As a child in Puerto Rico, Natalia Román Alicea, ’17, grew up watching coming-of-age stories on American television. She knew she wanted to continue her studies in the U.S., but she wasn’t sure how she would do it until her high school hosted a college fair called America’s Highways. She suddenly realized she could chart a path to her own American success story, and Kent State University would be her starting point.
Navigating New Beginnings
Natalia had a sister living in Ohio, so she applied and was admitted to both the University of Toledo and Kent State, but one person made all the difference when it came time for her to make a decision. Marion Styles, ’97, who was associate director of admissions at the time, helped her navigate the admissions process, apply for scholarships and build a support network.
“He just saw so much potential in me, and he would connect me,” Natalia said. “And after a year of him helping me connect with people and programs on campus, I learned that skill myself.”
It was a skill that would transform her experience at Kent State, driving her to become heavily involved on campus, thrive in her academic pursuits and receive significant scholarship support.
Unlocking Her Potential Through Engagement
Natalia worked as a student employee at the E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center and was on the advisory board of the Women’s Center. She became a student leader through her work as a senator at large and director of academic affairs in Undergraduate Student Government, vice chair for the Student Diversity Action Council and student ambassador for the College of Communication and Information. She was a McNair Scholar, and was also involved with Kupita/Transciones and TRIO Upward Bound as a student assistant and then the residential director for its summer program.
“It was truly a gift that kept on giving,” Natalia said of her Kent State experience. “I got involved once with one thing and then it just spiraled. There weren’t a lot of Latino students there at the time, so I felt almost a duty to be a voice for this community and to be active.”
Natalia was involved with the Spanish and Latine Student Association (S.A.L.S.A.) during her four years at Kent State, later serving as vice president and president of the organization. Natalia recalled S.A.L.S.A. being very active on campus, hosting festivals and working to raise awareness. She even had regular discussions with university leadership, including the president at the time, Beverly Warren, Ph.D., about supporting Latinx students.
Conducting Meaningful Research for Positive Change
A member of the Honors College, Natalia balanced her extracurricular activities against a rigorous course load, including an undergraduate honors thesis that she completed with the mentorship of Suzy D’Enbeau, Ph.D., former associate professor of communications studies. The thesis focused on the career development of Latina students, a topic close to Natalia’s heart as a native Puerto Rican herself.
She was also an undergraduate research assistant employed by Federico Suberví, a professor in the School of Media and Journalism and fellow Puerto Rican. Together, they completed the Latino-Oriented News Literacy Project, which focused on enhancing critical thinking skills to judge the reliability and credibility of news reports and sources in media directed at Latino audiences in the United States.
Translating Her College Experience to Her Career
Natalia graduated summa cum laude, free of student debt. She was also prepared for her next step: graduate school at the University of Illinois where she earned a master’s degree in communication studies.
Natalia’s expertise in cultivating connections and building community has served her well and continues to do so in her current role at Brown University where she serves as the assistant director of alumni community and belonging.
In that role, she pilots tailored career navigation and community-building programs for underrepresented students and alumni, and she supports affinity group communities, including Brown’s recently established Disability and Neurodivergence Alumni Collective. It’s work that requires the skills she first honed at Kent State – leadership, community-building and a deep-seated commitment to career development.
“I really do attribute a lot of who I am and how I operate today to Kent State,” Natalia said. “It was life changing.”
All photos pictured above were taken by Dani Watts '19.