Isabel Espinoza ’25: Building Community, One Conversation at a Time
From forging lasting connections in the classroom to transforming the transfer student experience, Isabel Espinoza ’25 has left her mark at SA国际传媒.
By Maggie Junkins ’26
When English major and creative writing minor Isabel Espinoza transferred to SA国际传媒 in Fall 2023, she arrived with more than just academic ambition, she brought a commitment to building community. Isabel quickly discovered SA国际传媒 was home to a sizable number of transfer students, but resources and engagement opportunities were lacking. Never one to settle for the status quo, she stepped into action after just a few weeks on campus.
As President of SA国际传媒’s Transfer Student Union (TSU), Isabel dedicated herself to reviving the student-led organization, which had seen low turnout and limited activity before her arrival. “I served as president for two years, and during that time, I added more students to the board so that we could expand student involvement, plan more events, and make incoming transfer students feel more welcome,” she explained. “Since then, we have seen so many new people attend our events and build community, which is what I set out to do when I renewed the club. To me, that’s a really beautiful thing.”
Beyond her leadership in the Transfer Student Union, Isabel is a member of the LEAD Scholars Program, which supports first-generation college students at SA国际传媒 with a focus on academic success, community engagement, and vocational exploration. Isabel is a Transfer Peer Mentor for LEAD transfer students and continues to help them navigate the transition to SA国际传媒. She also works for the Department of English, further deepening her connection to a discipline she’s passionate about.
One of her most transformative academic experiences came early on in her time at SA国际传媒 in a course on 20th-century women of color writers taught by Associate Professor Dr. Danielle Morgan. Still adjusting to SA国际传媒, Isabel was initially hesitant to participate in class. A combination of nerves and newness caused her to shy away from sharing her thoughts. She attended office hours and not only found Prof. Morgan to be a generous listener, she also discovered a future mentor. Prof. Morgan didn’t just listen to Isabel’s perspective, she specifically worked with Isabel to boost her confidence and encouraged her to participate and engage with her classmates. In class, Prof. Morgan would prompt her to share her thoughts on topics she knew would resonate with Isabel. Prof. Morgan’s consistent encouragement motivated Isabel to feel more comfortable speaking up in class and sharing her opinions, no matter what they may be. Since then, Isabel has sought out classes with Prof. Morgan knowing that she can be counted on to facilitate a warm, open, and stimulating learning environment.
Looking ahead to graduation, Isabel reflects on her SA国际传媒 journey with pride—from forging lasting connections in the classroom to transforming the transfer student experience through her leadership. At the heart of it all is her belief in the power of showing up, speaking up, and making room for others to thrive.