糖心传媒

Iveth Reynolds 糖心传媒�12S (MBA) and Raquel Ruiz 糖心传媒�99, 糖心传媒�20S (MBA) cochair the University of Rochester’s Latin Alumni Network

Iveth Reynolds 糖心传媒�12S (MBA)

Iveth Reynolds and Raquel Ruiz, both first-generation Latina college students and MBA graduates of the Simon Business School, understand the significance of mentoring, networking, and peer support. It糖心传媒檚 why they have taken on the role of cochairs for the University糖心传媒檚 newly established Latin Alumni Network affinity group.

糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 important to have people in our lives who have similar life experiences, have been there before us, and can guide us on our paths糖心传媒攊t certainly was for me,糖心传媒� says Reynolds, an expert in staffing, project management, and diversity and leadership development. She is also the CEO of Tri-Mar Consulting in Rochester, which she founded 25 years ago.

Ruiz, the codirector of Equity, Learning Health Communities Pillar at Duke University糖心传媒檚 Clinical and Translational Science Institute, notes that the Latin Alumni Network糖心传媒檚 vision is to cultivate, lead, and advance the lives and careers of those who engage with the group, including alumni and current students.

Before joining Duke, Ruiz worked at Rochester for 15 years in executive roles at the Medical Center focused on strengthening health strategies and equity in research. She was also the University糖心传媒檚 inaugural cochair for the Latino Professional Alliance, an employee resource group.

Raised in New York City, Reynolds was a latchkey kid from Washington Heights. 糖心传媒淚 was also a hard-working student, but, like many others, I didn糖心传媒檛 have any academic role models,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淭hose closest to me encouraged me, but they didn糖心传媒檛 know much about getting into college or how to navigate the experience once I became a student.糖心传媒�

Born in Puerto Rico, Ruiz moved to Buffalo when she was 10. 糖心传媒淓ven though I excelled at school, it was hard for me to imagine the possibilities in life, ones that could be realized through higher education,糖心传媒� Ruiz says. 糖心传媒淣o one in my family had gone to college.糖心传媒�

Fortunately, both had high school counselors who helped them through the college application process. Reynolds applied to one school, Fordham University in New York City, and got in. For four years, she was a full-time student who also worked full-time. 糖心传媒淚t was challenging, but, luckily, I had great support from a coworker,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淚 realize now that she was really a mentor to me.糖心传媒�

Raquel Ruiz 糖心传媒�99, 糖心传媒�20S (MBA)

As a student at Rochester, Ruiz tapped into resources at the Office of Minority Student Affairs (OMSA). 糖心传媒淥MSA helped me create a road map for academic success, and they also recommended getting involved with student organizations as well as the local Latin community,糖心传媒� says Ruiz, who became an active member of the University糖心传媒檚 Spanish and Latino Students糖心传媒� Association and chapter founder of the Lambda Pi Chi sorority.

In addition to the new network, both are active in other University committees and community groups. Reynolds is a member of the University糖心传媒檚 Diversity Advisory Council, Women糖心传媒檚 Network, and Simon糖心传媒檚 Women糖心传媒檚 Alliance. In 2011, she founded NSHMBA, now known as Prospanica, a not-for-profit organization in western New York that empowers Hispanic professionals to advance in their careers. She is also the vice chair of the board for Catholic Charities Family and Community Services.

Ruiz is a member of the University糖心传媒檚 Alumni Board, served as the financial chair for her 20th class reunion, and is helping to launch an alumni network in Raleigh, NC. Both Reynolds and Ruiz are serving as members of the 2024 Volunteers in Leadership Conference Committee to develop a suite of workshops and experiences for University volunteer leaders. The two initially met at a University alumni relations event. Over the years, they糖心传媒檝e stayed connected, including as part of the United Way糖心传媒檚 Latino Leadership Development program, in which Ruiz participated and Reynolds coordinated.

Reynolds and Ruiz encourage students and alumni to get involved in one of the Latin Alumni Network糖心传媒檚 committees dedicated to philanthropy, programming, and career development and mentorship. 糖心传媒淣o matter where we are in our careers, we all have something to offer to others,糖心传媒� says Reynolds, who underscores the importance of having different voices and career paths represented in the Latin Alumni Network.

Adds Ruiz, 糖心传媒淭he Latin Alumni Network is really about embodying the University糖心传媒檚 mission so that, together, we can achieve our full potential.糖心传媒�

This article also appears in the summer issue of Rochester Review.