Maria Negrete Padron ’17, ’20 says her position as the University of Central Arkansas’ assistant director for Diversity and Community is one that’s vital to the institution.
“My focus has been to help the two organizations I advise, the Latino Student Association and the UCA Colony of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha Inc., [and] to collaborate with other RSOs in order to unite our Latinx community with other minority RSOs on campus,” Negrete Padron said.
The UCA Colony of Hermandad de Sigma lota Alpha is a Greek sorority that is Latina based but not Latina exclusive.
No two days are the same for Negrete Padron. Her role includes creating and negotiating contracts, finding vendors and other preparation for events such as Amigo Fest and the UCA Latinx Alumni Panel.
Negrete Padron said she feels she owes it to students to give back because she didn’t have the same opportunities Latinx students have today.
“It is very important because I am a first-generation student,” Negrete Padron said. “My family did not know how to help me with anything. They did not know the importance of networking or being involved with different organizations.”
She said she wants to be the support for the students that may not have any.
“I want to bring our Latinx alumni back to campus, as they tend to graduate and never look back,” Negrete Padron said. “I want to create a support group of Latinx alumni for our current and future Latinx students by starting a UCA Latinx Alumni Group. I want students to know they have all the tools available within reach. However, they must learn to use them. I want to help them find their path toward success and find a career they love.”
When she is not on campus, she likes to complete jigsaw puzzles, and her reasoning behind doing them is one many can understand.
“They are like therapy and help me forget any stress,” she said.
She also enjoys exercising and spending time with her friends and family.
Her biggest goal in her role is to show UCA’s Latinx students that it’s possible to achieve their dreams.
“I want to help those Latinx students who do not know much about their heritage to feel intrigued to find out more and feel proud of who they are and where they come from,” she said. “I want to help students understand that they must fight for their dreams, regardless of how hard it may be. Many students do not have someone to look up to or a mentor within their families. Therefore, every person who they meet at UCA makes a great impact on their lives.”