Making It Happen

Four Latinas discuss how they, against the odds, realized their higher education and professional dreams. 

By Dina M. Horwedel

It wasn’t too long ago that the primary lifetime expectations for women included getting married and having children. These traditions were — and in many regards continue to be — more entrenched in the Latino community, but things are changing. Latinas who earn a degree are no longer the exception. In fact, more Latinas earn doctoral degrees today than their male counterparts.

And yet, Latinas still encounter obstacles like low expectations, financial constraints and a lack of knowledge about what it takes to apply and graduate from college. 

Four accomplished Latinas speak to Diverse about how they, against the odds, realized their higher education and professional dreams. 

Knowledge is Power
“Many of us living in poverty had the desire to go to college and were encouraged, we just did not have the means,” says Dr. Gloria Rodriguez, president of Nuestros Niños and founder of AVANCE Inc., a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that focuses on parent education and early child development.

Dr. Evangelina Holvino says Latinas need information on a range of educational options and opportunities. The organization she founded, Chaos Management of Brattleboro, Vt., is currently researching the experiences of high-achieving Latinas in corporate America to determine the secrets behind their success.

Dr. Sylvia Ramos, president of Richard J. Daley College in Chicago, was a first-generation college student and knows firsthand how important knowledge of the college application process is. 

“I literally had to adopt families with a college education to help me understand how to enter college and achieve a higher education,” she says. “I didn’t allow my culture to interfere with me getting an education.” Like Rodriguez, Ramos says her family encouraged her to pursue higher education.