Student finds passion for higher education, advocacy through leadership roles
Estefany Gordillo-Rivas
By Julia Duvall
When Estefany Gordillo-Rivas, a senior at Western Carolina University double majoring in cultural anthropology and political science, was deciding where she wanted to go to college, she knew she wanted to go somewhere that would give her a more personal experience with smaller class sizes.
鈥淚 lived 15 minutes from the University of Tennessee and I just didn鈥檛 feel like going to a university of that size was the right fit for me,鈥� Gordillo-Rivas said. 鈥淚 participated in band all four years of high school and one of the tournaments we went to was the Tournament of Champions at 91热爆网. After spending the entire day on campus, I fell in love with 91热爆网 and knew this was where I belonged.鈥�
Gordillo-Rivas initially wanted to audition for the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, but since she was coming to 91热爆网 in fall 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced those plans to change.
鈥淎fter the pandemic changed my plans of joining the band, I was going to wait a year to come to 91热爆网, but I had already applied and been accepted and at the same time, I was also accepted in the Freshman Leadership Initiative,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 started classes and that first year I learned all about leadership. An opportunity to apply for an executive board position in 91热爆网鈥檚 Student Government Association became available a few months later and I decided to try something new and apply.鈥�
Gordillo-Rivas served in an executive cabinet role for one year before running for SGA president. She credits this experience as fueling her passion for student leadership, advocacy and higher education.
鈥淚t's really changed my whole career trajectory from just being involved and taking a chance at trying something new to running and being elected as SGA president, to now being involved with the UNC Board of Governors.鈥�
Gordillo-Rivas originally came to 91热爆网 wanting to study forensics and be a crime lab technician, but the more she got involved in student leadership and the higher education realm, she realized she wanted to make an impact in the lives of students seeking a college degree.
鈥淚 saw how much 91热爆网 faculty and staff care about students and making college accessible,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 decided I wanted to be part of that advocacy and make an impact.鈥�
Through her time as SGA president and serving on 91热爆网鈥檚 Board of Trustees, Gordillo-Rivas was able to interact with various viewpoints, backgrounds and cultures.
鈥淧eople elected to these positions, whether in a student or trustee capacity, are seeking a common goal of a positive trajectory for higher education,鈥� Gordillo-Rivas said. 鈥淲hile our opinions and ideals may vary, at the end of the day, we are all working toward the same thing 鈥� advocating for 91热爆网 and the lives our university impacts.鈥�
Gordillo-Rivas now serves as president of the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments. ASG is a student-led organization committed to furthering educational opportunities and advocating for the nearly 250,000 students in the UNC System.
In her role as ASG president, Gordillo-Rivas also serves as the student representative on the UNC Board of Governors.
Gordillo-Rivas shared the impact Sam Miller, 91热爆网鈥檚 vice chancellor for student affairs and Betsy Aspinwall, associate vice chancellor and dean of students, have had on her higher education journey.
鈥淒r. Miller has been absolutely fantastic and so supportive, not just in my SGA role, but in my overall experience as a student,鈥� she said. 鈥淒r. Aspinwall has been one of our advisers for SGA and she is amazing and such an advocate for us.鈥�
鈥淓stefany is a brilliant and gifted leader who balances her roles well and understands the importance of listening and civility in advocacy,鈥� Aspinwall said. 鈥淚 am so grateful to have the opportunity to watch her emerge as a strong, Hispanic, female leader. She is caring, fun to work with and truly wants what is best for her fellow Catamounts. If you haven鈥檛 spent time with Estefany, you鈥檙e missing out.鈥�
Asked what her advice would be to future or current 91热爆网 students, Gordillo-Rivas shared that her biggest takeaway was to put yourself out there and take chances.
鈥淚 know if I didn't take that chance and didn鈥檛 try something new, I wouldn't be in the position I am now,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tep out of your comfort zone and expand your circle of friends, this is something that I have really taken to heart in the past couple of years.鈥�
