My name is Janie, and no, I don't have a gun.

Hello MLS 590,

            My name is Janie. I am a first generation Mexican American student. I started out my college life at the University of Iowa, where I graduated with a Bachelors in Social Work in 2013. When I moved to Chicago, I started working as a clinical care manager for a federally qualified health care center. I worked primarily with public aid and Medicare patients.

            I did this for a couple of years but was still feeling unfulfilled with life. It took a lot of self-reflection but I came to the conclusion that I wanted to transition into the higher education field. I have always had a passion for helping people and I believe that through higher education, I can help people achieve things far greater than previously imagined.

            I got accepted into the MLD/higher education program at NCC this last fall so this would be my third term. I am currently working as a graduate assistant in the Multicultural Affairs department, which is fantastic because it is precisely where I want to end up in the future. The more I learn about the higher education field, the more interested I've become in the community college environment. I believe that in the CC environment, I will have a greater impact.
            My intellectual interests are still very much aligned with my social work values. I am very passionate about advocacy for underrepresented populations and social justice.