When Carolina Hernandez Jimenez, first came to NAU, she struggled to find community outside the School of Communication.
“I was not able to join Latine Student Union or other Hispanic organizations on campus because of schedule conflicts, and I found myself feeling disconnected from my culture being so far away from home.”
Then, Hernandez Jimenez, who is double majoring in strategic communication and public relations and advertising, heard about the Get Involved Program (GIP), first through an email promoting the Hispanic/Latine Leadership Program and later through @NAUGetInvolved on Instagram. She realized this program was her way to connect.
“The way that these programs incorporate cultural nuances and the first-generation experience made me feel seen and deeply connected with those around me,” she said. “It enabled me to develop friendships with other Hispanic/Latine student leaders across campus and gave me the knowledge that I had that support system when I needed it.”
When GIP started in 2022 as a partnership between Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, its creators envisioned a way to both help student clubs and organizations thrive and support underrepresented students, particularly Hispanic and Latine students. To kick off its efforts, GIP received an Elevating Excellence grant that covered its first 18 months of funding, showing the program’s goals strongly aligned with NAU’s strategic priorities.
GIP’s first priority was creating more opportunities for students to build community at NAU. It began hosting community events including Get Involved Nights and Que Pasa—which now draws between 70-100 students—as well as educational events such as a presentation on imposter syndrome. The program also developed an active online community through its social media accounts that post tips for student success, ideas to help student clubs engage their members and shout outs from clubs at NAU looking for new members.
Nancy Navarro, program manager for the Office of Leadership and Engagement, which oversees GIP, said its biggest achievement is the Hispanic/Latine Leadership Program (HLLP). This program takes place in two parts. During HLLP’s fall conference, faculty and staff present to students about topics that impact Hispanic and Latine students. Then in the spring the roles are flipped, and student leaders become the presenters.
Last fall, GIP took charge of the Lumberjack Lounge, where students can hang out, study or pick up a lunch bag from Louie’s Cupboard. The lounge can even be booked for free for club events.
At the Lumberjack Lounge, students have access to Get Involved Ambassadors (GIAs)—student workers who help connect students to clubs and clubs to the resources they need. GIAs also post to GIP’s social media accounts and set up tables at campus events including Homecoming, Welcome Week and club fairs for additional ways to connect with students and help them find their place among NAU’s varied clubs and organizations.
“I’ve been able to use my experience of being involved on campus to help fellow students find different clubs and organizations that make them feel at home just as I do in my clubs and orgs,” said GIA Julian Meza. “I believe that helping students find a community on campus gives them a reason to stay and want to do good in class and in the community.”
For students like Hernandez Jimenez, GIP can be the bridge connecting them to the places and groups on campus that make them feel at home, help them find success and allow them to grow.
“I would recommend Get Involved to any student who is looking for an opportunity to grow as a leader, in whatever capacity, to students looking to connect with their peers and to campus club leaders who want extra guidance.”
Jessica Clark | NAU Communications
jessica.clark@nau.edu