Maria Jose Cook moved to the U.S. at 14, undocumented and uncertain about her future. Today, Maria is the Associate Director at ISPOR and travels the world connecting leaders in healthcare. In this episode, Maria shares how self-advocacy, grit, and staying true to her values helped her build a fulfilling life and career. A must-listen for anyone navigating uncertainty or carving out their unique path. Let's jump in. #podcast #healthcare #journey #nonprofit #latina #latinaleadership #story...
Jun 16, 2025•42 min•Season 8Ep. 185
This week on The Way to College Podcast , I’m joined by Sam Garcia —a Mission, Texas native who went from taking dual credit courses at South Texas College to earning a degree from Harvard Law and becoming a partner at the venture capital firm Amplo . In this episode, Sam shares: How early planning (and a few strategic A’s) helped him get into Harvard Law Why dual credit courses in high school can shape your future more than you think What it means to take smart risks—even when you don’t have it...
Jun 09, 2025•56 min•Season 8Ep. 189
From immigrant kid in Miami to Executive Director of a national organization, Dr. Celia Chomon Zamora’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-belief. In this episode, we talk about the power of language, walking away from West Point, navigating rejection, and finding your true calling—even when it doesn’t come with a roadmap. Celia opens up about leading with purpose, advocating for heritage speakers, and why failure is often the best teacher. 🎓 Whether you're a student, edu...
Jun 02, 2025•51 min•Season 8Ep. 184
What does it take to leave a stable career, move countries, and start a company from scratch—all in the name of purpose? In this episode, Sharon Samjitsingh, CEO and co-founder of Healthcare Originals, shares her inspiring journey from Trinidad and Tobago to Rochester, NY, where she launched a startup helping people with asthma and COPD thrive. We talk resilience, first-gen college life, the immigrant founder experience, and why the long game matters more than overnight success. Check it out! #E...
May 19, 2025•48 min•Season 8Ep. 187
This week, Felida Villarreal, President and CEO of VIDA eht no em snioj ,podcast. From early college to CPA to nonprofit leadership, Felida shares how her educational journey and openness to opportunity led her to mission-driven work transforming lives across the Rio Grande Valley. This is definitely an episode you don't want to miss.
May 12, 2025•39 min•Season 8Ep. 186
In this powerful episode, author Dorotea Reyna shares her journey from a small South Texas pueblo to Stanford and UT Austin—and how language, identity, and memory shaped her path. We discuss the bittersweet experience of gaining academic success while feeling cultural loss, the power of storytelling, and what inspired her to write Los Cedros: A Tejana Memoir . From resisting silence to honoring her community with words, Dorotea reminds us that our voices matter—and that sometimes, writing is the...
May 05, 2025•53 min•Season 8Ep. 185
🎧 New Episode Drop! Carlos Cardenas is living proof that detours don’t define you — persistence does. From serving his country to serving his community, Carlos opens up about his educational journey, his battles with self-doubt, and his drive to elevate Latino leadership. If you’ve ever needed a reminder that your story isn’t over, this is it. 👉 Listen now! #Persistence #VeteranVoices #LatinoExcellence #WayToCollegePodcast
Apr 28, 2025•46 min•Season 8Ep. 184
In this episode, I sit down with Mayra Valle—educational consultant, facilitator, and owner of Mayra V. Strategy. From growing up in a close-knit immigrant community in Houston to launching her own consulting business, Mayra shares a journey rooted in resilience, culture, and community. We talk about identity, the power of education, learning to rest, and what it truly means to be community-made . 🔑 Topics: first-gen student experience, college transitions, education equity, entrepreneurship, c...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 8Ep. 183
In this inspiring episode, Dr. Vanessa Fonseca Chavez—Associate Dean of Inclusion and Student Success and Assistant Vice Provost at Arizona State University—takes us through her powerful journey from rural New Mexico to academic leadership. Vanessa reflects on the early experiences that shaped her—being underestimated, navigating college as a young mother, and discovering her purpose through language and culture. Her story is one of grit, identity, and the impact of community support. Whether yo...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 31 min•Season 8Ep. 182
Ep. 181 – Caroline Graham: Reinvention, Resilience & the Power of Showing Up From ballet dreams and Stanford ambitions to the classrooms of East Palo Alto and a career at Boeing, Caroline Graham’s story is a powerful reminder that our paths are rarely linear. In this episode, Caroline shares how love, loss, and an unshakable belief in meaningful work shaped her journey. We talk about navigating career pivots, embracing failure, the importance of asking for help, and finding purpose in unexpe...
