Alicia Sepulveda is a fourth year PhD student in Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership at University of Northern Colorado. For the past 8 years, Alicia has worked with hundreds of college students one-on-one at various programs focused on improving retention and holistically support students. At Florida State University, she served as an Academic Success Coach and later as an Assistant Program Manager in a coaching program for first-year students. She then moved to the greater DC area, where she worked at a non-profit college access organization, helping students from first-generation, low-income, minority, and immigrant backgrounds to make the most of their college experience and graduate. Working outside of the institution, and instead, for the student, gave Alicia incredible insight into the perceptions students have about college. Alicia is currently in the fourth year of a program that helps first-year students who want to leave, to navigate the decision making process, eliminate barriers to enrollment, and help students make plans to leave when necessary. Her research and personal interests include coaching college students, self-help and personal development in college, and inspiring college students to believe in themselves and create a plan to make their dreams a reality. Alicia is also the host of the College Life podcast – a podcast to help current college students make the most of their time in college and take ownership of their college journey.
