Finding a Familiar Face and a Helping Hand at Southwestern

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Finding a Familiar Face and a Helping Hand at Southwestern

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If not for Southwestern University's designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), there's a good chance that Adrianna Moya '27 wouldn't be embarking on her sophomore year at SU right now.

The Houston native first learned of Southwestern through a simple Google search, where she discovered the University's designation as the only top 100 liberal arts college in theU.S. News & World Report rankings to be classified as an HSI. This discovery led to a campus visit that led to a life-changing connection.

When the United States Department of Educationdeclared Southwestern as an HSIon July 1, 2023, the University became eligible for a number of new programs and opportunities, including significant federal funding for initiatives designed to support Hispanic students. One of these initiatives included the hiring of Amalia Merino as Southwestern's first Hispanic Student Success Coordinator.

"My position is very similar to what advisors do, I just consider it to be more comprehensive support that not only focuses on the academics, but considers the external factors that might affect a student's ability to succeed," Merino said. "Because I am Latina myself, I understand that sometimes it's not a matter of whether or not a student is capable of learning, but it's understanding that they may have other things going on in their life outside of the classroom."

Moya's journey at Southwestern began the summer before her first year, when she visited the campus for the first time to attend Sprog orientation. There, she made an instant connection with Merino. The two toured campus, with Merino answering questions and providing Moya with invaluable information about the campus and the resources available to her.

"Right off the bat, I felt very supported," Moya said. "When I first came here, I was kind of caught off guard because I had never seen this [position] as a main focus at other schools. Amalia has been a big foundation in my experience here as a Hispanic student. She has always been a guiding presence. I knew this was a place where I will be supported not just as a student, but as a Hispanic student."

When a first-year student like Moya arrives on campus, Merino works to ensure that they are supported from a variety of angles, including academically, professionally, and personally. She often acts as an expert navigator, connecting students with Southwestern's many available resources.

"My support varies by student and is very much tailored to each student's needs," Merino said. "Normally, with first-year students, the type of support that I offer is heavily based on succeeding academically. I also make sure they're doing well socially and are finding the community or space on campus where they feel like they belong. As they transition into their second, third, and fourth year, my support changes and shifts to follow them along throughout their journey."

Southwestern is home to a variety of communities designed to help Hispanic students succeed, socially and academically. Led by Merino and the Center for Academic Success,LatinXcelis a program designed to create a sense of belonging, foster a supportive community, and promote success among Southwestern students of Hispanic and Latin American descent.

Similarly,Latinos Unidosis a student-led organization whose primary focus is to build community and a sense of belonging for Hispanic students through understanding of Hispanic culture and participation in intercultural exchange.

SU is also home to the Alpha Tau Chapter of the Latina-based sororityKappa Delta Chi, one of the strongest Latina-founded sororities in the country.

"Amalia has invited me to so many different events and has been my connection to so many different things, including Kappa Delta Chi," Moya said. "I went to their recruitment week and it brought out a sense of responsibility in me because I felt like I had a drive to be part of a community. Because it's a smaller sorority, I feel the most connected with the other girls that are here. They provide me with a lot of guidance and are always there for me."

Whether it be through LatinXcel, Latinos Unidos, Kappa Delta Chi, or any of the variety of other cultural-based organizations at Southwestern, Merino believes it is important for students to find an organization and groups where they feel they belong.

"A lot of times, I end up meeting students who are struggling to find a space where they belong, or thinking maybe they don't belong on a campus like Southwestern, or in higher education at all," she said. "But once they meet other students who come from similar backgrounds and have had similar struggles yet are still making it, it's very beneficial and very motivating."

After being named an HSI, Southwestern established a 13-member HSI Task Force, whose mission is to focus on three key areas to ensure that students are benefiting from the University's HSI designation: improved student success and academic outcomes, enhanced belonging, and amplifying economic impact. Moya has seen first-hand the impact that the Task Force has had.

"There's definitely a lot of proof that Southwestern is putting effort in," she said. "There's a lot of universities where we kind of slip through the cracks and are not really a focus. I think it's very unique that Southwestern is focusing on that and that they want to push for us. You just have to reach out a hand and someone will grab your hand and guide you. There's resources everywhere. It's just a matter of finding and taking advantage of them. Being able to see that in practice and performance has been beautiful."

The Task Force is composed of faculty, staff, and students across a multitude of different departments, divisions, and academic areas of study. Merino is quick to point out that it takes the entire campus community to ensure student success.

"I tend to get the spotlight from students because my position is student-facing, but I wish they could see what I see," Merino said. "It takes an entire village, and that's what Southwestern does. I work very closely with so many departments and offices on campus. Through our collaborations, I'm able to support our students. Students tend to think of me when they think of the support that they receive, but in reality, there are so many people involved. I do not work alone. This is very much a team effort."

As the Southwestern community celebrates Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month in the University's second year with the HSI designation, Merino is proud of the work that has been done so far and the community that has flourished as a result.

"The Hispanic community at Southwestern is a very strong and well-represented community," she said. "We do make a very strong effort to represent as many Hispanic and Latin American cultures as possible. We do understand that Latinidad is not homogeneous. There's a lot of heterogeneity in our culture. You'll find that many people on campus are dedicated not just to representing, but owning this diversity."

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