Meet the fall 2023 Panther grads
Meet the fall 2023 Panther grads
It’s almost time for the class of fall 2023 to walk across the stage at Commencement and get their diplomas. We’re so proud of all the amazing things our graduates have already accomplished and are excited to see what the future holds for them. In honor of these successes, we’re shining the spotlight on a few of our graduating students.
Georgia Arevalo
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Major: Management with an emphasis in Business Administration
Post-graduation plans
I will be working with Emerson in Marshalltown at a project management co-op for eight months while I continue to further my education at UNI as a grad student who will be working on getting my Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies with research focusing on entrepreneurship and diversity. Continuing my education is important to me, and I felt this program fits perfectly with my career aspirations of becoming a business professor, as my professors and advisors are shaping my studies and research to make me stand out when it’s time to apply to a PhD program. Also, I will be helping in my family’s restaurant that will be opening soon in Cedar Falls called Don Gomez Mexican Grilled Chicken.
How did UNI prepare you for the future?
UNI prepared me for my post-graduation plans in several ways. First and foremost, the university provided a conducive environment for me to explore and refine my interests. The availability of specialized resources, such as the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurship Center, played a crucial role in shaping my career path toward entrepreneurship. Additionally, the support and guidance from dedicated academic advisors, particularly Elizabeth Soliz and Heather Asmus, were instrumental in helping me navigate through major changes and challenges.
How will your major be helpful in your career?
Being a business major, the experiences gained in forming and leading the Multicultural Business Leaders Association equipped me with valuable leadership and organizational skills. The coursework and practical exposure in interviewing at UNI helped me in landing a role at Emerson. The emphasis on diversity and inclusion in my major also aligns with my passion for supporting minority business owners, a focus that I plan to carry into my Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Carlos Frazier
Hometown: Waterloo, Iowa
Major: Master of Arts in Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs
Post-graduation plans
I am planning to continue to work at UNI in the Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice department. I enjoy the work that I am doing to help the students navigate and stay enrolled in this university.
What advice would you give to other adult learners who are considering going back to school?
I would advise adult learners to ask questions to the professors and classmates. The best resources are the people doing the same thing as you. I would also encourage the adult learners to organize their folders from the start of the program because it will make creating the portfolio an easy task.
What else would you like readers to know?
I really enjoyed the challenges that the student affairs program offered me. The courses made me take an internal look at myself. There were courses that I took that challenged my personal philosophies and allowed me to view the world from a different perspective.
David Hughes
Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa
Major: Accounting, Finance and Real Estate
Post-graduation plans
I accepted a return offer to Ernst & Young as an Audit Staff 1 in Chicago.
What did you enjoy most about attending UNI?
UNI’s medium size allowed me to experience the benefits of both smaller and larger universities. For example, by far my most enjoyable aspect of college has been the friendships and connections I have made, both with peers and professors. At a smaller school, I don’t believe I would have had access to as diverse a group of people and the opportunities that come with attending a public university, while at a larger school I know I wouldn’t have had as much personal connection with my professors. I enjoy being able to look around campus or be at social events and see familiar faces while still having a chance to interact with new people even after being here four years.
How did UNI prepare you for life after graduation?
I am sitting for the CPA exams in the spring, and UNI is nationally recognized for its success in developing accountants. My role at Ernst & Young is specifically to audit real estate companies, so my majors were a perfect fit. My most helpful major experience was being a member of the commercial real estate development competition team this past spring, as that put together everything I had learned throughout my real estate classes.
Bri Vance
Hometown: Waterloo, Iowa
Major: Elementary Education
Minor: Literacy K-8th
Post-graduation plans
I don’t have any specific plans yet. But I would like to teach around the Des Moines area, within a few years, get my masters, and become a reading specialist at a school.
What advice would you give to prospective college students?
When deciding what school you want to go to, do what’s best for you. Don’t just look at the programs, how the campus looks or what events/student organizations are on campus. Look at what feels like home to you. I know that I was able to feel that at UNI. I appreciated the fact that UNI does have smaller class sizes and has one of the best teaching programs in the state of Iowa, but when I stepped on the campus there was a sense of home that I was able to get. One that I didn’t get at other colleges. This will be a place that you will be at for the next two to four years of your life so make sure that it feels right.
How did UNI prepare you for the future?
Within the classes that you take, you are able to not only learn the theories, practices, principles of the things that you will be teaching, but you get the experience that goes along with it. You are actually in classrooms at schools and are able to teach elementary students. I have learned how to build real relationships with students through the hands-on experiences that I have gotten at UNI.
Norm Wilson
Hometown: Delhi, Iowa
Major: History Teaching and All Social Science Endorsement
Post-graduation plans
I will be teaching high school U.S. history in North Carolina through Teach for America.
What advice would you give to prospective college students?
Your experience in anything is based on your mindset around it. Make college a priority, and you will do great. Show up every day with a smile on your face, and others will soon be smiling back. I would highly recommend getting into the history/education department, as the faculty is very supportive and wishes nothing but the best for all students.
How did UNI prepare you for your career in education?
The education program here at UNI prepared me to be the best educator that I possibly can. I feel that I am prepared to be able to take over my own classroom and be a positive leader for all of my students.
Aubrianna Woody
Hometown: Creston, Iowa
Major: Political Science
Minor: Legal Studies
Post-graduation plans
I am currently applying to Masters of Public Administration programs! I am very passionate about education policy and hope to be able to concentrate on that in my program. I won’t know which school I will be attending until a couple of months after graduation, but I plan to attend a school on either coast of the United States.
How did you become interested in your major?
I have always been interested in politics and how it shapes every aspect of our lives. Learning about politics and laws throughout my time in high school made me become very interested in choosing political science as my major. I got really lucky to know what my passions were right off the bat, making it easy for me to keep the same major throughout my time here.
What professors have been most influential through your time at UNI?
I have had many influential professors while here at UNI. The first professor that I owe so much to would be Dr. Scott Peters. Taking his Law, Politics, and Society class in my sophomore year really helped me learn more about my passions and was a pivotal point in my undergraduate career. Both Dr. Jayme and Dr. Evan Renfro have been big parts of my time here as well - I even think that I took all of Dr. Evan Renfro’s courses! Although I did not take nearly as many classes with these professors, Dr. Alexandra Kogl and Dr. Brian Warby taught me so much and have been so very influential to me. I owe it to all these professors, as not only were they my professors, they have helped me so much outside of the classroom as well! Whether it would be from ranting about things in my personal life, advising me on literally anything and everything, or helping me with graduate school - I really cannot thank them enough. I will miss everyone.
