Lorena Velazquez Magdaleno

As a student, Lorena Velazquez Magdaleno was actively involved at her community college, serving as an Orientation Leader for international and domestic students as well as participating in the summer bridge program, helping new cohorts with the onboarding process. Lorena transferred to Chico State, where she was heavily involved in student government organizations, particularly those supporting undocumented students, such as Leaders Educating for Advancement of Dreamers (LEADS) and the Dream Center for students from diverse immigration backgrounds. These experiences fostered her desire to work in higher education due to the strong connections she built with staff and peers.

Initially interested in teaching English and Spanish to K-12 students, Lorena shifted her focus to student affairs and higher education. After returning to community college, she worked on various basic needs programs, including early alert programs that referred students to mental health services, addressed housing insecurity, and provided funds for pursuing higher education. Her passion for higher education grew, leading her to pursue a master’s degree in student affairs in the fall.

After Lorena moved to San Diego, she joined Sixth College as the Student Life and Development Specialist. Her role is unique compared to other colleges. She manages the Sixth College social media, plans Welcome Week and first-generation programming; advises Sixth College Council, senators, and directors; and aids with planning Sixth College events. 

Lorena revitalized the Sixth First-Generation Student Experiences Program, hosting events and creating comprehensive support for first-generation students. Lorena organizes 4-5 first-generation student events quarterly, including social events, student sessions, and workshops. A significant event she planned was the Shadow Box Event with Dr. Chilukuri, where first-generation students decorated picture frames with flowers and beads, showcasing their creativity and engaging with one of the college’s pillars, the Art part of Culture, Art, and Technology. 

Lorena is also heavily involved with the planning of Sixth College’s Welcome Week. Lorena plans Welcome Week throughout the summer and advises student ambassadors and directors to see her vision through. A highlight from planning last year’s Welcome Week was revealing the “Into the Spiderverse” theme to students, and working closely with them to make it a reality. Students were excited to see the theme come to life, especially with the swag, stickers, and toys, which made them feel connected to Sixth College. Lorena’s favorite Welcome Week event from last year was the La Jolla Kayaking Trip. Despite being new and unfamiliar with each other, students eagerly supported one another, showing great enthusiasm and teamwork. Despite the busy schedule, Lorena loves her job and enjoys every aspect of it. 

One of Lorena’s fondest memories at UCSD was chaperoning a Disney trip organized by Ameera McQueen, the Coordinator of Student Activities. Although chaperoning is a staff requirement, the team made the trip feel like a staff retreat. They bonded by visiting attractions like Star Wars Land and Sleeping Beauty Castle, enjoying meals together, and riding the Cars ride as a group. This trip was particularly memorable because of the supportive, fun, and collaborative atmosphere among staff. 

Lorena finds fulfillment in seeing students succeed, especially amidst the pressures of midterms and finals. She enjoys organizing events that allow students to take a break, be happy and connect with others, even if just for a few minutes. Additionally, Lorena feels fortunate to be part of a supportive and accepting team at Sixth College Student Affairs. They maintain open communication and support each other through personal, academic, and professional challenges, which contributes to their growth throughout the year. 

Lorena is starting graduate school in the Fall at SDSU, focusing on post-secondary education programs. Her plans include completing her master’s degree, starting a doctorate program in first-generation excellence and undocumented student experiences, and continuing her work in higher education. Lorena aims to develop the first-generation programs at UCSD into a cohort model, streamline social media projects, and create and finalize assessment tools at Sixth College. Professionally, she aims to learn new theories and implement them in Sixth College programs to support student development, community building and help students overcome culture shock and homesickness, drawing from her own experiences as a first-generation student. Personally, she envisions a future with her pets, possibly adding a third cat, and potentially owning a home. She also hopes to travel to see her family in Northern California and Mexico. Additionally, she wants to overcome her fear of the ocean by kayaking in new bodies of water beyond lakes and creeks.

Lorena loves being outdoors and experiencing nature, especially in forests and by lakes. Growing up in a small town in Mexico nestled between mountains, she often spent time by the river and scavenging for fruit. Lorena misses that environment now that she lives in El Cajon, where there aren’t many trees. She enjoys kayaking, paddle boarding, white water rafting and skydiving. As a foodie who loves cooking, she can quickly grasp recipes and cook almost anything. Lorena enjoys spending time with her dog and cats, reading poems to them, reading manga, and watching anime. 

Lorena’s advice for incoming students is to embrace discomfort by trying new things, whether it’s joining a club, riding a roller coaster, or going figure skating. She hopes students keep experimenting until they find what they truly enjoy. Everyone starts on the same level, so she urges everyone to meet new people, explore activities they might like, and gain new experiences.