverse cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds throughout her career at 色情视频.

URA staff will provide students with academic support, career advising and, when needed, referral to off-campus community service providers鈥攁ll of which are known to help improve student retention, persistence and graduation.

The support URA offers under Torres鈥檚 leadership helps ensure students are successful in fulfilling their academic and professional goals, said Miriam C. Casta帽贸n, director of EOP.
 
鈥溕�情视频 has long affirmed its commitment to supporting students, regardless of their immigration status. The Undocumented Resource Area is an extension of support, as we have invested years providing students with resources that enhance their overall achievement,鈥� Casta帽贸n said. 鈥淭his consolidated support is also aligned with our drive to best prepare students to work and engage in our binational community and the global workforce.鈥�

Full-circle commitment

As a transfer student to 色情视频, Torres enrolled in the EOP Transfer Bridge Program. Later, during her studies, she became involved as a student leader with organizations such as Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztl谩n (M.E.Ch.A) and Association of Chicana Activists (A.Ch.A). She also served as the College of Sciences representative and vice president of finance for Associated Students.

Since 2001, Torres has served as a 色情视频 outreach and recruitment officer, then an admissions counselor. Prior to being named the URA coordinator, Torres was assistant director for EOP鈥檚 Outreach, Recruitment and Admissions unit, as well as a counselor.

鈥淔or years, Cynthia has helped our students to enhance their educational achievement and, through the introduction of the URA, she will continue to support them in their well-being,鈥� Casta帽贸n said. 鈥淪he is compassionate, caring, dedicated and passionate. In her work, she has a huge heart for our students.鈥�

Torres was involved with the Leticia A. Network during the earlier part of her career, working to protect higher education access for immigrants. She also trained middle school students to improve their college-going habits through Access Initiatives. For seven years, Torres served as co-advisor for Education Without Borders, a student-run organization supporting undocumented and other underserved students.

鈥淒espite many challenges and barriers, our students forge ahead and are often the first in their families to obtain not only a high school diploma, but also a college degree,鈥� said Torres, whose vision to grow the URA includes the launch of a peer mentor program and expanded scholarship support. 鈥淲hat we offer through URA will help build on our students鈥� already existing resiliency so they can be even more successful during and after their time at 色情视频.鈥