Graduate Student Spotlight - Yessenia Maria Torres

Name: Yessenia Maria Torres

Hometown: San Francisco, CA         

Graduate Institution: Colorado State University

Degree you are working towards: M.S. Student Affairs in Higher Education

Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Previous Institutions: Los Medanos Community College

Why you chose your graduate institution: I originally heard of CSU through my mentors at UC Berkeley.  After further research I loved that the SAHE program had such a strong emphasis on social justice and diversity. It was also important that I had a small, diverse cohort to learn various perspectives from- so I applied. Interview day solidified that CSU was where I needed to be.  I fell in love with the faculty, staff, and other students that would later be in my cohort. From the moment I applied, the SAHE program made me feel welcomed and the people made me feel like I’d have a family and a home during my time in graduate school.

Why you wanted to go to graduate school: Upon graduating, I knew I wanted to continue my education but felt I needed more experience.  I worked for one year at a community college in Transfer Services. I loved working in a community college environment; I loved learning from the professionals that were mentoring me and absolutely loved my students. However, to continue growing as a professional I needed to gain more skills and further my knowledge base. I have loved my experience in graduate school thus far, and have not regretted my decision for a second.

What area(s) of Student Affairs interest you most and why: I would love to work in the community college system in Transfer Services or Student Life. I loved building connections with students throughout the year and helping them make their academic dreams a reality. My summer practicum in Student Life made me realize that I love the high energy of working with student leaders. I also love multicultural affairs and the opportunity to create vibrant and inclusive communities.

A memorable moment working with your students at your assistantship: As the current graduate assistant for Diversity and Inclusion in Athletics, my most memorable moment was seeing so many student-athletes take part in an event called Declare Your Major day. It was great to see the student-athletes proud of their decisions for a major and proud of their academic achievements to that point. It makes the months of planning and the hard work worth it when students walk away feeling accomplished and confident.

If you could take a year off from work/school what would you do? If I could take a year off, I would use that time to explore and accomplish the list of adventures I have created for myself. I would love to travel since I’ve never been outside the U.S., primarily to Nicaragua or the Philippines to visit family or to the seven wonders of the world. I would also love to go cage diving with sharks, scuba diving, or explore the rain forest.

My secret passion is? My secret passion is art. I don’t show or talk about it often, but if I had not gone into higher education I would have loved to be a tattoo artist. Art also includes special effects makeup to be a prosthetic makeup artist.