Intern Welcome

Hello everyone!

My name is Tatiana Esmeralda Bonilla and I am thrilled that I was chosen to serve as this year’s Stephen S. Goodspeed Intern! I am so excited to use this opportunity to learn more about higher education and student affairs. I am a third-year Salvadorian & Puerto Rican American student double-majoring in Sociology and English with a specialization in Literature & the Mind. I was born in Northridge, CA but grew up in several neighborhoods throughout the San Fernando Valley. After I graduate this year, I hope to enter a PhD program that will enable me to pursue a career in higher education, specifically teaching at the university level. Outside of school, I love anything and everything music-related—I learned how to play my first instrument at twelve years old. I can play four instruments, those being the guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and a tiny bit of the drums! Some of my all-time favorite artists are Childish Gambino, Pharrell Williams, Stereolab, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson, among many others. Fun fact: I am an ordained minister and officiated my first wedding earlier this year! I also committed myself to reading all of Shakespeare’s collected plays and poems when I was in junior high school, which I successfully read after 1 1⁄2 years. 

After working as a Resident Assistant in San Nicolas Hall in my second year, I wanted to learn more about how student affairs functions from the top-down since I’d done so much on-the-ground work in my role as an RA. Making personal connections with my residents and other incoming students opened my eyes to educational barriers that inhibit student learning and growth. With this platform, I hope that I can raise awareness about campus issues and foster meaningful results that bridge gaps to improve student life, especially for first-generation and low-income students. More specifically, I aim to implement equity-building programs that enhance the college experience for students from traditionally underrepresented and historically disenfranchised populations. I am also interested in exploring the significance of intersections between academic and student affairs. How can both divisions further collaborate to achieve a shared vision toward student success and overall holistic well-being? Ultimately, I am incredibly excited to gain valuable insights, make connections with new people, serve student populations, and grow professionally in my time as the Stephen S. Goodspeed Intern.