CBI Class of 2013 ● Manhattanville College Class of 2017, NYU Steinhardt School Class of 2020 ● Ph.D. student at NYU Steinhardt, Undergraduate Program Coordinator at NYU
I’ve had the honor to have the most amazing DCC, Jatae Daly. Ms. Daly has been one of my biggest champions and role models. She has influenced my passion for my community and education. My ambition to continue pursuing higher education has been rooted by her. I have found my voice and my passion due to her commitment to serving her students. Being a first-generation, low-income, and Latinx student, I didn’t believe I was able to attend college due to my financial hardships at that time. Ms. Daly made sure to continuously remind me to dream. She continues to be a person of significance in my life who not only celebrates my wins but lifts me up and motivates me when times become challenging. Her impeccable leadership has contributed to my personal, academic, and professional success. I am utterly grateful to her for believing in me and supporting me throughout my journey. I am who I am because of who she is.
Continue to find your voice and be your true authentic self. Trust your work, trust your journey, and share your story.
I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a Creative and Professional Writing Minor from Manhattanville College in 2017 and then I received my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy from NYU Steinhardt in 2020. In May 2022, I will also be certified in Spirituality & Social Work from the NYU Silver School of Social Work. I was inspired by my professors in the Spirituality and Social Work Certification Program. They allowed me to understand that I could marry spirituality and education, something I thought could never be possible, but I always aspired to do. I became interested in the intersection of spirituality and education through my personal experience. I was introduced to spirituality and religion at a very young age and have been an active member of the church for twenty-four years.
I was recently admitted to the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Ph.D. program at NYU Steinhardt and I am crafting my doctoral research. My research interests are rooted in creating equitable educational spaces for college students who live in urban communities. I would like to further develop my understanding of their experiences, and the intersection of educational attainment and spirituality. This personal integration plays an essential role in a student’s transformational leadership and self-development.
My research will offer another lens to examine the college life of low socio-economic students of color. Also, it will allow us to consider how college students evolve and advance because of that spiritual capital lens. My study takes on an asset-based approach to demonstrate the potential and values students of color have and contribute to our community. This also sheds light on different ways that these students can be supported, which extends beyond the basics of funding and tutoring. My research will grant the opportunity to understand how to feed a student’s soul for the purpose of a transformative experience. Understanding their transformational process will demonstrate the exact areas where support is needed and how educational attainment is influenced by spirituality and their transformational college experience.
Spirituality is essential in my life and has definitely influenced my educational journey. It has served as a motivation to pursue my purpose. It has led me to this very moment. I owe all my success in my trajectory to God and all the champions in my life like Jatae. I would tell current CBI students to trust your work even when the imposter syndrome may rise. Remember that you are more than able. Continue to find your voice and be your true authentic self. Trust your work, trust your journey, and share your story. You will, you have, and you already conquered!