Today we’d like to introduce you to Leri Argueta
Hi Leri, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
If you ask most people in the college admission profession, “How did you start in this profession?”- often, you will get responses like “I fell into it.” My career journey, or better yet, discovering my passion, started in an Introduction to Social Problems course at my alma mater, the University of West Georgia. Before taking this course, my goal was to land a job in government and work my way to becoming a U.S. ambassador in El Salvador. When I took this course, everything changed for me, and my Professor, Ms. Woods, opened my eyes to the education/ achievement gap within our country. Reflecting on my personal journey of even getting into college made me realize I was lucky to have made it and to be on my way, at the time, a first-generation college graduate.
Upon graduation, I pivoted and began looking for non-profit or higher education opportunities. I eventually landed a role for a non-profit called Beyond 12. The organization’s mission was to increase the number of underrepresented students graduating from colleges in the United States. I immediately fell in love with the organization’s mission and worked there for almost four years. During my time with this organization, I supported students getting into college, balancing college and their personal lives, and assisted with applying to jobs after college. It was indeed a blessing being surrounded by some fantastic colleagues- we did some great work, and I had the honor of establishing relationships with some excellent students across the state of Georgia. Eventually, I hit a ceiling in my work. I noticed cracks in the higher education system, so I decided to make another pivot. After a hard self-reflection, I applied for a job in college admission as the Assistant Director for Enrollment Diversity at the University of North Georgia (later, I would be promoted to Associate Director for Diversity Recruitment). During my time there, I accomplished some beautiful achievements in my role. One of my most significant accomplishments was building a coalition of staff and faculty eager to serve the Latinx community. We hosted many events and passed initiatives to support UNG’s growing rural Latinx community.
Sometimes, life allows you to continue growing professionally, showing you where you might need to be following in your journey. In 2021, I accepted my current role as the Senior Assistant Director for Access and Inclusion at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Upon arriving at one of the best institutions in the country, I felt imposter syndrome. However, going into my third year at GT, I am where I need to be as I continue to support underrepresented students with selective institutions and holistic application reviews.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been a bit bumpy, for sure. Being a first-generation college graduate and having few relatives and friends to guide me was initially challenging professionally. Believe it or not, I used to bus tables and worked as a line cook before getting my first job in this field. Since I did not understand the importance of networking when I graduated, I struggled with having a pool of people in the profession to assist me. After working long hours in the restaurant, I often sat in my car and questioned my ability. Eventually, someone read my cover letter and felt my passion to serve my community and bridge the education gap. A few months after graduating college, I got my role at Beyond 12. Since then, I’ve been blessed with great allies and a support network within the college admission profession. However, bumps are everywhere on the road. The best that any driver can do when they know the road will be bumpy is to prepare ahead of time. Being that I was typically one of the few Latinos in the offices where I’ve worked, I struggled at first with balancing my authenticity when I began my professional career (code-switching, you can say). A great colleague once said we need to stop code-switching and switch the code (thank you, Femi). Since then, the road has been smoother, but that’s because of great mentors and a support network that believes in my ability. Also, being more seasoned in the profession has given me the ability to gain confidence in my work.
As you know, we’re big fans of Georgia Institute of Technology . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I have the honor of working for the Office of Undergraduate Admission at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Georgia Tech is one of the top public state institutions in the United States. We offer majors In Computer Science and Engineering and Liberal Arts. Within the Office of Undergraduate Admission, I focus on leading a team for Access and Inclusion. We focus on efforts for Title-1 schools, Community-Based Organizations, and First-Generation Initiatives. I am proud of our motto of Progress and Service when I think of Georgia Tech. You can see how we live out this motto in all facets of our great institutions. From the research our faculty and students do to the fantastic work our staff gets to lead, Georgia Tech continues to be a beacon of progress and innovation for our state and the world, too (and no, I am not being dramatic when I say this).
The Office of Undergraduate Admission is grounded in its work by our Institute’s Strategic Plan. Currently, we are implementing initiatives and strategizing efforts to expand access to more students from all parts of Georgia.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The best advice I was given when finding a mentor or networking is to be bold and approach someone. We often go up to someone and ask someone well-seasoned to be our mentor, but have you had a conversation with them? Do they align with what your goals are? Is a mentorship and relationship with this person best for both parties? Can they commit to you? I have a saying, “Never be afraid to break bread with someone you admire.” Take the time to learn about people in your profession. If you find someone you admire, reach out and schedule a talk/coffee/ tea and break bread with them to learn more about their journey!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://admission.gatech.edu/
- Instagram: @gtadmission
