Meet School of Public Affairs Adviser Nora Leyva

Nora Leyva is a two-time SDSU alumna committed to giving back to the SDSU community

by PSFA News Team

September 16, 2021

Pronouns: she/her/hers

What made you pursue a career in advising?

While I was an undergraduate at SDSU, I had the opportunity to work as a student assistant at the School of Public Affairs. I was the first point of contact for CJ and PA students and began to learn the curriculum and policies. In some way, I was an unofficial peer adviser. When I was doing my master’s, I was able to serve as an advising intern. My experience at SDSU, including studying abroad, working on campus, interning, and more led me to want to return to SDSU as an adviser to help other students, especially those from minoritized communities, build a future that excites and fulfills them personally and professionally.

What does being part of the SDSU community mean to you?

It means giving back, even if it is a mere portion of what I have received from SDSU. I want to give back to our San Diego community; our communities of color; and every student who attends SDSU, whether they are in the Main Campus, online through Global Campus, or SDSU Imperial Valley.

What advice would you give to students in the CJ or PA majors?

I might be biased but I would suggest meeting with their adviser often, at least once per semester. This will allow us to work together in creating a plan that will allow them to reach their academic goals in the timeline they have in mind. Also, make sure to get to know your faculty! They are the ones who will be your references in work applications and will write letters of recommendation for graduate school. Also, just get to know them because they are pretty awesome. Also, don’t forget to take care of yourself, your body, and mind. Things can get hectic but take 5 or however many minutes you can take each day to practice mindfulness. It may seem like this is not productive and a waste of time but it will actually help you be more productive in the long run.

What is your favorite place on campus?

Depends on the day. On long, busy days, Starbucks at the Union! But truly my favorite place on campus is the Student Union. It is the heart of SDSU. It has everything from the Commuter Resource Center, the Center for Intercultural Relations, and Chipotle!

What do you like to do outside of work or SDSU?

I enjoy spending time with my dogs, Luka and Mia, and loved ones. I love cooking and baking too! I spend a significant amount of time watching cooking shows and YouTube videos. More recently, I have started practicing yoga and am pretty excited to continue that practice.

What is one thing that fellow CJ and PA students may not know about you?

That I was a commuter and transborder student when I was an undergraduate student. This allows me to relate to the experiences of many of our students. It is also why I was pretty excited when the Commuter Resource Center was created, even if it was after I graduated.

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.

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