For Latino Students: How to Start Your College List

It’s never too early to explore colleges, but it can be overwhelming to start your college list. As a Latino student, your unique experiences, aspirations, heritage, and community can influence your next step. No worries. We’re here to help. As you start thinking about what school you’ll call home, you may have some questions like …

• Is a 4-year college the only path?  
• How do I find a school that embraces diversity and my identity as a Latino?  
• What should I look for in a college?  

We’ve got your back. Secure your spot today and get your questions answered.  

Meet Our Guest Speakers

Maricela L. Martinez (she/her)
Vice President of Enrollment
Occidental College

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Maricela originally joined Oxy Admission in 2001, having begun her career in admissions while completing her undergraduate degree in Art History and Latin American Studies at Wellesley College. Maricela has also worked for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Institutional Research department and holds a master's degree from Harvard University. Prior to her return to Oxy, she served as an associate director of admission at Scripps College. Maricela is responsible for Occidental's enrollment, including overseeing admission and financial aid. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the independent coffee shops in the surrounding neighborhoods and going on hikes with her family.
 

Daniel Villanueva, Jr., Ph.D.
Vice President, Enrollment Management
University of Houston-Downtown

Daniel Villanueva currently serves as the Vice-President of Enrollment Management at the University of Houston-Downtown. In his current role, he oversees Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar’s Office, Transfer and Community College Relations, Campus Solutions Services, Transition Services, and Enrollment Marketing & Communications. Daniel attended Blinn College before transferring to Texas Tech University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He received his master’s degree in liberal arts, with an emphasis in Counseling & Psychology, from Texas Christian University. Daniel completed his Ph.D. in educational administration at Texas A&M University and studied higher education leadership, qualitative research methods, and academic capitalism under Dr. Yvonna S. Lincoln. He also teaches Mexican American Humanities as an adjunct professor at Lone Star College.
 

Alejandra Campos
Deputy Director of Admissions & Director of Multicultural Recruitment
University of Chicago

Alejandra Campos is an Deputy Director of Admissions and the Director of Multicultural Recruitment at the University of Chicago, where she covers domestic and international regions. Before joining UChicago, she was an Enrollment Advisor with Pearson, where she recruited for Villanova University. Alejandra was a first-generation college student who attended Augustana College for undergrad and earned a Master of Arts in Public Policy at the University of Chicago – Harris School of Public Policy.