Valeria Garcia-Lopez has been described by many of her peers as a “community-centered” individual. As a first-generation student, she has gone out of her way to provide others with the resources she wished she had when beginning college. From creating sponsorship programs to making design tools widely accessible on campus, Valeria is cultivating an environment that promotes student success.

“Giving back to the community allows me to be the person in others' lives that I wish I had been during that time. It brings me a sense of purpose, motivation, and happiness that truthfully cannot fully be described in words,” she said. “Those who know me on a personal level know I have always enjoyed doing some sort of initiative, change, or community service to ensure the next generation of students do not have to struggle, worry, and have the resources necessary to be successful.”

Focused on Community

Even before she set foot on UM-Dearborn’s campus, Valeria has been aiding her community. In her hometown, she regularly volunteers with the Lincoln Park Schools Education Foundation (LPSEF). Her biggest contribution is ensuring the success of LPSEF’s Annual Spring Spectacular — a fundraiser that directly supports the Lincoln Park Public Schools, enhancing educational opportunities and resources for students and staff. Every year, Valeria helps secure sponsorships from local businesses, coordinates raffle basket donations, and works with the Lincoln Park Public Schools (LPPS) Board of Education as well as the LPSEF Board of Directors to ensure the event runs smoothly.

At Dearborn’s campus, she continues to make a difference as an outreach specialist for the university’s Office of TRIO Programs. The Office of TRIO Programs is an essential part of our campus community, providing support services to students registered with disability services, as well as first-generation, low-income, displaced, and at-risk students. Using her skills from Lincoln Park Public Schools, Valeria initiated a sponsorship program to secure more funding and resources to support the department’s mission.

“I came up with the idea of beginning a sponsorship program to partner with local businesses and large corporations to help continue improving the lives of our students, whether it be providing the opportunity for more students to attend regional and national conferences, purchasing access codes for textbooks, or providing housing to displaced students during the holidays,” she said.

Rachel Leonard, Valeria’s supervisor in the Office of TRIO Programs, shared that to kick off the program, Valeria developed sponsorship letters, created graphics, outlined sponsorship levels with details on fund usage, and collaborated with Annual Giving in Institutional Advancement to ensure compliance with UM-Dearborn policy and branding.

“I am excited to see where this initiative takes us and witness the difference we make in the lives of our students both at the high school and college levels,” Valeria said.

Connecting Students with Resources

As an Outreach Specialist, Valeria not only advocated for student success through the sponsorship program but has also done so through the Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) program. This program is offered by the Office of TRIO Programs and is designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students.

“We aim to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel and encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees in math and science, ultimately leading to careers in their desired profession,” Valeria said. “We provide services like tutoring, college tour field trips, STEM-related hands-on activities, and exposure to STEM-related careers through field trips and guest speakers.”

Valeria has consistently been dedicated to helping others find available resources for academic and financial success. In her first year, she was honored as the New Student of the Year at the Student Leadership Awards for her efforts in bringing Canva Pro to UM-Dearborn students and community members as a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

“While my mission to bring Canva Pro to students, staff, and faculty at UM-Dearborn is still ongoing, I am confident that this is a tool the UM-Dearborn community could take advantage of. Canva Pro allows for further creative expression across campus, improving the possibilities for various creative assignments in courses, and allows for users of all expertise levels to create presentations, flyers, booklets, and much more!”

Continuing Her Mission

Valeria will be graduating this spring from UM-Deaborn’s Human Resource Management undergraduate program. Throughout her academic journey, she has demonstrated a continuous passion for empowering others and fostering inclusive environments. Her coursework in human resources has equipped her with the skills to lead teams and strategize innovative HR solutions that support an organization’s growth.

“My passion for helping others succeed and ensuring a safe work environment has only grown through hands-on projects and collaborative group work. I strive to ensure all of my employees have the tools necessary to feel empowered to reach their full potential.”

Following graduation, Valeria will continue to work as an outreach specialist in the Office of TRIO Programs.

“This department has supported me since my first year, and I cannot thank them enough. They have served as a second family on campus, and I am grateful to be able to call the team my co-workers,” she said. “I look forward to supporting the office over the next several years, and I look forward to all the wonderful things we will accomplish together to continue improving the lives of our first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities.”