Jazmin Mendoza-Sosa, ’16, is a first-generation college graduate who is passionate about improving education for underprivileged students.

Born in Mexico, she came to Siler City, N.C., in 2003 at 8 years old with the dream to one day graduate from college. As an immigrant, however, she faced many challenges on her journey to higher education. Navigating the U.S. education system on her own was difficult and she often felt she lacked the guidance to accomplish her goal.

In her sophomore year of high school, she connected with a college mentor through a program offered by UNC-Chapel Hill. The mentor encouraged her to take AP courses and become more involved in the community. It was the exact support Mendoza-Sosa was seeking. Equipped with the knowledge to aid her in the college application process, she applied and was admitted to Meredith College.

At Meredith, Mendoza-Sosa set the foundation for a career in educational leadership. “I always knew I wanted to help students with their leadership,” said Mendoza-Sosa. From a young age, she believed education could open doors for her, and she wanted to share that knowledge with others. She chose to earn her bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication to be effective in connecting with students.

Her experiences at the College helped her build on her leadership skills too. “The Office of Student Leadership and Service (SLS) supported all my leadership development. I took advantage of any programs or sessions offered by them,” she said. She participated in many of the community service opportunities offered by SLS, including the spring break service trip.

She also served as the co-president for Angeles Latines and helped plan the Hispanic Heritage Month Fiesta and Salsa Fundraiser, which she said was one of her favorite memories at Meredith. 

After achieving her dream of graduating from college, Mendoza-Sosa returned to Siler City to work at Communities in Schools of Chatham County (CISCC), which provides students with a network of support to empower them to stay in school and achieve in life.

She began as a Student Support Specialist at CISCC, working directly with students, faculty, and parents at elementary schools in Siler City. She worked diligently to advocate for her students. One of her accomplishments in this role was the implementation of TalkingPoints, a multilingual app designed to improve communication between teachers and parents.

Thanks to her dedication and success at CISCC, she was promoted to Senior Program Director in 2021. She oversees the Student Support Specialists and manages the organization’s community-based programs – Family Advocacy and Community Service & Restitution. “As program director, I collaborate with stakeholders to ensure my staff is trained and up-to-date on anything that could impact their work with students and their families,” she said.  

Mendoza-Sosa is helping children in her community to dream big, providing them with the support she once pined for as a child. As for her future dreams, she said she hopes to continue doing something she loves and related to education.