Ana Lucia Gutierrez Gomez ‘23 is a Superhero. The Albertus Magnus College junior welcomes strangers with a warm smile, breaks down stereotypes through achievements, and overcomes adversity for others by wielding access to education and healthcare. The Sonora, Mexico native says Latinx is a superpower.

Gutierrez Gomez doesn’t wear a cape on the 50-acre rolling New Haven, Connecticut campus, but she carries quite a busy schedule. A member of Mexico’s National Swim Team, she’s doing laps at 6 am during the season here. Each stroke has paid off both athletically and culturally. In 2020, Gutierrez Gomez became the first Latina and Albertus student to win a medal locally.

The Healthcare Management major who’s minoring in Public Health continues with her day honing her skills in the classroom – feeding her passion to help the Hispanic population and nourishing her drive to make a positive impact in the healthcare field. She applies those lessons learned to real world settings – like her internship as Community Food and Outreach Coordinator at Fair Haven Community Health Center, where she connected patients with food pantries and served as liaison to the local United Way.

Experiential learning is a reason why Gutierrez Gomez chose Albertus, an almost 100-year-old liberal arts Catholic College in the Dominican Tradition. With approximately 1,400 students, the numbers are small but the impact is mighty – right up a Superhero’s alley.

“The professors know my name,” she says enthusiastically – using her full name. “Americans use just one – it’s important to bring my heritage here.”

One teacher who not only knows her name but also her thirst for change is Assistant Professor Corey Brushett, a Faculty Advisor at Albertus’ Tagliatela School of Business and Leadership.

“Luci is one of the most amazing people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Her passion and determination to help others are not only palpable, but contagious,” Brushett said.  

If our Superhero’s afternoons aren’t filled with classes, they’re chock full of meetings and activities, including the Mi Amigo Club, of which she is the Founder and President.

“The reason why I started this club is because there are a lot of stereotypes about the Hispanic culture. This is my opportunity to change that. I ask, ‘How are you going to change the world?’ This is our motto to motivate students. Amigo means ‘friend’ in Spanish, but what about being friends with everyone, helping each other, and breaking that stereotype?” explained Gutierrez Gomez.

Miriam Chenaif Randall, the Coordinator for International Student Services, is the Advisor for that club. She’s amazed by the difference this one student makes.

“Luci takes action with her passions and values. She saw a need in the local Latinx community, specifically with Latina working women. Her desire to empower Latina women gave birth to the Mi Amigo Club,” states Chenaif Randall. 

“Luci is a natural ambassador. She’s eager to share her experiences, insight, and cultural heritage, providing students at Albertus exposure to the world we live in. She also breathes life into the importance of culture, global interconnection, and diversity. Luci’s example, through her participation with the Latinx Perspective Panel and Latinx Heritage Month events, has inspired many students to take pride in who they are and where their family comes from,” she added.

Being Latinx must truly be a superpower, as Gutierrez Gomez seems to be able to conquer time travel or clone herself. On top of everything, she’s been involved with the Student Government Association, Multicultural Club, Dream Club, and Student Commuter Council. Plus, she’s a Resident Assistant -- responsible for those who live on her floor in the residents’ hall.

That sense of responsibility spills over into her community work. Destino Mi Futuro is a project organized by Sr. Ana Gonzalez, OP (of the Dominican Sisters of Peace who founded the College in 1925), who also serves as the Coordinator of International Admissions at Albertus. She reaches out to Hispanic families at churches and schools to encourage Latinx students to continue their education.

“A few years ago, we started an initiative intended to educate parents regarding the journey to a US education,” Sr. Ana began.  

“As I was designing the program, Luci had started an educational program for Spanish-speaking parents on the use of modern technology to improve their lifestyle.  Thanks to Luci, I was able to speak to the parents she was empowering about the academic future of their children. Luci served as a great representative. While we met with parents, their children were inspired about college. They saw themselves in Luci.”

Let’s pause and reflect:  They saw themselves in Luci. Representation is part of the Latinx Superpower. Gutierrez Gomez firmly believes education and access help achieve equity. This means our Superhero’s schedule gets even busier – there’s more hope to spread.

She volunteers at The Springs Learning Center, a hub for local immigrants who want to improve their language skills and establish a path to citizenship. Gutierrez Gomez organizes papers, writes emails, and makes calls. She’s been honored for her work, but more importantly, she’s honored to work there.

“One amazing experience was when a student came to class and said, ‘Luci, guess what? They asked me for my phone number and I was able to say it!’ I can’t describe how happy I was for her. Maybe for us, it’s easy, but for someone who cannot speak English, it is not,” said this Spanish-speaking woman who only learned English less than three years ago.

What has her Latinx superpower taught her?  Joy.  

“I love getting involved with the community and keeping updated with things that I can do and share with everyone” she says, citing her involvement with LTX Fest – the largest virtual conference for Latinx professionals in technology. 

In the words of William Aniskovich, JD, Dean of the Tagliatela School of Business and Leadership, “Every so often, you meet a student who will leave college and make the world a better place. Luci is that student."

 Remember the mantra: How are you going to change the world? Use that Latinx superpower. 

Author Bio: Sarah is the point person for media inquiries and external promotion of Albertus Magnus College, which she joined in 2018 as Media Communications Specialist. A journalist by trade, Sarah is a four-time News Emmy nominee, a businessperson, and is deeply rooted in the community through her work with the 224EcoSpace and the Greater Hartford Arts Council. Sarah earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in politics and history from Temple University.