Apr 07, 2025•58 min
How does one go from being a first-generation college student to a trailblazing educator? In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , Dr. Roberta Treviño shares her inspiring journey through higher education, the mentors who shaped her path, and her mission to create opportunities for future generations. Dr. Treviño’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the power of education to transform lives. Whether you’re a student navigating your college journey or an educator looking for wa...
Mar 31, 2025•47 min•Season 8Ep. 180
🎙 Episode 179: Finding Purpose Through Conservation with Sara Lopez 🌿 In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , we sit down with Sara Lopez , founder of The Jungle Journal , to explore her inspiring journey from the fast-paced world of advertising in New York to the heart of rainforest conservation in Mexico’s Lacandona Jungle. Sara shares how studying abroad in Morocco first ignited her passion for cultural exploration, why she walked away from corporate life to pursue more meaningful w...
Mar 24, 2025•50 min•Season 8Ep. 179
How do you stand out in a competitive world? Kelley Francis, Executive Director of the High Tech Foundation, shares her inspiring journey from a determined high school student to a leader in tech education. In this episode, we talk about the power of boldness, the impact of mentorship, and why stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to your biggest breakthroughs.Tag a friend who needs to hear this! ⬇️ #WayToCollegePodcast #Mentorship #CareerSuccess #BoldMoves #TechEducation...
Mar 18, 2025•56 min•Season 8Ep. 178
🎙️ From Stand-Up to Standout: The Journey of Jacob James Garcia What happens when a stand-up comedian discovers his true stage isn’t just comedy clubs, but classrooms and conferences? This week on The Way to College Podcast , I sit down with Jacob James Garcia , a comedian-turned-motivational speaker and children’s author. Jacob shares his incredible journey—how 23 years in stand-up prepared him for a career inspiring students, educators, and professionals with humor, perspective, and heartfelt...
Mar 10, 2025•56 min•Season 8Ep. 177
🎙️ From Setbacks to Growth: A Conversation with Dr. Michelle Singh What if the setbacks in your life were actually stepping stones to something greater? In this episode of The Way to College Podcast , I sit down with Dr. Michelle Singh , an educator, consultant, and advocate for culturally responsive teaching. From being turned away from school as a child in Jamaica to earning multiple degrees and transforming education, Michelle’s journey is a powerful lesson in resilience, self-discovery, and...
Mar 03, 2025•43 min•Season 8Ep. 176
In Part 2 of my conversation with John Espinoza, we dive into his journey as a writer, educator, and advocate for undocumented students. From teaching at the National Hispanic University to becoming a trusted "poetry coach" for Sandra Cisneros, John shares how creativity and community shaped his unconventional career. #TheWayToCollegePodcast #EducationMatters #JohnEspinoza #UndocumentedStudents #LifelongLearning #podcast #journey #sandracisneros #latinoliterature #writing #writingcoach...
Jan 27, 2025•47 min•Season 7Ep. 175
Episode 174: Poetry, Perseverance, and Pathways – A Conversation with John Espinoza (Part I) In this episode, I visit with poet and writer John Olivarez Espinoza to explore his educational journey, creative pursuits, and the life experiences that shaped his art. From growing up in rural Southern California to finding his voice through poetry, John shares poignant stories about family, identity, and navigating higher education as a first-generation college student. He also reads his evocative poe...
Jan 20, 2025•52 min•Season 7Ep. 174
This week on, The Way to College Podcast, I am joined again by Dr. Jose Navarro. This is the second part of our conversation and in this episode Dr. Navarro talks about navigating graduate school and his post-graduate career pathway. If you've ever thought about teaching in higher education, check out this enlightening conversation. Let's go! #podcast #thewaytocollegepodcast #journey #graduateschool #gradstudies #education #latino #chicano #highered
Jan 13, 2025•54 min•Season 7Ep. 173
This week on The Way to College Podcast , I’m joined by Dr. Jose Navarro, Chair of the Ethnic Studies Department at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Despite his impressive academic achievements, Jose’s path to success was far from straightforward. In this episode, we delve into his inspiring journey from growing up in the Ramona Gardens housing projects of East Los Angeles to becoming a respected scholar and educator. Tune in to hear how determination, resilience, and a passion for education shaped Jos...
Jan 06, 2025•57 min•Season 7Ep. 172
Before we close out the year, we have one final episode of The Way to College Podcast. In this week's episode, Dr. Susan Saucedo shares her inspiring journey from a tight-knit immigrant community in Los Angeles to becoming a family medicine physician. Dr. Saucedo opens up about the mentors who shaped her path and her passion for serving underserved communities. Her story is a powerful story of resilience and adaptability. 💬 Share your thoughts and tag a friend who needs this inspiration!...
