Participating in the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Graduate Fellows Program in spring 2018 was a meaningful experience as I completed my doctoral program through the University of Maryland College Park. I first heard about the AAHHE Graduate Fellows Program from my advisor and AAHHE alumna, Dr. Michelle Espino, in my first year of doctoral study. While attending an Association for the Study of Higher Education conference, I had the opportunity to begin connecting with AAHHE graduates and faculty fellow alumni. Although I heard the fellows program is competitive, my advisor and AAHHE alumni colegas encouraged me to apply and re-apply because of the program’s great comunidad and benefits.

I am thankful for this advice and am a proud AAHHE 2018 graduate fellow alumna. This was my first time at an AAHHE national conference, and I am so thankful to have attended at this point in my journey. AAHHE provided a space where I could feel at home and connect with amazing doctoral students who have a shared passion and commitment to transforming educational policies and practices, and supporting the next generation of Latinas/os. Growing up in El Monte, California, I was surrounded by many student peers with whom I could relate culturally, which was not my experience as a graduate student. During my first year at the University of Maryland, I was the sole Latina doctoral student. As I entered my dissertation phase, I relocated to Indiana where I am one of a few Latina staff members across campus. At the time I attended AAHHE, I truly benefited from the support AAHHE provides and the connection with peers who could relate to my experiences and interests. The fellows program also provided me with a venue to share my dissertation research, which was extremely valuable as my final defense took place a few weeks later.

The fellows experience also strengthened my networking and career readiness skills by connecting with and receiving advice from Latina/o/x faculty and higher education leaders. I especially enjoyed being matched with Dr. Elvira Abrica as my graduate fellow mentor. We instantly connected as McNair Scholars Program alumni and Californians living in the Midwest who have a shared commitment to equity in higher education. I look forward to my continued connection with her, as well as the 2018 AAHHE graduate and faculty fellow alumni and other AAHHE alumni I have met over the years.

As a recent Ph.D. graduate in student affairs and a current mid-level administrator, I remain inspired by my AAHHE experience. I aspire to pursue a senior-level role in higher education within student affairs while serving as an adjunct faculty member in a higher education student affairs graduate preparation program. While I may not currently have all the knowledge and skills I need to attain my long-term goals, I feel comforted knowing that I have the AAHHE familia to reach out to for guidance and insight as I continue in my career. I also look forward to giving back to the AAHHE graduate fellows community and encouraging others to apply for this opportunity. •