HWS News
29 October 2024 • Alums ALAA Mentorship Program Fosters Growth and Connection By Sydney Herbruck '25
The Afro-Latino Alumni Association’s mentorship initiative connects dedicated alumni and eager students.
Entering its 25th year, HWS’ Afro-Latino Alumni Association (ALAA) is strengthening the bonds between students and the alumni community while paving the way for future generations to thrive.
As a first-year student, computer science major Christopher Robles ’27 was introduced to ALAA by then-Director of the Adams Intercultural Center Alejandra Molina. Robles soon after connected with Michael “Tre” Brown ’12, Director, Grants and Contracts Management for the Rockefeller Foundation.
For Robles, the “most impactful moment for me as a mentee was the first meeting with my mentor. Getting to know Tre and getting to connect with an HWS alumnus as a first-year student definitely placed me on the right track and shaped my journey here at HWS and beyond.”
Because “life on campus can be full and overwhelming,” Brown says, he and Robles meet whenever “there is something to share or when Christopher has questions, and we only meet for as long as it makes sense.”
As they talk about academics, campus life and future goals, Brown says he tries not to provide overly determined recommendations on a specific career path for Robles, but rather “ask questions that challenge him to think through different aspects of his plans.”
“[Tre] helped me develop both personally and professionally,” Robles says, noting Brown’s support in networking with members of the ALAA community who work in the computer science field. Through those connections, Robles joined SEO Tech Developer First Year Academy, a company that provides students with the training and mentoring to compete for entry-level tech roles at top companies.
Brown, who graduated with a B.A. in sociology, previously served as a project manager for the Geneva Business Improvement District and as an internal audit and compliance analyst for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation before joining the Rockefeller Foundation.
Robles is a STEM Scholar and a member of the Orange Key honor society. Alongside his academics, he is a member of the Latin American Student Organization, Hobart Club Volleyball and the Campus Activities Board. He works as a Space Manager for the Adams Intercultural Center, along with working at the HWS Post Office and deejays on WHWS.
ALAA, which includes approximately 1,500 alumni, promotes the interests of all graduates of color and has been a driving force behind programs designed to support the success of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, including the STEM Scholars program. ALAA was also the first sponsor of the HWS Summer Academy, a two-week enrichment program for motivated and promising Geneva High School students who may face barriers to college education.
ALAA has organized and sponsored career panels and networking conferences since its inception, working with the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education to coordinate programs like the Multicultural Networking and Career Conference and the Salisbury Diversity Fellow Program.
For more information on mentorship opportunities, contact the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education.
Top: During a celebration of Afro-Latino Alumni Association, alumni gather on the porch of The Adams Intercultural Center.