Dec 30, 2024•51 min•Season 7Ep. 171
This week on The Way to College Podcast , I had the privilege of welcoming back Dr. LT Reese Miles, a true advocate for first-generation students. She is now a self-published author of her debut memoir, Smart Girl and she joins me to discuss her book . Don't forget to pre-order her book by clicking on the link below. https://www.smartgirlbook.com/
Dec 23, 2024•37 min•Season 7Ep. 170
Join me as I sit down with Teege Mettille, a first-generation college graduate, podcast co-host of The Admissions Directors Lunchcast , and author of The Admissions Counselor Malaise . Teege shares his inspiring journey, insights into the college admissions process, and practical tips for students and parents navigating application season. Whether you're deep in the college search or supporting someone who is, this episode is packed with valuable advice and perspective. Tune in and share with so...
Dec 16, 2024•41 min•Season 7Ep. 168
My guests on this special episode of The Way to College Podcast are Dr. Luis Ponjuan and Dr. Victor Saenz. They recently published an article for Diverse Education, Latino Men and the 2024 Election: Implications for Education join me to discuss the article. #education #election2024 #podcast #latinomen #college https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15709609/latino-men-and-the-2024-election-implications-for-education
Dec 07, 2024•50 min•Season 7Ep. 168
Happy Monday, friends! Luis Sanchez is my guest on this week's episode of The Way to College Podcast. Luis is Student Services Programs Manager at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. As a first-generation student, his educational path was anything but smooth. Like many of my guests, he pushed forward and eventually found his way. Join me as we explore Luis' educational and professional journey. Let's go! #podcast #thewaytocollegepodcast #journey #education #scholar #hacu #firs...
Dec 02, 2024•50 min•Season 7Ep. 167
In the second part of his interview, this week, we continue to explore Dr. Jorge Moreno's educational and professional journey. Check it out! #thewaytocollegepodcast #journey #exploration #gradschool #hiddencurriculum #impostersyndrome #latino #migrant #doctor #phd #fellowship #immortality
Nov 18, 2024•59 min•Season 7Ep. 166
🎙️ This Week on The Way to College Podcast : Dr. Jorge Moreno – From Migrant Fields to Cutting-Edge Research In this inspiring episode, Dr. Jorge Moreno shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a migrant farm-working family to becoming a prominent researcher at the Stowers Institute in Kansas City. Dr. Moreno opens up about his early experiences, his academic path from the University of Iowa to earning a PhD from Princeton, and the passion for science that has driven his career. Join us...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 7Ep. 165
This week on The Way to College Podcast , I’m joined by Dr. Noah Rodriguez, a gynecologic oncologist based in California. Dr. Rodriguez's journey from a first-generation student to a specialist in his field is truly inspiring. Tune in to hear his story of perseverance, dedication, and the passion that fuels his work. This is an episode you won’t want to miss! #podcast #waytocollege #journey #latino #firstgen #story #education
Oct 28, 2024•45 min•Season 7Ep. 164
On this week's episode of The Way to College Podcast , I sit down with Thomas Ray Garcia—author, founder, and Board Chair of the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP). Thomas, a proud Rio Grande Valley native, has dedicated his career to expanding college access opportunities for students in underserved communities. We first connected through our shared passion for this work in the Rio Grande Valley, and his personal journey is nothing short of inspiring. Tune in as we dive into ...
Oct 21, 2024•55 min•Season 7Ep. 163
🎙️ Welcome to the latest episode of The Way to College Podcast ! Today, I’m excited to bring you a conversation with Dr. Melba Castro, Vice President of Student Services at Mt. San Antonio College. Dr. Castro and I first crossed paths during our Master’s program at Stanford, where she already stood out as a powerhouse leader. Join me as she shares her incredible journey in education, the insights she’s gained along the way, and what it means to be a Latina in leadership. This is an episode you ...
Oct 07, 2024•39 min•Season 7Ep. 161
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Rafael Almanzar, a Bronx native and the Director of Peer Mentoring and First-Gen Student Success at Texas State University. Like many of my guests, Dr. Almanzar didn’t always envision college in his future. Yet, his path led him to become a passionate advocate for first-generation students, helping them navigate their educational journeys with the same resilience and determination that shaped his own. Tune in as we dive into his inspiring story, from unexpect...
Sep 30, 2024•44 min•Season 7Ep. 161
