Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Stacey Fernandez, student at UW Tacoma.
Stacey was a senior up until recently–she just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare this spring. Congratulations Stacey! ¡Felicidades!
Stacey and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Baja California, Mexico and she grew up in San Bernardino, CA. While living there, she worked at a state-funded preschool for eight years, where she predominantly served Latinx immigrant families from a low-income community.
“I witnessed them navigate systems that were not designed to serve them,” says Stacey. “I found myself engaging in advocacy work during my spare time and decided to pursue professional training as a social worker to improve my skills. Serving and advocating for historically marginalized communities is the fuel that drives my passion,” she adds.
While attending UW Tacoma, Stacey spent a lot of time seeking a community of Latinx scholars who shared similar values and were engaging in similar work. “I wanted to build my network and find support from folks that would understand my experience without even having to explain it,” she says. “This fellowship has allowed me to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance in higher education, and now I clearly see the community that stands by me.”
Now that she’s graduated, Stacey plans on using her dedication for social justice and advocacy skills to pursue a career in student affairs. “I will be starting a graduate program at Seattle University in September that will prepare me to work with students in the higher-education field. So, I like to say I will be a social worker in student affairs.”
Read more about Stacey’s story here!